Some people stand like trees, without a word
and what that means is that some people don't talk.
Oh please pardon me mister.
Ya know I just didn't hear you the first time that you said that,
but now that you repeat for me, I'll be sure to do what I can.
Ya know I'm going to do what I can,
do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can.
Gonna do what I can,
do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can,
but no more, you understand?
Oh please pardon me father.
Ya know I just didn't hear you that, that, that
that first time that you said th...
help me, help me, help me, help me...
Repeat it, repeat it, repeat it.
I'll be sure do, do, do what I can.
Do what I can, do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can.
Gotta do what I can, do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can,
but no more, you understand?
It's of utmost importance, we're dealing with volitiale substance.
It's of utmost importance, we're dealing with volitiale substance.
It's of utmost importance, we're dealing with volitiale substance.
It's of utmost importance, we're dealing with volitiale substance.
I had so much on my mind.
I was so glad when I died, oh...
Listen to me baby.
Can you keep a secret for me?
Make sure no one finds out,
cause then the lights will go out,
and I will find you out,
and I will cut you up.
Uh hmm, don't ask me why,
because, I said, I said, I said
I'm gonna do what I can, do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can.
Gotta do what I can, do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can.
Gotta do what I can, do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can.
Gotta do what I can, do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can.
but I'll have none of that, you understand?
Don't you know nothin'? You never tell on someone.
Don't you know nothin'? You never tell on someone.
Don't you know nothin'? You never tell on someone.
Don't you know nothin'? You ain't never going to tell on someone.
What you going to do?
Gonna turn, gonna turn rat fink?
What you wanna do?
Do want to see, do you wanna see what it's like to sink?
Sink down, sink down, sink down, down, down to the bottom of the river.
Sink down, sink, sink down down.
Down, down, to the bottom of the river, sink, down sink.
Sink down, down. Down, down to bottom of the river.
Sink down, sink, sink down down.
Down, down to the bottom of the river.
Don't you know no one? You never tell on someone.
Don't you know no one? You never tell on someone.
Don't you know no one? You never tell on someone.
Don't you know no one? You ain't never gonna tell on someone.
Don't you know no one? You ain't never gonna tell on someone.
Don't you know no one? You ain't never gonna tell on someone.
Ah, ah, oh, I tell you what it's like, I tell you what it's like, oh.
I stood right up in the heart of Hell, I never tell.
I stood right up in the heart of Hell, I never tell.
I stood right up in the heart of Hell, I never tell.
I stood right up in the heart of Hell,
I'm never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell.
I'm never, never, never, never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell.
Nothing, nothing, never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell.
I'm never, never, never, never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell.
Nothing, nothing, never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell.
Ah...
Gordon Gano: Vocals, Electric Guitar
Brian Ritchie: Electric Bass,Vocals
Victor DeLorenzo: Drums,Vocals
Produced by Mark Van Hecke
Recorded at Secret Sound Studio, New York City
Poem Title: Never Tell
Artist: Violent Femmes
Overview
The piece is a collage of fragmented vocal lines, repeated motifs, and conversational fragments. Its structure resembles an improvisational jam rather than a traditional poem, reflecting the band’s lo‑fi, punk aesthetic. The text oscillates between personal confession and a broader commentary on secrecy, responsibility, and the weight of unspoken words.
Key Themes
- Silence vs. Voice: The refrain “Never tell” juxtaposed with repeated attempts to speak (“do what I can”) underscores the tension between wanting to communicate and fearing exposure.
- Responsibility: Lines like “I’ll be sure to do what I can” suggest a desire for agency, yet the repetition hints at paralysis or self‑doubt.
- Existential Reflection: References to death, hell, and drowning evoke a sense of existential dread and the search for meaning.
- Communication Breakdown: The fragmented dialogue (“Oh please pardon me mister”) illustrates misunderstandings and the difficulty of truly hearing one another.
Structural Features
- Repetition: Repeated phrases act as a rhythmic anchor, mirroring the band’s looping guitar riffs.
- Fragmentation: The poem is broken into short, clipped lines that mimic the disjointed flow of spoken conversation.
- Dialogue: The presence of multiple speakers (“sister,” “father”) creates a dialogue‑like texture, though the voices are not fully differentiated.
- Non‑linear Narrative: The text jumps between scenes—family conversation, personal confession, and abstract imagery—without clear transitions.
Interpretation of Selected Passages
“It’s of utmost importance, we’re dealing with volitiale substance.”—The word “volitional” (likely a typo) hints at intentionality or willpower, suggesting that the speaker is grappling with conscious choices.
“I had so much on my mind. I was so glad when I died.”—This paradoxical line could reflect a release from mental burden or an ironic critique of how society views death.
“Sink down, sink down, sink down… to the bottom of the river.”—The repeated sinking imagery evokes a descent into oblivion or subconscious depths, aligning with the song’s melancholic tone.
Conclusion
The poem functions as an audio‑visual experience, mirroring the raw energy of Violent Femmes’ music. Its fragmented form invites readers to feel the urgency and confusion inherent in human communication, while its recurring refrain reminds us that sometimes, the most profound truths remain unsaid.
More poems by Violent Femmes
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