Tell it like it is

This is a song by singer songwriter, Tracy Chapman from the 1990s. I used to love it and I only recently thought of it again. I think all my journaling for TMS healing prompted it. And also telling my truths on this wiki.

I recently —well a year ago— joined Al-anon. It’s a 12 step program for anyone who is affected by someone else’s drinking. I was massively affected by my parents’ drinking. Alcoholism is a disease. They were both very sick. And I took the brunt of it. Their parents were sick too. I don’t know where it all began. At any rate, in Al-anon, there are mostly people like me, with some rough truths that need telling. And it’s very healing to share these truths. It peels the denial away a layer at a time. I definitely think it has prepared me for my TMS work.

Here’s the song. Maybe it will strike a chord for you and your own journaling.

Tell It Like It Is

Say it say it say it Tell it like it is
Say it say it say it Tell it like it is
What breaks your heart
What keeps you awake at night
What makes you want to breakdown and cry

But say you'll never turn your back
Say you'll never harden to the world
Say you'll never try to still the rhythms in your breast
Say you'll never look at the evil among us and try to forget
Say you'll tell it like it is

Say it say it say it
So everyone can hear
Say it say it say it tell it like it is
What breaks your heart
What keeps you awake at night
How your anger and grief
Make you want to cry out
And tell it like it is

But say you'll never close your eyes
Or pretend that it's a rosy world
Say you'll never try to paint
What is rotten with a sugarcoat
Say you'll talk about the horrors you've seen and the torment you know
And tell it like it is

Say it say it say it
So no one can forget
Say it say it say it Tell it like it is
What breaks your heart
What keeps you awake at night
What makes you want to break the ties that silence and bind
And tell it like it is

Say you'll never cover your ears and close your mouth
And live in a silent world
Say you'll only run as far or as fast as you need to be secure
Say that then you'll tell the truth
When a lie could cross your lips
And tell it like it is

Say it say it say it, Say it say it say it
Say it say it say it, Say it say it say it
Say it say it say it, Say it say it say it
Say it say it say it, Say it say it say it

Songwriters: Tracy L Chapman
Tell It Like It Is lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

 

I like Tracy Chapman, but somehow I missed hearing this one before. I do a bit of living room dancing every day for exercise and I shall include this song tonight and will really listen to and feel those lyrics as I move about. Thanks!