[Verse: Moses Sumney]
You'd like to stay long, though you're a wanderin' soul
And you've got to move on from the squandered soil
When you get what you came here for
Will you leave in the dead of night?
In the hall is a wall of horrors
You're the yonder light
[Refrain: Moses Sumney]
You can't return the sacred time you steal
The fact betrays the way you feel
And the sight delays the right to heal
You decide to stay long
[Pre-Chorus: James Blake & Moses Sumney]
I didn't plan to stay long
I didn't plan to stay long (Stay long)
I didn't plan to stay long
I didn't plan to stay long (Stay long)
In the snake pit so long, I've got posters up (Stay long)
Been defending so long, I don't know how to stop (Long)
[Chorus: James Blake]
Heart, tell them what you came for
Heart, tell them what you came for
Heart, tell them what you've been daydreamin' about
What the evening's about to
You'd like to stay long, though you're a wanderin' soul
And you've got to move on from the squandered soil
When you get what you came here for
Will you leave in the dead of night?
In the hall is a wall of horrors
You're the yonder light
[Refrain: Moses Sumney]
You can't return the sacred time you steal
The fact betrays the way you feel
And the sight delays the right to heal
You decide to stay long
[Pre-Chorus: James Blake & Moses Sumney]
I didn't plan to stay long
I didn't plan to stay long (Stay long)
I didn't plan to stay long
I didn't plan to stay long (Stay long)
In the snake pit so long, I've got posters up (Stay long)
Been defending so long, I don't know how to stop (Long)
[Chorus: James Blake]
Heart, tell them what you came for
Heart, tell them what you came for
Heart, tell them what you've been daydreamin' about
What the evening's about to
[Refrain: Moses Sumney]
You can't return the sacred time you steal
The fact betrays the way you feel
And the sight delays the right to heal
You decide to stay long
[Pre-Chorus: James Blake & Moses Sumney]
I didn't plan to stay long
I didn't plan to stay long (Stay long)
I didn't plan to stay long
I didn't plan to stay long (Stay long)
In the snake pit so long, I've got posters up (Stay long)
I've been defending so long, I don't know how to stop (Long)
I'm so afraid
[Chorus: James Blake]
Tell them what you came for
Heart, tell them what you came for
Heart, tell them what you've been daydreamin' about
What the evening's about to
[Outro: James Blake & Moses Sumney]
Ahh, ahh, ahh
Ahh, ahh
Tell them what you came here for
Oh, oh, oh, stay long
Oh, oh, oh, stay long
Oh, oh, oh, stay long
Oh-oh-oh-oh, long
You can't return the sacred time you steal
The fact betrays the way you feel
And the sight delays the right to heal
You decide to stay long
[Pre-Chorus: James Blake & Moses Sumney]
I didn't plan to stay long
I didn't plan to stay long (Stay long)
I didn't plan to stay long
I didn't plan to stay long (Stay long)
In the snake pit so long, I've got posters up (Stay long)
I've been defending so long, I don't know how to stop (Long)
I'm so afraid
[Chorus: James Blake]
Tell them what you came for
Heart, tell them what you came for
Heart, tell them what you've been daydreamin' about
What the evening's about to
[Outro: James Blake & Moses Sumney]
Ahh, ahh, ahh
Ahh, ahh
Tell them what you came here for
Oh, oh, oh, stay long
Oh, oh, oh, stay long
Oh, oh, oh, stay long
Oh-oh-oh-oh, long
About
Genius Annotation
“Tell Them” is a collaboration between James Blake, Moses Sumney, and Metro Boomin. It is one of two tracks that feature Metro Boomin on the album. The song is a monologue on a one-night stand and serves as a self-analysis.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
Translations
Genius Answer
What did James Blake say about "Tell Them"?
Genius Answer
Moses came on tour with me a couple years ago. I watched him get a standing ovation every night, and that was when he was a support act. For me, it’s a monologue on a one-night stand: There’s fear, there’s not wanting to be too close to anybody. Just sort of a self-analysis, really.
-James Blake (via his iTunes interview)
Have James Blake and Metro Boomin collaborated before?
Genius Answer
This song marks Blake and Metro’s second collaboration, following the prior track, “Mile High.”
Have James Blake and Moses Sumney worked together before?
- 1.Assume Form
- 2.Mile High
- 3.Tell Them
- 4.Into the Red
- 10.Power On
- 11.Don’t Miss It
Credits
Featuring
Producers
Writers
Aditional Producer
Publisher
Assistant Mixing Engineer
Synthesizer
Programmer
Mastering Engineer
Piano
Vocals
String Arranger
Executive Producer
Lyricist
Studio Personnel
Co-Producer
Release Date
January 18, 2019
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