Auerbach grew up in a family with musical roots. His second cousin once removed was the late guitarist Robert Quine, an American guitarist known for his innovative guitar solos. Auerbach became infatuated with blues music during his childhood after being exposed to old records by his father. Auerbach often uses an index finger fingerpick along with his thumb to play chords, a technique similar to many earlier blues players.
Formerly of the three piece Akron band The Barnburners from 2000 until 2002, Auerbach formed The Black Keys with drummer Patrick Carney.
Auerbach released a solo album - Keep It Hid - in 2009. Auerbach played most of the instruments on the album, with his cousin James Quine contributing rhythm guitar on two songs and harmony vocals on two more.
Whispered Words
Dan Auerbach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like the ones they tell you 'fore you die
Whispered words, soft and low
Push me anywhere she wants to go
I hear words in my head
Each and everything she ever said
Every sign, every line
If you need me you're here
If you don't, you're no where near
I should have quit a long time ago
I hear words,in my sleep
Promises you made but never keep
Even in my dreams
I try to fight but I don't ever win
If you need you're here
If you don't you;re nowhere near
I should have quite a long time before
In "Whispered Words (Pretty Lies)," Dan Auerbach sings about the deceptive nature of someone he can't resist. The listener gets the sense that Auerbach is talking about a former lover or a current one whose words still affect him deeply. He hears the pretty lies that they tell him and how they manage to trick and deceive him even when he knows he shouldn't fall for the words. The words are soft and whispered, which makes them even harder to resist, pushing him to follow wherever she wants to take him.
Auerbach continues to explain how these whispered words have been ingrained in his mind. He hears the promises that were never kept, the signs that he chose to ignore, and the lines that made him fall for her time and again. Even when he's sleeping, the words echo in his dreams, and he fights to resist them, but ultimately, he never wins. Auerbach sings about how he knows he should have quit a long time ago, but he's still caught in the web of false promises and pretty lies.
Overall, "Whispered Words (Pretty Lies)" is a poignant song about the emotional turmoil one can be put through when dealing with someone who is skilled in manipulation. Auerbach's use of vivid imagery and clean guitar riffs make for an emotionally charged experience. The recurring theme of fighting against the words adds to the tension that the song is so masterfully able to create.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear words, pretty lies
I am hearing deceptive and attractive words
Like the ones they tell you 'fore you die
Similar to the lies told to someone before their death
Whispered words, soft and low
Words spoken quietly in a gentle way
Push me anywhere she wants to go
Being easily convinced and influenced to do anything she desires
I hear words in my head
Memorizing the things she said
Each and everything she ever said
Remembering every word she ever spoke
Every sign, every line
Noticing every signal and sentence
Tricked me into falling one more time
Deceived to fall in love with her again
If you need me you're here
Only present when she requires my presence
If you don't, you're no where near
Ignored and forgotten when she doesn't need me
I should have quit a long time ago
Realizing that I should have ended this relationship earlier
I hear words,in my sleep
Words haunting me even in my dreams
Promises you made but never keep
Breaking every promise made
Even in my dreams
Even when I'm not conscious
I try to fight but I don't ever win
Struggling to resist her charm but always failing
If you need you're here
Only present when she requires my presence
If you don't you;re nowhere near
Ignored and forgotten when she doesn't need me
I should have quite a long time before
Recognizing that I should have ended this relationship earlier
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CHARLES AUERBACH, DANIEL AUERBACH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lanceanthony198
Great song from an amazing album. No one sings like Dan Auerbach
@TheChulahoma
One of the greatest, soulful albums ever made. Hoping Dan would play it live again one day ..Missed his 2009 tour and never recovered from that loss 😊
@SuperPoshguy
Every time I hear this song, I die, a little ❤️... That voice man…..
@66auggie
Have you ever heard The Arcs Behind them eyes ohhhh man.
@Phoenix-cx4pf
FIIIREEEE🔥🔥🔥🔥 I honestly didn’t expect to see a music video for one of Dan’s older solo album songs!!! Fucking loved it
@codyoconnor
One of my favorite songs!
@earthluaghinflowers
Mine too now!!
@TheBlackKeysBrazil
Incrível este vídeo, uma bela história de amor contada de uma forma surpreendente, ficou perfeito com a música. Parabéns Dan Auerbach e Easy Eye Sound 💙
@faraga123
Awesome Dan. Please, never stop.
@krysti2
I think he stopped...😢