Tell Him by Ms. Lauryn Hill Lyrics Meaning – The Spiritual Odyssey of Profound Love
Lyrics
Tell him, mh (ooh)
It’s like, uh
You know, uh
Sweet, sweet
Sweet (tell him)
Uh
Let me be patient, let me be kind
Make me unselfish without being blind
Though I may suffer I’ll envy it not
And endure what comes (uh)
‘Cause he’s all that I got and tell him
Tell him I need him (yeah)
Tell him I love him (tell him, yeah)
And it’ll be alright (it’ll be alright)
Tell him
Tell him I need him (tell him, uh)
Tell him I love him (be alright)
(Tell him I love him)
It’ll be alright
Now I may have faith (I may have faith)
To make mountains fall (to make mountains fall)
But if I lack love then I am nothin’ at all
I can give away (I can give away)
Everything I possess (yo, uh)
But left without love then I have no happiness
I know I’m imperfect (I know I’m imperfect)
And not without sin (and not without sin, uh)
But now that I’m older all childish things end
And tell him (tell him)
Tell him I need him (tell him I need)
Tell him I love him
And it’ll be alright (it’ll be alright)
Tell him, tell him I need him (tell him, tell him)
(Be alright) tell him I love him
(Tell him)
It’ll be alright (ooh, yeah)
I’ll never be jealous (uh, I’ll never be jealous)
And I won’t be too proud
‘Cause love is not boastful (no)
Ooh, and love is not loud (no, no)
Tell him I need him (tell him I need him)
Tell him I love him (tell him I love him)
Everything is gonna (everything)
Is gonna be alright (everything)
(Alright, alright, alright, alright, oh)
Yeah, yeah, oh, yeah
Now I may have wisdom (I may have wisdom)
And knowledge on Eaarth
But if I speak wrong
Ooh, then what is it worth? (What is it worth? Nothing)
See what we now know is nothing compared
To the love that was shown when our lives were spared
And tell him (tell him)
Tell him I need him (tell him, ooh)
Tell him I love him (love him)
And it’ll be alright (it’ll be alright)
Ohh, tell him ((tell him)
Tell him I need him (I need you)
Tell him I love him (be alright)
It’ll be alright, ohh (be alright, it’s gonna be alright)
Tell him (it’s gonna be alright in the morning)
That I need him (in the afternoon) (be alright)
(I need him, uh) ohh
(Be alright) it’ll
It’ll be alright (yeah, it’ll be alright, see)
(Tell him) it’ll be alright, see
Yeah, when the morning comes (be alright)
When the, when the, when the evening comes (be alright)
(Tell him) ohh, in the nighttime
(Be alright) in the morning
(Be alright) in the evening, baby
(Tell him) ohh, tell him
Yeah (be alright)
In a world often marred by fleeting infatuations and superficial connections, Ms. Lauryn Hill’s ‘Tell Him’ emerges as a spiritual manifesto on the depth of true love. This introspective ballad from her acclaimed album, ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,’ weaves together raw emotion with philosophical musings, ultimately serving as a mirror reflecting the many facets of love — patience, kindness, selflessness, and truth.
Ms. Hill’s soulful outpour elevates ‘Tell Him’ beyond a mere confession to a lover; it is an invocation, a prayer, and a profound declaration of what it means to love without condition or expectation. With each verse, Hill delves deeper into an exploration of her vulnerabilities and the cosmic weight of love’s true form.
The Alchemy of the Human Heart: Love, Faith, and Sacrifice
When Ms. Hill croons about patience and kindness, it’s not just a lover’s plea — it’s an articulation of love’s transformative power. The lyric ‘Let me be patient, let me be kind’ captures the essence of a heart undergoing metamorphosis, shedding the impulse for instant gratification in exchange for a love that endures the trials of time.
‘Though I may suffer I’ll envy it not’ further underscores the sacrificial nature of love. Hill’s lyrical prowess challenges us to embrace suffering without resentment, positioning love as a force mighty enough to eclipse personal anguish — a theme strongly resonant in spiritual and philosophical traditions across the globe.
Unveiling the Hidden Meaning: Love as a Catalyst for Maturity
‘Tell Him’ becomes an anthem of maturation where love serves as the divine chisel, sculpting away the frivolous and the fleeting. The lines ‘But now that I’m older all childish things end’ signal a farewell to immaturity, echoing the ancient sentiment that true love is not the wild fire of youth but the steady burn of seasoned wood.
Hill’s voice transforms from the crooning of a lover into the oration of a sage, revealing that the crux of the song is not just in the telling of love, but in the growth it demands. Here, love is not a noun but a verb, not just a feeling but an action — one that propels us toward our higher selves.
The Enigmatic Dance of Wisdom and Knowledge with Love
In the verses ‘Now I may have wisdom and knowledge on Earth’ and ‘See what we now know is nothing compared / To the love that was shown when our lives were spared’, Hill places love on a pedestal above worldly intellect. She conveys that wisdom and knowledge, in isolation, ring hollow without the sanctifying touch of love.
This philosophical thread weaves a narrative that values emotional intelligence and empathetic understanding as superior to the mere accumulation of facts and figures. It is an ode to the belief that the most profound education is that of the heart.
Memorable Lines: The Echoes of Unbridled Devotion
The refrain, ‘Tell him I need him, tell him I love him,’ serves as the song’s emotional crescendo, echoing through the corridors of the listener’s soul. This raw confession is a testament to the vulnerability that accompanies true love, stripped of ego and pride.
It carries with it the weighty acknowledgment that expressing love is not a sign of weakness, but a mark of immense strength. These lines capture Ms. Hill’s passionate intent and remain etched in the memory of anyone who has ever surrendered themselves to the tidal forces of love.
Navigating the Melancholic Melodies of Love’s Interminable Flight
The arrangement of ‘Tell Him’ encapsulates the poignant journey of a heart in love — the ascending melodies and the soulful strains mapping the ascent and descent of love’s roller-coaster ride. Each note mirrors the ebb and flow of emotions, taking listeners along on Hill’s profound contemplation of love’s enduring presence.
As the song closes with a message of reassurance, ‘Everything is gonna be alright,’ it becomes clear that Hill isn’t just speaking to a lover or even to the listener — she’s speaking to herself. It’s a self-soothing hymn, a promise that regardless of love’s uncertainties and pains, its existence within and without us is eternally worthy of our faith.
