In late 2006 Carroll signed with Arista Nashville and released his first single "Alyssa Lies". His debut album was released February 6, 2007.
Carroll said in an interview with Songfacts that he looks at songwriting as an almost religious experience. The ideas are out there, he believes, and it's up to the individual to grab them and write them. "And you can either force the idea, almost screw it up if you really force it too much, or you can try to receive it the way it's intended to be," he explained. "And so my songwriting experience is, usually when I'm writing by myself, I just kind of let the idea come. And if it's a roadblock or whatever I may try to hammer through it for a minute, but then if I don't get anything I'll just leave it alone and come back to it a couple of weeks later."
Alyssa Lies
Jason Michael Carroll Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just the other day
On the playground at school
Between the tires and the swings
But she came home with tear-filled eyes
And she said to me, "Daddy, Alyssa lies"
'Cause I didn't know how much my little girl had been hurt
Or the things she had seen
I wasn't ready when I said, "You can tell me"
And she said
Alyssa lies to the classroom
Alyssa lies everyday at school
Alyssa lies to the teachers
As she tries to cover every bruise
My little girl laid her head down that night to go to sleep
As I stepped out the room
I heard her say a prayer so soft and sweet
"God bless my mom and my dad
And my new friend, Alyssa
I know she needs you bad"
Because Alyssa lies to the classroom
Alyssa lies everyday at school
Alyssa lies to the teachers
As she tries to cover every bruise
I had the worst night of sleep in years
As I tried to think of a way to calm her fears
I knew just what it was I had to do
But when we got to school on Monday, I heard the news
My little girl asked me why everybody looked so sad
The lump in my throat grew bigger
With every question that she asked
Until I felt the tears run down my face
And I told her that Alyssa wouldn't be at school today
'Cause she doesn't lie in the classroom
She doesn't lie anymore at school
Alyssa lies with Jesus
Because there's nothin' anyone would do
Tears filled my eyes
When my little girl asked me why
Alyssa lies
Daddy, tell me why
Alyssa lies
The song "Alyssa Lies" by Jason Michael Carroll is a powerful and emotional ballad about a young girl who tells lies to cover up the physical abuse she suffers at home. The song talks about the innocence and purity of a child's heart, as the little girl believes that her new friend Alyssa lies because she is afraid and needs help. The lyrics are impactful, as they describe the heartbreaking situation of children who are abused behind closed doors and cannot ask for help. The lyrics also portray the father's agony as he tries to understand and help his daughter come to terms with the truth.
The song is a powerful message that awareness is vital when it comes to child abuse, and it is necessary to talk to children honestly to prevent them from suffering. The song's heartbreaking message is delivered beautifully by Jason Michael Carroll's soulful voice and the touching story behind the song. The melody and chorus of the song are catchy, and the lyrics are evocative, which makes the song an instant classic.
Line by Line Meaning
My little girl met a new friend
The singer’s daughter made a new friend at school.
Just the other day
Not many days have passed since the event occurred.
On the playground at school
The new friend was found on the school playground.
Between the tires and the swings
The exact location on the playground where the new friend was found.
But she came home with tear-filled eyes
The artist’s daughter came back home crying.
And she said to me, "Daddy, Alyssa lies"
The daughter told her father that her new friend, Alyssa, lies.
Well I just brushed it off at first
The father didn’t pay much attention to his daughter’s comment at first.
'Cause I didn't know how much my little girl had been hurt
The father wasn’t aware of how impacted his daughter was by the situation.
Or the things she had seen
The father was also unaware of the things his daughter had witnessed.
I wasn't ready when I said, "You can tell me"
The father thought he was prepared to listen, but he wasn’t.
Alyssa lies to the classroom
Alyssa lies to her classmates.
Alyssa lies everyday at school
Alyssa lies every day at school.
Alyssa lies to the teachers
Alyssa tells lies to the teachers.
As she tries to cover every bruise
Alyssa lies to conceal the bruises on her body.
My little girl laid her head down that night to go to sleep
The singer’s daughter went to bed that night.
As I stepped out the room
The father left his daughter's room.
I heard her say a prayer so soft and sweet
The daughter prayed quietly.
"God bless my mom and my dad
The daughter asked God to bless her parents.
And my new friend, Alyssa
The daughter asked God to bless Alyssa as well.
I know she needs you bad"
The daughter acknowledges that Alyssa is in need of God's help.
