Tell Me Why (Karla Bonoff song)

"Tell Me Why"
Single by Wynonna Judd
from the album Tell Me Why
B-side"A Little Bit of Love (Goes a Long, Long Way)"[1]
ReleasedApril 3, 1993
GenreCountry
Length3:50
LabelMCA/Curb
Songwriter(s)Karla Bonoff
Producer(s)Tony Brown
Wynonna Judd singles chronology
"My Strongest Weakness"
(1992) 		"Tell Me Why"
(1993) 		"A Bad Goodbye"
(1993)

"Tell Me Why" is a song written and recorded by Karla Bonoff for her 1988 studio album New World. In 1993, the song was covered by American country music artist Wynonna Judd and released in April 1993 as the first single and title track from her album Tell Me Why. The song reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in May 1993[2] and number 1 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada the following month.[3]

Background

The song was written by Karla Bonoff and makes its first appearance on her 1988 studio album "New World". It reappears on her 1999 album "All My Life -The Best of Karla Bonoff," and again on her 2007 Live album. The song is about being heartbroken over an old flame. The verses dive into the feeling of still being in love with someone who has moved on; one lyric describes it as "a fool in love with a fool that never cared." The chorus then laments the desire but inability to let go with the lyric, "So won't you tell me why I can't say goodbye."[4]

Cover

In 1993, country music artist Wynonna Judd released the album Tell Me Why, which featured "Tell Me Why" as the title track. Composer Bonoff appears on the track as a guitarist and backing vocalist. The album went on to reach number 1 on U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums. [5]

Chart performance

Chart (1993) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[6] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[7] 77
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[8] 24
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[9] 3

Year-end charts

Chart (1993) Position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[10] 5
US Country Songs (Billboard)[11] 27

References

  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 480. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  2. ^ Wynonna Judd Chart History
  3. ^ RPM Country Tracks
  4. ^ Bonoff, Karla. "Lyrics". Karla Bonoff. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  5. ^ "Tell Me Why Credits". ALLMUSIC. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 0984." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. June 19, 1993. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
  7. ^ "Wynonna Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  8. ^ "Wynonna Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  9. ^ "Wynonna Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  10. ^ "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1993". RPM. December 18, 1993. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
  11. ^ "Best of 1993: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1993. Retrieved August 5, 2013.


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