SHINee
Lyric guide

Tell Me What To Do

A K-pop ballad where the chorus is just one desperate question, over and over.

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Quick meaning

A fast read before the full lyric

A K-pop ballad where the chorus is just one desperate question, over and over.

The structure mirrors the feeling of being stuck.

The phrase "Tell me what to do" isn't a request for advice.

Editor's note

SHINee's Tell Me What To Do repeats a plea

A K-pop ballad where the chorus is just one desperate question, over and over.

"I don't know, I don't know you"

Most songs build to a chorus. The structure mirrors the feeling of being stuck.

The phrase "Tell me what to do" isn't a request for advice. It's the sound of someone who's already run out of options, circling the same empty spot. The Korean verses describe a relationship that's already over, "I don't know you," "an already finished end", making the English plea feel less like a question and more like a habit the heart can't break.

It's a cold, simple admission that lands before any of the poetic imagery about tears or changed faces. It grounds the whole dizzy plea in a basic, devastating fact.

The way the vocal delivery on the repeated "Tell me what to do" shifts from confusion to exhaustion as the song goes on.

edit_note Ethan Walker · LyroVerse team · Apr 16
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LyroVerse editor's notes are interpretation guides, not final truth. If something looks off, use comments, reporting, or Contact.

Listen for

What to keep in your ear

the pull of "Tell me what to do" the pull of "I don't know you," how "Tell me what to do" turns into a mantra
Lyrics

Tell Me What To Do

The lyric stays readable and compact here; the note and related paths sit nearby so you do not lose the song while looking for context.

Tell me what to do

Tell me what to do

Tell me what to do

Tell me what to do

Tell me what to do

Tell me what to do

Tell me what to do

Tell me what to do

요즘 난 I don’t know, I don’t know you

yojeum nan I don’t know, I don’t know you

많은 걸 포기한 듯한 눈빛

maneun geol pogihan deutan nunbit

하지만 들려 무언의 외침

hajiman deullyeo mueonui oechim

Tell me what to do

Tell me what to do

극적인 전개도 없는 연인

geukjeogin jeon-gaedo eomneun yeonin

시간이 두는 패착인 걸까?

sigani duneun paechagin geolkka?

끝내지 않아도 이미 끝난

kkeunnaeji anado imi kkeunnan

Tell me what to do

Tell me what to do

풀리지 않는 매듭은

pulliji anneun maedeubeun

우리 앞에 있는데

uri ape inneunde

내가 먼저 다가가

naega meonjeo dagaga

막다른 길 끝에서

makdareun gil kkeuteseo

흘린 눈물에 다 젖어버린

heullin nunmure da jeojeobeorin

두 볼을 닦아주고 물어볼래

du boreul dakkajugo mureobollae

Tell me what to do

Tell me what to do

Tell me what to do

Tell me what to do

Tell me what to do

Tell me what to do

Tell me what to do

Tell me what to do

말하지 않아도 알아주길

malhaji anado arajugil

뭔가 주기만 했다는 착각

mwon-ga jugiman haetdaneun chakgak

익숙한 존재라 던진 말들

iksukan jonjaera deonjin maldeul

Tell me what to do

Tell me what to do

무심했던 아픈 말

musimhaetdeon apeun mal

깊은 상처를 남긴 날

gipeun sangcheoreul namgin nal

내가 여전히 바보란

naega yeojeonhi baboran

사실만 깨닫게 되는 말

sasilman kkaedatge doeneun mal

지울 수만 있다면

jiul suman itdamyeon

그렇게만 된다면

geureokeman doendamyeon

내가 먼저 다가가

naega meonjeo dagaga

막다른 길 끝에서

makdareun gil kkeuteseo

흘린 눈물에 다 젖어버린

heullin nunmure da jeojeobeorin

두 볼을 닦아주고 물어볼래

du boreul dakkajugo mureobollae

Tell me what to do (먼저 말해주길 바래)

Tell me what to do (meonjeo malhaejugil barae)

Tell me what to do (don’t cry no more)

Tell me what to do (don’t cry no more)

Tell me what to do (너의 마음이 나를 본다면)

Tell me what to do (neoui ma-eumi nareul bondamyeon)

Tell me what to do (don’t cry no more)

Tell me what to do (don’t cry no more)

당연하게만 여겼던 네 자리

dang-yeonhageman yeogyeotdeon ne jari

네가 없다는 그 상상만으로도

nega eopdaneun geu sangsangmaneurodo

견디기 싫어져

gyeondigi sireojyeo

세상은 무너져 다

sesang-eun muneojyeo da

Am I the one for you?

Am I the one for you?

넌 언제쯤 예전에 나와 견제 중

neon eonjejjeum yejeone nawa gyeonje jung

네가 많이 변했다고 말하는

nega mani byeonhaetdago malhaneun

내가 가장 많이 변했지

naega gajang mani byeonhaetji

The one for me 난 모르지만

The one for me nan moreujiman

그 약속을 계속 조르지 우리

geu yaksogeul gyesok joreuji uri

시간은 계속 머물지만

siganeun gyesok meomuljiman

우리 시간은 계속 허물지

uri siganeun gyesok heomulji

그 미소가 내게 와 더 환하게

geu misoga naege wa deo hwanhage

차갑던 손은 더 따듯하게

chagapdeon soneun deo ttadeutage

외롭던 두 개 영혼이 만나

oeropdeon du gae yeonghoni manna

Not lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely

Not lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely

다시 널 들여다볼게

dasi neol deuryeodabolge

네 숨을 귀에 담을게

ne sumeul gwie dameulge

우리만 빼고 모든 것이

uriman ppaego modeun geosi

다 변해가도

da byeonhaegado

내가 먼저 다가가 (내가 먼저 다가가 oh)

naega meonjeo dagaga (naega meonjeo dagaga oh)

막다른 길 끝에서 (tell me what to do)

makdareun gil kkeuteseo (tell me what to do)

흘린 눈물에 다 젖어버린

heullin nunmure da jeojeobeorin

두 볼을 닦아주고 물어볼래

du boreul dakkajugo mureobollae

Tell me what to do (먼저 말해주길 바래)

Tell me what to do (meonjeo malhaejugil barae)

Tell me what to do (don’t cry no more)

Tell me what to do (don’t cry no more)

Tell me what to do (너의 마음이 나를 본다면)

Tell me what to do (neoui ma-eumi nareul bondamyeon)

Tell me what to do (don’t cry no more)

Tell me what to do (don’t cry no more)

Tell me what to do

Tell me what to do

Tell me what to do

Tell me what to do

Tell me what to do

Tell me what to do

Quick answers

What this page can answer fast

What is "Tell Me What To Do" by SHINee about?

A K-pop ballad where the chorus is just one desperate question, over and over. The structure mirrors the feeling of being stuck. The phrase "Tell me what to do" isn't a request for advice.

Who performs "Tell Me What To Do"?

SHINee performs "Tell Me What To Do", and this lyric page sits inside the SHINee catalog on LyroVerse.

Does LyroVerse have an editor's note for "Tell Me What To Do"?

Yes. The page carries the LyroVerse editor's note "SHINee's Tell Me What To Do repeats a plea", followed by the full lyric and related songs.

Are there related songs to explore after "Tell Me What To Do"?

Yes. The related section below points to Don't Let Me Go and 1000 Years Always By Your Side with a short reason for opening each page next.

Where can I find more songs by SHINee?

Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through SHINee's lyric pages.

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