Moreland first debuted his name as a part of the Black Gold Band from 2006-2010, with a 2006 full-band demo, 2008's Endless Oklahoma Sky, and 2009's solo demo session falling in that time span before he decided to retire the Black Gold Band name. John continues to write and record music, and in 2010 will release Things I Can't Control under his own name. Black Gold Band guitarist Wayne Wedge has returned to perform secondary guitar duties, and producer Stephen Egerton (ALL, Descendents) has been playing drums on the studio sessions. In 2010, Moreland was featured on the multi-musician studio project The Seven Degrees of Stephen Egerton, along with members of Drag the River, Descendents, MxPx, and many others.
LIES I CHOSE TO BELIEVE
John Moreland Lyrics
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Cursed those martyrs that mark my past
And I long for a day when we'll look back and laugh
About all this
But good luck finding your peace of mind
Being born into these brutal times
And these days I don't pray when I close my eyes
I just bite my tongue a bit harder
Cause you were a lie I chose to believe
A lie I chose to believe
Let's float these gutters up past heaven's gate
Get me out of these damn desert states
Did you hear the one about the hand of fate?
It'll make your heart stop
Do you ever wish you could just back out?
Take your nickels and go cash out?
Forget the faces you've been crying about
And see where forgiveness takes you?
Sweet surrender like the break of dawn
With the map laid out and the arrows drawn
But I think too much and wait too long
And I never tell but you know
How to lift me when I sink too low
Now I've found me a reason to be a man
Out on the shoulder with an outstretched hand
Just a little solid ground to stand
Is all I ever needed
So I'll shout it out from the heavens above
Hell ain't nothin' but the devil's drug
And love ain't a sickness, though I once thought it was
When I was too surrounded to see
The lyrics of the song Lies I Chose to Believe by John Moreland are a reflection of how the singer has lost faith in the things that once gave him solace. In the opening lines, he expresses his lack of faith in photographs and the past, which he associates with martyrs. He wishes for a day when he can look back and laugh about it all, but he feels that it is not possible. He laments about the brutal times he was born into, and he has stopped praying. He has realized that people, including himself, choose to believe in lies because the truth is too hard to accept. The singer confesses that his love interest in the past was a lie that he chose to believe.
In the chorus, he repeats the phrase "a lie I chose to believe" to emphasize that people have a choice in what they believe in, even if it turns out to be false.
The second verse explores the idea of fate and the singer's desire to escape the desert states. He reflects on how sometimes he wishes he could cash out and forget about the people who have hurt him. However, he imagines a future in which forgiveness takes him to a better place. The singer sees hope in the way his partner lifts him when he sinks too low.
The final verse is about overcoming hardships and finding the strength to be a better person. He acknowledges that he needs a little solid ground to stand on, and he finds it in love. Despite the challenges he has faced, he realizes that love is not a sickness, as he once thought, but a source of comfort.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I've gone and lost my faith in photographs
I have lost my belief in photographs and their ability to capture memories accurately
Cursed those martyrs that mark my past
I blame those who I once admired for the pain and suffering I've experienced
And I long for a day when we'll look back and laugh
I hope that one day, we can reflect on our past and find humor in it
About all this
About all the things that have caused us pain and heartache
But good luck finding your peace of mind
It's difficult to find inner peace during these difficult times
Being born into these brutal times
The world we live in is a harsh and unforgiving place
And these days I don't pray when I close my eyes
I have lost my faith in prayer and religion
I just bite my tongue a bit harder
I keep my thoughts and feelings to myself, even when it's difficult
Cause you were a lie I chose to believe
You were never truthful with me, but I decided to believe your lies anyway
Let's float these gutters up past heaven's gate
Let's forget our problems and aim for something better
Get me out of these damn desert states
I want to leave this barren, lonely place
Did you hear the one about the hand of fate?
Have you heard the story about how fate can change your life?
It'll make your heart stop
It's a powerful and sobering tale
Do you ever wish you could just back out?
Have you ever wanted to quit and start fresh?
Take your nickels and go cash out?
Take what you've earned and leave this all behind?
Forget the faces you've been crying about
Forget the people who have caused you pain and sadness
And see where forgiveness takes you?
Try forgiveness and see where it leads you
Sweet surrender like the break of dawn
Surrendering to your emotions can be a freeing experience
With the map laid out and the arrows drawn
With a plan and a direction in mind
But I think too much and wait too long
I overthink things and hesitate to take action
And I never tell but you know
I keep my thoughts and feelings to myself, but you can sense how I feel
How to lift me when I sink too low
You know just how to help me when I'm feeling down
Now I've found me a reason to be a man
I've found purpose in my life and am striving to be a better person
Out on the shoulder with an outstretched hand
I'm reaching out to help others
Just a little solid ground to stand
All I need is a small amount of stability in my life
Is all I ever needed
That's all I've ever wanted
So I'll shout it out from the heavens above
I will proclaim my message to anyone who will listen
Hell ain't nothin' but the devil's drug
Hell is just a trap that the devil uses to ensnare us
And love ain't a sickness, though I once thought it was
Love isn't a weakness, despite what I used to believe
When I was too surrounded to see
I couldn't see past my own pain and struggle to understand what love truly was
Writer(s): JOHN MORELAND
Contributed by Christian C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.