"Tell the Truth" is a song by the Anglo-American band Derek and the Dominos, released in 1970 as the eighth track on their album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. The song was composed primarily by keyboardist Bobby Whitlock, with guitarist Eric Clapton adding the last verse. The band recorded the track at Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida in August 1970, with Tom Dowd as their producer.

An earlier version of "Tell the Truth" was recorded in London during the sessions for George Harrison's 1970 triple album All Things Must Pass. The session marked the first recordings by Derek and the Dominos. Produced by Phil Spector, this original, faster version of the song featured guitar contributions from Harrison and Dave Mason. It was issued as Derek and the Dominos' debut single, in September 1970, although the band had the release withdrawn.

Just twenty-two at the time, Whitlock wrote "Tell the Truth" during the early summer of 1970, while living temporarily with Clapton in England. Whitlock worked out the melody on a guitar tuned in open E, having learned that alternative tuning when Duane Allman was playing with his former band, Delaney & Bonnie and Friends. Whitlock recalled:

As admirers of Sam and Dave, Clapton and Whitlock styled the song as a "call and response" with the pair singing alternating verses. "Tell the Truth" was recorded on 18 June 1970 as the first original song by what became Derek and the Dominos: Clapton, Whitlock, drummer Jim Gordon and bassist Carl Radle. The four musicians had just helped George Harrison record the majority of the basic tracks for his album All Things Must Pass, before which Harrison had agreed to Clapton's request that his co-producer on the album, Phil Spector, would help the Dominos make their first recording as a group. Four days before the session, Derek and the Dominos, with Dave Mason as second guitarist, had played "Tell the Truth" at their debut concert, held at London's Lyceum Ballroom.

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