Fake Friends
Joan Jett / Blackhearts Lyrics
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The song "Fake Friends" by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts is a powerful anthem that denounces the concept of fake friendship. The lyrics directly address the pain and disillusionment that comes with realizing that those who you thought were your friends are not genuine.
In the first verse, Jett voices the feelings of abandonment and betrayal that can come when someone is in a challenging situation and their supposed friends are nowhere to be found. The second verse emphasizes the fact that people around you may flatter you and pretend to be supportive, but sometimes they are just waiting for you to fail so they can turn their backs on you. The chorus declares that losing fake friends is not a loss at all because you have nothing to lose.
The bridge highlights the emotional impact of losing people whom you thought were close, and the final verse encourages the listener to stand up and tell the fake friends that they were once the king or queen of the hill, even if they are currently down. Ultimately, the message of the song is that true friends will be there through the good and the bad, and to lose fake friends is no loss at all.
Line by Line Meaning
When you were down they were never there
Your so-called friends only stick around when you are doing well and abandon you during tough times.
All the sycophants they love to make romance
These fake friends love to flatter and cozy up to you to gain your favor and benefit from your success.
When you're all alone you really get to learn
Being alone allows you to see who truly cares about you and who is just pretending to be your friend for their own gain.
If you get back up they gonna come around
These fake friends will come back around if they see that you are successful again, hoping to once again benefit from your success.
To the ugly sound of 'em tellin' you what you 'cause they all agree you're supposed to have a better life
These fake friends will tell you what they think you want to hear, all while reinforcing unrealistic expectations for your life.
Wanna hear an' you pretend
You want to believe their lies and pretend everything is okay, even though deep down you know it's not.
But you're feelin' worse
Their lies and flattery only make you feel worse about yourself in the long run.
An' they build you up till you fool yourself that you're Something else an' it's like a curse cause
These fake friends will flatter you to the point where you start to believe in your own hype, but this false sense of self will only lead to disappointment and failure.
An' they tell you that you're losin' friends
These fake friends will try to make you feel guilty for not living up to their expectations and will threaten to abandon you if you don't do what they want.
You can't live up to what they made of you
These fake friends have unrealistic expectations for you that you cannot possibly live up to.
Losin' friends, losin' friends
You are losing these fake friends, but in reality, you have nothing to lose.
Ya don't lose when you lose fake friends
Losing these fake friends is actually a good thing, as they were only holding you back from true success and happiness.
Ya got nothin to lose
You have nothing to lose by cutting these fake friends out of your life and focusing on true relationships.
Ya go an tell 'em you were king of the hill
You can confidently tell these fake friends that you are successful and happy without them, proving that you don't need their false support and flattery.
Ya see 'em laugh while you're on your knees
These fake friends will laugh at your failures and weaknesses, reveling in your downfall and proving their true colors.
An' ya can't believe that ya hit the gound
It can be hard to believe that these supposed friends would turn on you so easily and quickly, but it's time to face the truth.
An' When ya need a hand - that was yesterday
These fake friends will not be there for you when you truly need them, as they only care about themselves and their own success.
An' it breaks your heart 'cause ya gave so much
It can be heartbreaking to realize that you invested so much time and energy into these fake friendships, only to be let down in the end.
Ya notice ya been losin' friends
You may feel like you are losing friends, but in reality, you are just weeding out the fake ones and making room for true, genuine relationships.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOAN JETT, KENNETH BENJAMIN LAGUNA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tommcdonough6086
This is one of these songs that never got alot of airplay. Found this song when I was like 13. Loved it , Had the 45. Joan Jett's music with I Love Rock and Roll and all the others are timeless . Teenager throughout the 80's great time to be young.
@lukeskywalker1840
No truer words were ever spoken.
@hazelphillips7891
"...You got nothin' to lose. You don't lose when ya lose fake friends...."
@alleygh0st
they're not fake friends, they never were friends
@PrinceKima_12
Nobody remembers Fake Friends, but it such a beautiful tune, with a fantastic message for youngsters.
@lynnmarieanderson1744
That was great!!!! This is actually the first time I've heard this song! Yes, definitely, you've got NOTHING to lose when you lose fake friends!!! Too many fakes out there, a lot of people don't even know HOW to be a good friend. I'm better off being alone and antisocial than trying to be friends with nasty backstabbing witches.
@LetArtsLive
This is one of my favorite songs of hers and I can't believe there's not more comments
@shawnrose1211
A not so subtle dig at her previous band mates to begin the video... brilliant.
@marksauce2383
Lead guitar player is freaking awesome! He knows what not to play, and colors the songs beautifully. Tight band, and Joan, good as any front person ever. Best rock voice.
@ventues9751
This song RockS !!! I still have the original 45 !!!