I Don't Know...Please Tell Me!
Tanya Tucker · Other Songs - Tanya Tucker
I've been waiting tables in charley's grill
since the spring i turned sixteen.
It's a small cafe' near the railroad station
in downtown Aberdean.
Folk's round hear don't say to much
cept when it's gonna rain
and the most exciting thing to do
is watch who get's off the train.
One morning a tall dark stranger
got the 204.
With a suit/tie and shiny boots,
and a question in his eye.
Lord how I was blushing
when he walked into the cafe'
Tipped me a dollar
for a cup of coffee
And, and then I heard him say
he said,
"Girl it get plenty loney
for a saleman on the road.
Do you know a quiet
where a saleman can rest a while?"
The next morning, when the
sun came up,
he was lying in my bed.
Telling me about
the traveling business
and how he got ahead.
From then on out I couldn't wait
for the second/ third day of every
month when my saleman came town.
and what else was a girl to do when
he smiled at me and said,
he said,
"Girl it get plenty loney
for a saleman on the road.
Do you know a quiet
where a saleman can rest a while?"
I had some news about him and me,
I was sure would make him stay.
But a tall dark stranger got off
the train instead.
And what else was a girl to do
when he smiled at me and said,
he said,
"Girl it get plenty loney
for a saleman on the road.
Do you know a quiet
where a saleman can rest a while?"
since the spring i turned sixteen.
It's a small cafe' near the railroad station
in downtown Aberdean.
Folk's round hear don't say to much
cept when it's gonna rain
and the most exciting thing to do
is watch who get's off the train.
One morning a tall dark stranger
got the 204.
With a suit/tie and shiny boots,
and a question in his eye.
Lord how I was blushing
when he walked into the cafe'
Tipped me a dollar
for a cup of coffee
And, and then I heard him say
he said,
"Girl it get plenty loney
for a saleman on the road.
Do you know a quiet
where a saleman can rest a while?"
The next morning, when the
sun came up,
he was lying in my bed.
Telling me about
the traveling business
and how he got ahead.
From then on out I couldn't wait
for the second/ third day of every
month when my saleman came town.
and what else was a girl to do when
he smiled at me and said,
he said,
"Girl it get plenty loney
for a saleman on the road.
Do you know a quiet
where a saleman can rest a while?"
I had some news about him and me,
I was sure would make him stay.
But a tall dark stranger got off
the train instead.
And what else was a girl to do
when he smiled at me and said,
he said,
"Girl it get plenty loney
for a saleman on the road.
Do you know a quiet
where a saleman can rest a while?"
I Don't Know...Please Tell Me!
Tanya Tucker's 'I Don't Know...Please Tell Me!' stands as a defining anthem of country music's heartland, capturing the raw vulnerability of a woman navigating complex relationships. Recorded during the height of her career, the track exemplifies her signature blend of traditional country storytelling with a powerful, emotive vocal delivery that resonated deeply with audiences. The song reflects the genre's enduring focus on personal struggle and resilience, serving as a testament to Tucker's ability to translate intimate human experiences into universal musical narratives. Its enduring popularity underscores the timeless appeal of her work within the broader landscape of American country music.