Tell Me Why by Declan Galbraith

Tell Me Why is a song sung by Declan Galbraith when he was just eleven years old. The song brings up the ever going issue of the many thousands of people out in the world that are in need. This is presented in the very first paragraph of the song.

"In my dream, children sing
A song of love for every boy and girl
The sky is blue and fields are green
And laughter is the language of the world
Then I wake and all I see
Is a world full of people in need."

This first part of the song explains one of the main reasons why there are so many people in need in the world and why so much conflict goes on. People tend to think that it is a nightmare and when they wake up it will all be gone. That however, is not the case. It is the opposite of that. We may be safe in our dreams, away from reality and the world, but when we wake it will still be right there, in our faces waiting to be fixed.

The chorus itself is also a touching part in the song.

"Tell me why (why) does it have to be like this?

Tell me why (why) is there something I have missed?

Tell me why (why) cause I don't understand

When so many need somebody

We don't give a helping hand

Tell me why?"

I think by getting a young child such as Declan to sing this song is what makes it so much more touching. Here is this innocence eleven year old child asking the world, why? Why can't someone just reach out their hand and help these people? Why does it have to be like this and why can't we do something about? Even when I see news reports and advertisements pleading for people to help those people that are in poverty, even I ask myself all of these questions. However, the most important question this young boy asks the world and even one of the most frequent question I think about, tell me why? Cause I don't understand. This is one question that no-one ever has a proper answer to.

In the second verse, Declan sings about and asks what he has to do for something to be done.

"Every day I ask myself,

What will I have to do to be a man?

Do I have to stand and fight,

To prove to everybody who I am?

Is that what my life is for,

To waste in a world full of war?"

It is quite confronting when you hear and see a young boy asking you if the only he is good for and the only thing his life is good for is to waste in this world that is full of war, chaos, poverty and destruction. Is that really the life we want for our children? I sure know that is not what I want for my children.

In the last verses, the song presents more questions to its listeners.
"Tell me why (Why why, does the tigers run?)
Tell me why (Why why, do we shoot the gun?)
Tell me why (Why why, do we never learn?)
Can someone tell us why we let the forests burn?

(why why do we say we can?) tell me why
(why why is it still the same?) tell me why
(why why do we talk and run?) tell me why
Can someone tell us why we let the ocean die?

(why why do we always say?) tell me why
(why why do we pass the blame?) tell me why
(why why does it never rain?)
Can someone tell us why we cannot just be friends?

(why why do we close our eyes?)
(why why do we really lie?)
(why why do we fight for land?)
Can someone tell us why cause we don't understand."
Not only does this song bring up the issues we have in the world about poverty and how not much is being done to help and prevent these problems, but its also brings up another range of things. Why do the tigers run? Why do we let the forests burn? Why do we let the ocean die? These questions bring up the rising issue of the wellbeing of animals and our environment. Why do we have to cut down trees and burn them down? The answer simply is, we don't have to. However our society is greedy and is always wanting to expand their establishments. So if a forest is in the way of their ideal location, they get rid of it.

In the same verse as the question about the tigers, this question follows it, why do we have to shoot the gun? Now this question can relate to two main issues and conflicts in the world at the moment. One is hunting of animals such as tigers, and the other is war. Do we really need to engage in war? There is so much of it going on at the moment and to be honest I have lost track of whom is even involved in these wars and more importantly, who is winning. Oh, and don't let me forget all the innocence men, women and children that have fallen as a result of this. It is an exhausting and losing battle that shall continue on through the ages.

Whilst on the subject of war, another point that is brought up at the end of this song is, why can't we all just be friends? It is a good question and when a young child turns on the tv and sees the conflict, wars and destruction going on in the world, that is the question they ask. How are we suppose to tell the children of today and tomorrow that people are too stubborn to put their differences aside and work things out in a civilized manner. Simply, we can't. So what are we suppose to tell them?

So in saying that, why do we only say things but never act them out? Why do we talk and run? Why do we always pass the blame? Why do we really lie? Why do we never learn? Why is it all the same still? Well people lie and pass the blame as they can't face up to their actions. This behavior takes place EVERY SINGLE DAY and it almost ALWAYS cause some form of conflict. It is an endless cycle. We talk it up, run away, lie and then pass the blame to someone else. Just an easy way of getting out of life's everyday problems, but sadly we never learn and then cycle just keeps going and going.

So if you ask me, this song brings up many different conflict issues in the world these days. It bravely asks the questions that no-one else is brave enough ask and it does it all through the innocence eyes of an eleven year old boy.