You Tell Me
Tom Petty · Damn The Torpedoes [1979]
Baby I heard thunder
I woke up 'middle of the night
Baby I saw fire
I went left, I went right
So you tell me what you want me to do
This might be over honey, it ain't through
Let me know when you're finished with me
What you want me to be
Baby you tell me
Honey you tell me
Baby I don't understand this
But that's alright, I can take a little pain
I've been winnin' and losin'
Baby I've been in and out of the rain
So you tell me what you want me to do
This might be over honey, it ain't through
Let me know when you're finished with me
What you want me to be
Baby you tell me
Honey you tell me
Well you put me through your paces and your twists
Until I felt like dying
Yeah the last thing that I needed
Was to finally realize that you were lying
So you tell me what you want me to do
This might be over honey it ain't through
Let me know when you're finished with me
What you want me to be
Baby you tell me
Honey you tell me
Baby you tell me
Will you tell me?
I woke up 'middle of the night
Baby I saw fire
I went left, I went right
So you tell me what you want me to do
This might be over honey, it ain't through
Let me know when you're finished with me
What you want me to be
Baby you tell me
Honey you tell me
Baby I don't understand this
But that's alright, I can take a little pain
I've been winnin' and losin'
Baby I've been in and out of the rain
So you tell me what you want me to do
This might be over honey, it ain't through
Let me know when you're finished with me
What you want me to be
Baby you tell me
Honey you tell me
Well you put me through your paces and your twists
Until I felt like dying
Yeah the last thing that I needed
Was to finally realize that you were lying
So you tell me what you want me to do
This might be over honey it ain't through
Let me know when you're finished with me
What you want me to be
Baby you tell me
Honey you tell me
Baby you tell me
Will you tell me?
You Tell Me
Released on the 1979 album Damn The Torpedoes, "You Tell Me" stands as a quintessential Tom Petty rock anthem, blending his signature twang with a driving, rhythmic energy. The track exemplifies the raw, blues-inflected rock sound that defined his early career, featuring a tight instrumentation and a vocal delivery that balances grit with melodic appeal. As a staple of his discography, the song captures the rebellious spirit of the late 1970s, serving as a powerful example of Petty's ability to craft enduring rock tracks that resonate across generations. Its enduring popularity highlights its status as a defining recording in the catalog of one of rock's most influential figures.