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It's a Sin to Tell a Lie
Billie Holiday Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Be sure it's true when you say
"I love you"
It's a sin to tell a lie
Millions of hearts have been broken
Just because these words were spoken

I love you
Yes I do
I love you
If you break my heart I'll die
So be sure that it's true when you say
"I love you"
It'a sin to tell a lie

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Billie Holiday's song It's a Sin to Tell a Lie warn against the dangers of insincere declarations of love. The song counsels listeners to think carefully before saying "I love you" because millions of hearts have been broken as a result of empty promises. The refrain of "I love you, yes I do" is followed by a dark warning that if the love is not true, the person saying it risks causing serious harm: "If you break my heart I'll die."


The message of this song resonates with many people who have been hurt by dishonesty or who have seen the effect of insincere declarations of love. It is a reminder of the importance of honesty and sincerity in relationships, and of the harm that can be caused when trust is broken. The song also highlights the power of words, and the impact that they can have on others.


Overall, Billie Holiday's song It's a Sin to Tell a Lie is a cautionary tale about the danger of insincerity in relationships. It encourages listeners to be honest and thoughtful in their declarations of love, and to consider the consequences of their words before they speak them.


Line by Line Meaning

Be sure it's true when you say
Make sure that the words you utter are sincere and genuine


"I love you"
The three words that express affection and adoration towards someone special


It's a sin to tell a lie
Deceiving someone with false words can be considered as a transgression


Millions of hearts have been broken
Numerous individuals have suffered emotionally and mentally due to deceitful declarations of love


Just because these words were spoken
Only due to the insincere expression of those three words, countless people had to go through the pain of heartbreak


I love you
The words that hold immense power to positively impact one's life and relationships


Yes I do
A truthful way of expressing one's love towards their beloved


If you break my heart I'll die
The depth of one's love can be understood by their fear of losing their significant other


So be sure that it's true when you say
Before professing one's love, it is crucial to introspect and ensure that the emotions are genuine


"I love you"
The significant phrase that holds the potential to change lives and relationships for the better


It's a sin to tell a lie
Again, it is essential to emphasize that dishonesty can have severe consequences on an individual's personal and emotional life.




Lyrics ยฉ DistroKid, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Billy Mayhew

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@markherron1407

Myra Taylor brought me here and Merry Christmas ๐ŸŽ„๐ŸŽ๐ŸŽ…๐Ÿคถ๐Ÿ•Š๏ธโœ๏ธโ™พ๏ธโ˜ฎ๏ธโ›„ Blessings and Hugs ๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿ’œ

@voodoomaestro4295

My grandmother sang this to me as a kid. She passed away tonight. It's helped me smile.

@nadyarossi5102

Condolences

@Nimsfoo

I hope you're fine now!

@sunshinelollipopunicorn8191

I lost my grandmother around that time as well. Billie holiday always reminds me of her. Especially the song you belong to me one of my favoritesโค๏ธ

@CharlieHoliday369

Simply the most exquisite ^_^

@JeffRebornNow

WeII, that was perfect.

@GizmoFromPizmo

Billie Holiday put her own spin on this one. I'm glad I know the original (which she did too, of course). Giving this classic her own flavor is good.

@AtlantisEsquire

"Be sure it's true when u say I Love u. It's a Sin to tell a lie. Millions of hearts have ben broken. cause these words were spoken" B.Holiday Talk about Truth.

@reneematte8426

Thanks RoundMidnightTV via Lady Day and friends musicians ๐Ÿ’–๐ŸŽผ ๐Ÿ’Ÿ๐ŸŽผ๐ŸŽน๐ŸŽน๐Ÿฅ๐ŸŽธ๐ŸŽต

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