Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: folk
Song Meaning of “Tell Me A Story” by Phillip Phillips
“Tell Me A Story” by Phillip Phillips is an emotional, heartfelt ballad reflective of life’s complexities. The singer asks his beloved for guidance and to help him understand life’s mysterious paths. He is vulnerable, seeking solace and strength from his love.
The song’s lyrics emphasize the protagonist’s struggle with life’s overwhelming nature and his strong desire to make better sense of it all. He pleads with his beloved to share a story that will help him find his way. He speaks of throwing away his fears, implying a strong faith in his lover, believing that if given the chance, she has the healing power to save him from his despair and misgivings.
The singer yearns for his beloved to use her words to put life into perspective, creating a path of clarity and making sense of it all. He wishes to break free of the shackles of his confusion, invisible yet paralyzing ties that keep him from really living. Through the telling of her stories, he hopes his lover will bring him back to his innately passionate and hopeful heart.
The song culminates, as the singer expresses his grasp of his beloved’s love and the power her storytelling has to bring him back to the land of the living. All of his anxiety will be broken free, and he will be at peace with the ebb and flow of his life, confident in his decision and hopeful for the future.
“Tell Me A Story” is a song of duality: it speaks to life’s complexity, asking for help to make sense of it, while at the same time recognizing its beauty and the healing found in a beloved’s profound words. It is a reminder to slow down and take the time to appreciate the stories we are told, as they have the power to bring peace and hope.