Tracy Chapman - Tell It like It Is: Ukulele Chords

Learn to play "Tell It like It Is" on your ukulele with our detailed chord guide and lyrics. This page provides everything you need to play this song on the ukulele, including lyrics integrated with chords, chord diagrams, and a key transposer to match your vocal range.

Learn Tell It like It Is ukulele chords and lyrics

This section will guide you through each part of the song, providing the ukulele chords placed directly above the lyrics for easy playing. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, these elements will help you perform "Tell It like It Is" smoothly on your ukulele.

Em               D   Em D
Say it, say it, say it
Tell it like it is
Say it, say it, say it
Tell it like it is
What breaks your heart
                 C      Am  Em D Em D
What keeps you awake at night
                         C    Am         Em D Em D
What makes you want to breakdown and cry

Chorus:
                      C
But say you'll never turn your back
                  Am
Say you'll never harden to the world
                   C
Say you'll never try to still
            Am
the rhythms in your breast
                  C
Say you'll never look at the evil
              Am
among us and try to forget
                           Em D Em D
Say you'll tell it like it is

Say it, say it, say it
So everyone can hear
Say it, say it, say it
Tell it like it is
What breaks your heart
What keeps you awake at night
How your anger and grief
Make you want to cry out
And tell it like it is

Chorus:
But say you'll never close your eyes
Or pretend that it's a rosy world
Say you'll never try to paint
What is rotten with a sugarcoat
Say you'll talk about the horrors you've seen
And the torment you know
And tell it like it is

Say it, say it, say it
So no one can forget
Say it, say it, say it
Tell it like it is
What breaks your heart
What keeps you awake at night
What makes you want to break
the ties that silence and bind
And tell it like it is

Chorus:
Say you'll never cover your
ears and close your mouth
And live in a silent world
Say you'll only run as far or
as fast as you need to be secure
Say that then you'll tell the truth
When a lie could cross your lips
And tell it like it is

Say it, say it, say it. Say it, say it, say it
Say it, say it, say it. Say it, say it, say it
Say it, say it, say it. Say it, say it, say it
Say it, say it, say it. Say it, say it, say it

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Ukulele Chord Diagrams

Am

Ukulele chord Am

C

Ukulele chord C

D

Ukulele chord D

Em

Ukulele chord Em

Here you can see detailed diagrams for each ukulele chord used in the song. Utilize our key transposer to adjust the chords to a key that better fits your singing range. Simply select the desired key, and the chords throughout this page will update automatically, ensuring you can play and sing comfortably.

If you are also interested in learning how to play "Tell It like It Is" on the guitar, check out the chords on our sister site: Guitar Chords for "Tell It like It Is" by Tracy Chapman.