"Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do)" is a rock song by Van Halen from their 1995 album Balance. It is one of five singles issued for the album, and was the only one to reach #1 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, where it stayed for three weeks.
Theme
The song's main theme is about the power of universal love.
The story about the suicide of Nirvana's frontman, Kurt Cobain, is also told in the song. The lyrics "Is it right to take the easy way" and ends with "I can't tell you what's right for you" with the bridge, repeated towards the end of the song, saying "I see the damage done, yeah/oh Lord, I heard the shotgun", references the story.
Sammy Hagar says in his autobiography that he wanted the song to be uplifting, for the chorus to be 'I wanna show you what love can do', but that his relationship with the Van Halen brothers was becoming strained and that they were very critical of the lyrical treatment, wanting something with more attitude. Hagar says he believes that people in trouble can be saved, that Cobain could have been saved by the people around him, but that they must have just 'let him go for some reason'. He wanted the song to be about hope, not what it eventually became due to internal criticism.
"Don't Tell Me" is a song by American singer Madonna from her eighth studio album Music (2000). It was written by Madonna, Mirwais Ahmadzaï and Joe Henry, while being produced by the former two. "Don't Tell Me" is a country and dance song, with elements of trip hop and folk within its composition, and its lyrical content features "don't-tell-me-what-to-do" lyrics, where Madonna asks her lover to not tell her who she should love, or how she should love. It was released as the second single from the album on November 21, 2000 by Maverick Records. The song was also included on the compilation albums GHV2 (2001) and Celebration (2009).
"Don't Tell Me" received positive reviews from music critics, who cited the song as one of the album's standout and praised Madonna's "soulful" vocals performance. Madonna also received comparisons to Sheryl Crow on the track. It was commercially successful, reaching the number one in Canada, Italy and New Zealand, as well as the top five in several regions such as the United Kingdom and the United States, where it was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It also topped the BillboardHot Dance Club Songs chart, while also making her tie with The Beatles and stay only behind Elvis Presley for the most top-ten singles and most gold singles in the Billboard history. "Don't Tell Me" has sold around 4.5 million copies to date.
"Don't Tell Me" is a song by Canadian recording artist Avril Lavigne. It is the first single from her second studio album, Under My Skin (2004). "Don't Tell Me" was written by Lavigne and the music by her and Evan Taubenfeld. The track was produced by Butch Walker.
Since release, the song has received positive reviews from music critics, although some critics felt that the song was too similar to "I'm with You" and "Complicated", two of Lavigne's previous hit singles. In an AOL Radio listener's poll, "Don't Tell Me" was voted Lavigne's ninth best song.
Background
When asked what "Don't Tell Me" was about, Lavigne said:
She also said in a 2007 interview:
" When I was writing "Don't Tell Me", I was just, kind of, thinking about what it was like being a girl, and I was seventeen when I wrote that song, so that was all, like, fresh on my mind. I was just coming out of high school, and there's a lot of pressure for girls these days, and I'm happy to have that song, to be able to sing it up on stage every night, and to introduce it with, you know, by telling the audience that this song is all about being strong, and this goes out to all the girls, and it feels good to be able to do that." MTV.com
It's okay, I'll do what I want if I choose I can take the fall, there's a choice It's my destiny in my hands Yeah, it's up to me I can drive, I can shoot a gun in the streets Score me some heroin I can jump, be the sacrifice Bear the cross just like Jesus Christ And I don't wanna hear what love can do No, I ain't gonna tell you what's right for you Is it right to take the easy way? Close your eyes, get on your knees and pray Now you're saved by a higher voice Givin' up, givin' up, givin' up your choice If I'm wrong, then I'll pay for it If I'm right, yeah you're gonna hear about it But I'll try, yeah I'll try for it I'll try and I'll try, till I'm satisfied And I, I'm tired of hearin' what love can do And I, ain't gonna tell you what's right for you I've seen the damage done Yeah, I heard the shotgun And felt the settin' sun on my kingdom come Is it right, uh, to take the easy way? I don't know, I get down on my knees and pray Now I'm saved by a higher voice Givin' up, givin' up, givin' up my choice If I'm wrong, hey! Then I'll pay for it If I'm right, yeah, you're gonna deal with it 'Cause I'll try, yeah I'll try for it I'll try and I'll cry, even die for it No, I don't wanna hear what love can do No, I, I can't tell you what's right for you Oh, I, I, I tell you what love can do No, I, I, I can't say when your time is through I've seen the damage done Oh Lord, I heard the shotgun I felt the settin' sun on my kingdom come, no Don't tell me what love can do, uh Hey hey hey, uh, hey hey hey hey Don't tell me what love can do, alright
