When Benton was young he enjoyed gospel music and wrote songs and in 1948 he went to New York to pursue his music career.
He was a member of several gospel groups including "The Langfordairies", "The Jerusalem Stars", and "The Golden Gate Quartet".
After returning to his home state he joined a R&B singing group, "the Sandmen", and soon went back to New York to try for a big break. Eventually the record company decided to drop The Sandmen and push Brook as a solo artist.
Benton wrote songs for artists such as Nat King Cole, Clyde McPhatter, and Roy Hamilton. Soon he released his first minor hit A Million Miles From Nowhere, and later he joined the Mercury label, which would later bring him big success.
In 1952 he got his big break with It's Just a Matter of Time and Endlessly.
It's Just a Matter of Time made it to #3 on the U.S. Pop charts, while Endlessly made it to #12 . Both hits were written by Benton himself.
Benton had many #1 hits including Rainy Night in Georgia and Hotel Happiness. According to Songfacts, his version of the blues standard The Boll Weevil Song has the unique distinction of being the first #1 song on Billboard's Easy Listening chart.
Altogether, Benton had 38 hit singles through out his career. His last album was "Fools Rush In", released posthumously in 2005. He died on April 9, 1988.
Lie To Me
Brook Benton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I know if I lose you, then I'll lose my mind
So lie to me, lie to me, make me believe everything you say
Just, lie, lie, lie, lie, I'd rather have it that way
Nobody told me you were cheating
Aw it's just a feeling I had
So if I'm right, you got to lie to me
Because the truth would only hurt me
And that price is too big to pay
So lie to me, lie to me, I'd rather have it that way
Now you may think I'm foolish for saying what I said
But the truth could mean I'd lose you
So tell me a little lie instead
Tell me that you love me and I'll believe every word you say
Even if you lie, lie, lie, lie, I'd rather have it that way
The song Lie to Me by Brook Benton is a sad but honest ballad that explores the theme of infidelity and lies in a relationship. The song's narrator is fully aware of the fact that his partner is cheating on him and is considering leaving him. However, he cannot bear the thought of losing her and spiraling into madness as a result. To cope with the reality of the situation, he pleads with her to lie to him and make him believe everything is okay, even if it's not. He admits that he'd rather live in a comfortable illusion than facing the truth head-on.
The chorus of the song, "Lie to me, lie to me, make me believe everything you say," is a heartbreaking plea for his partner to deceive him to relieve him of the hurt and the anxiety that the truth would bring. The singer is willing to accept any lies his partner tells him as long as she assures him that he isn't losing her.
The song is a powerful reminder of how lies, although temporarily providing relief, can only delay the inevitable. Lies, in the long run, cause more pain and hurt than telling the truth upfront. The song's message can serve as a cautionary tale for anyone entering a relationship or anyone facing similar circumstances in their current relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I know I'm losing you, I feel it all the time
I can sense that our relationship is deteriorating and you are slipping away.
And I know if I lose you, then I'll lose my mind
I am so invested in our relationship that losing you will not only break my heart, but also break me mentally.
So lie to me, lie to me, make me believe everything you say
I am willing to believe any falsehood if it means that I won't have to confront the truth about our relationship falling apart.
Just, lie, lie, lie, lie, I'd rather have it that way
Telling me lies is better than giving me truthful answers at this point because the alternative is too painful to bear.
Nobody told me you were cheating
I don't have evidence that you are unfaithful.
Aw it's just a feeling I had
However, I have a strong intuition that something is wrong.
So if I'm right, you got to lie to me
If my suspicions are correct, then I beg for you to deceive me in order to spare my feelings.
Then I won't feel so bad
Being lied to will hurt me less than if you confirmed my fears.
Because the truth would only hurt me
If you were to tell me the truth, it would cause me immense emotional pain.
And that price is too big to pay
I am not willing to pay the cost of facing the reality of our failing relationship.
Now you may think I'm foolish for saying what I said
I understand that my request for you to lie to me may seem irrational or foolish.
But the truth could mean I'd lose you
However, knowing the truth could result in you leaving me, which is a distinct possibility.
So tell me a little lie instead
Thus, I implore you to feed me any small lies in order to keep me content in our relationship, even if only temporarily.
Tell me that you love me and I'll believe every word you say
If you tell me that you love me, I will accept those words without question, even if they are insincere.
Even if you lie, lie, lie, lie, I'd rather have it that way
Since the idea of losing you entirely is intolerable to me, I would rather live in a fantasy world of lies than accept the harsh realities of our failing relationship.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BROOK BENTON, MARGIE SINGLETON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@guptapearl8778
I love this song very much. Nice voice and I relate very well to the words used there. Deep meaning it has. Reminds me of my past
@joelmoagi948
This is iconic music that stood the test of time still relevant today
@1quickstep
I remember Brook Benton years and years ago and still love to hear him sing. Singing with Dinah Washington is just the icing on the cake.
@phumlagabela5504
Ngiyohleli ngimthanda uNdlovu. Noma siside iskhathathi angishiya kulomhlaba. Uyohleli esenhlizweni yami.
@berthadaniels5373
Brook Benton's voice is so Awesome.Wow Wow!!!!🎤👍💕
@isaackhanyi8957
What a song, RIP Brook
@michaelejimofordennis7861
Dad made my siblings and I fall in love With his golden voice
@uzeebu
Same lol
@mariacompton1416
You had a very good dad !
@saokamashoto5044
Mann, my dad made us love this album.. Listen to it all the way to boarding school after school recess