You remember that feeling back in 1998, right? You’d pop a CD into the player, let the last track fade out, and then—silence. Most people just hit stop. But if you were patient, if you just let the disc keep spinning for a few minutes, something magical happened at the end of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Out of the quiet came this soft, steady drum beat and a guitar riff that felt like a warm hug.
That was "Tell Him."
It wasn’t listed on the back of the jewel case. It wasn't a radio single like "Doo Wop (That Thing)." Honestly, it felt like a secret Ms. Hill was sharing only with the people who cared enough to stay until the very end. But even now, decades later, people are still debating what the Lauryn Hill Tell Him lyrics actually mean. Is she talking to a boyfriend? Is she singing to her son, Zion? Or is this something way deeper?
The Biblical Blueprint Behind the Song
If you listen closely to the Lauryn Hill Tell Him lyrics, you’ll realize pretty quickly that Lauryn wasn't just "vibing" in the studio. She was quoting scripture. Specifically, she was doing a beautiful, soulful riff on 1 Corinthians 13—the "Love Chapter" of the Bible.
Think about the lines: "Let me be patient, let me be kind / Make me unselfish without being blind." That is literally a modernized version of the verse that says love is patient and kind. It’s not boastful. It’s not proud.
Most R&B songs of the late 90s were about wanting someone or losing someone. Lauryn was doing something different. She was asking for the ability to love correctly. It’s a song about character development. She sings, "Now I may have wisdom and knowledge on earth / But if I speak wrong then what is it worth?" She’s basically saying that all her fame, all her Grammys, and all her talent don’t mean a thing if she isn’t a loving person at her core.
Is "Him" a Man or the Messiah?
This is where the fan theories get really interesting. For a long time, people assumed "Tell Him" was a message to a romantic partner—maybe Rohan Marley or even Wyclef Jean, given the "Ex-Factor" drama happening elsewhere on the album.
But look at the final bridge.
She sings, "What we now know is nothing compared / To the love that was shown when our lives were spared." In the context of the whole album, which is heavily steeped in Lauryn’s spiritual awakening, most experts and long-time fans agree that "Him" is God. The song is a prayer. She’s asking for the strength to reflect a divine kind of love in her own messy, human life. She even mentions that she’s "older" and "all childish things end," which is another direct nod to 1 Corinthians 13:11.
It’s about maturity. It's about moving past the "miseducation" of thinking love is just a feeling or a transaction.
Why the Hidden Track Format Matters
Why hide it? Why not make it Track 15?
Back then, hidden tracks were a vibe, sure. But for Lauryn, it served a narrative purpose. The album ends with a literal classroom setting—kids talking about what love is. After the classroom noise fades, "Tell Him" acts as the final exam. It’s the personal conclusion she reached after all the heartbreak and the "Lost Ones" and the drama.
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Putting it at the very end made it feel intimate. You’ve just sat through over an hour of her baring her soul, crying about betrayal, and celebrating her new son. Then, after the dust settles, she gives you this quiet, acoustic-leaning moment of humility.
The Production That No One Talks About
We need to talk about the sound of this track. Produced with guys like Don Harris and Loris Holland, the song stays away from the heavy boom-pap of the rest of the album. It’s got a very "Sunday morning" feel to it.
The percussion is simple. The guitar (played by Francis Dunnery) is clean. It doesn’t need a bunch of flashy synths because the Lauryn Hill Tell Him lyrics are doing all the heavy lifting. Her voice is also notably different here—it’s softer, less "performer" and more "worshiper."
You can hear the air in the room. It sounds like she's sitting on a stool right in front of you.
How to Apply the Lessons Today
If you’re listening to this track in 2026, it still hits because the themes are universal. We live in a world where everyone is loud, everyone is "boastful" on social media, and everyone is looking for "that thing."
Lauryn’s lyrics offer a bit of a reality check:
- Patience isn't passive: It’s a choice you make when things get hard.
- Love isn't loud: You don't always have to prove your worth through noise.
- Knowledge is secondary: Being "smart" or "right" matters less than being kind.
If you want to really get the most out of this song, try listening to it alongside the actual text of 1 Corinthians 13. You’ll see how she flipped the "thou shalts" into a personal request for help. It’s a masterclass in songwriting that doesn't just entertain but actually tries to heal the listener.
Your Next Steps with Ms. Hill
To truly understand the weight of this song, you have to hear it in the context of the full journey. Don't just stream the single. Sit down and play The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill from start to finish. Listen to the classroom interludes. Listen to the pain in "Ex-Factor." By the time you get to the silence before "Tell Him," the lyrics will hit you like a ton of bricks because you’ve seen the struggle that led up to that prayer.
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Check out the 20th-anniversary live versions if you can find them; she often changes the arrangements, but the "Let me be patient" mantra remains the soul of the performance.