Honesty
Billy Joel Lyrics

If you search for tenderness
If you're looking for love and affection

It isn't hard to find
It's not difficult to find someone who will show you kindness and compassion

You can have the love you need to live
There are people out there who can provide you with the love you need to be happy and fulfilled

But if you look for truthfulness
However, if you want someone who will be honest with you

You might just as well be blind
It's hard to find someone who is truly honest, so it can feel like you're searching blindly

It always seems to be so hard to give
People find it difficult to be truthful because the truth can be hard to hear and admit

Honesty is such a lonely word
Being honest can be isolating because it's hard to find others who will be honest with you

Everyone is so untrue
Many people are not truthful, which makes it even harder to find someone who will be honest with you

Honesty is hardly ever heard
People don't always feel comfortable sharing their true thoughts and feelings

And mostly what I need from you
The singer is specifically asking for honesty from the person he's addressing

I can always find someone
The singer knows he can always find someone to provide him with comfort

To say they sympathize
People will often offer sympathy and compassion

If I wear my heart out on my sleeve
If he's open about his feelings

But I don't want some pretty face
But he doesn't want someone who will just tell him what he wants to hear

To tell me pretty lies
He wants someone who will be truthful, even if it's not what he wants to hear

All I want is someone to believe
The singer wants someone he can trust and who will be honest with him

I can find a lover
He can find someone to have a romantic relationship with

I can find a friend
He can find someone to be his friend

I can have security until the bitter end
He can have a sense of security in his relationships

Anyone can comfort me
Anyone can offer him comfort

With promises again
People often make promises they can't keep

I know, I know
The singer is aware of this pattern

When I'm deep inside of me
When he's introspective and contemplative

Don't be too concerned
He doesn't want anyone to worry about him

I won't ask for nothin' while I'm gone
He won't ask for anything while he's absent

But when I want sincerity
But when he wants someone to be genuine with him

Tell me where else can I turn
He's asking the person he's addressing to be honest with him

'Cause you're the one I depend upon
He's stating that he's depending on this person to be truthful with him

Honesty is such a lonely word
The song title is repeated to emphasize that honesty can be isolating

Everyone is so untrue
Again emphasizing that many people are not truthful

Honesty is hardly ever heard
Reiterating that people don't always feel comfortable sharing their true thoughts and feelings

And mostly what I need from you
A clear request to the person he's addressing to be honest with him