Because Alyssa lies to the classroom
Alyssa is known for lying in the classroom.
Alyssa lies everyday at school
Alyssa lies every day she's at school.
Alyssa lies to the teachers
Alyssa even lies to the teachers.
As she tries to cover every bruise
Alyssa lies to hide her bruises.
I had the worst night of sleep in years
The singer struggled to sleep that night.
As I tried to think of a way to calm her fears
The father tried to come up with a solution to help his daughter.
I knew just what it was I had to do
Ultimately, the father knew what he had to do to help.
But when we got to school on Monday, I heard the news
The father found out something important when he got to school on Monday.
My little girl asked me why everybody looked so sad
The daughter questioned why everyone seemed upset.
The lump in my throat grew bigger
The father became more emotional.
With every question that she asked
Each new question the daughter asked increased the father's emotion.
Until I felt the tears run down my face
The father was so emotional that he started crying.
And I told her that Alyssa wouldn't be at school today
The father explained that Alyssa wouldn't be coming to school anymore.
'Cause she doesn't lie in the classroom
The reason for this, according to the father, is because Alyssa doesn't tell lies anymore.
She doesn't lie anymore at school
Alyssa has stopped lying at school.
Alyssa lies with Jesus
The father reveals that Alyssa died.
Because there's nothin' anyone would do
There wasn't anything that could have been done to help Alyssa.
Tears filled my eyes
The father was in tears.
When my little girl asked me why
The daughter asked the father why this happened.
Alyssa lies
The title of the song and a reference to the fact that Alyssa had lied in the past.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jason Michael Carroll
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@CommanderRedEXE
@Marinette (Lume) Doesn't sound like real friends to me. True friends stand up for one another, even against seemingly impossible odds.
Sorry you have to go through all that. I was bullied from elementary school all the way to my freshman year of highschool. It was only once a senior stood up for me that it finally stopped.
Until that day, no one else had stood up for me, and when he did, it felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. The best part was that the teacher didn't even say a word when he yelled at the bullies in my defense.
If school taught me one lesson, it was never to give up, because eventually, you WILL find at least one person who will stand up for you.
Hopefully, soon, you'll have someone do the same for you. Wether it be a teacher, fellow student, etc.
May the spirits watch over you.
@marikacrockett
Carroll took two years to write "Alyssa Lies." The song was so emotionally painful to write that he got migraines while writing. It is based on a true story of a girl that wasn't saved in time. It seemed to Carroll that no matter what he wrote, he would never be satisfied with it. When he realized that he would not be able to make the song perfect, he tried the best he could to make it realistic and sufficiently emotional. After three years, he felt it was as heartfelt as he could make it, and recorded the song!!!!
@aacbdwellnessangle4622
Had the honor of Merri g him yesterday as he surprise the ANIMAL WELFARE LEAGUE OF KOSKIOUSKO COUNTY, he toured our new facility took some dogs for walks..this is a very genuine person in wanting to stop & raise awareness of abuse of all types
@myopinion4108
I had the biggest respect for him after this song came out! One sexy man right here! Good looking WITH a heart of gold! .... if he’s single.... mmmmm! Love this man‼️👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🙋🏼♀️😘🥰💕💋💋💋💋
@CherryFrog321
I still remember when I went to a Carrie Underwood concert as a teenager back in the summer of 2008, and Jason Michael Carroll was the opening act. He performed this song and I remember how much it moved me, and made me want to help kids like "Alyssa." 😢
@myopinion4108
CherryFrog321 - Wow! Not only a good concert but with a good message! So sad! 😥
@chcamerica22
@CherryFrog321 Those of us who survive child abuse carry the heavy load into adulthood. It gets easier and feels lighter and less painful over time, but never disappears. Yes, very moving song. I also recalled events when listening to this piece.
@reinakoop9065
“Alyssa lies with Jesus, because there’s nothing anyone would do” that just broke my heart.
@alyssagilstrap7748
My name is Alyssa
@jeremychapman6413
This breaks my heart,we as parents are the protectors of our children..They look to us as a shield from harm. Allyssa was a child but was always looking for love.
@SHOOTA_Gaming
My friends hit me and shove me down every day! But I've gotten so used to it! And I don't have bruses so I can't prove it! And I lie every day at school bc I have depression! And cut time to time with part of a pen!