Formed in 1977 in Glasgow. Recorded one single, Saints and Sinners with b s… Read Full Bio ↴Formed in 1977 in Glasgow. Recorded one single, Saints and Sinners with b side Dead Vandals, and actually split before it was released. The majority of the band became Simple Minds and John Milarky formed The Cuban Heels. Other tracks recorded by the band, for their initial demo to Chiswick, were almost lost but have resurfaced through compilations - Pablo Picasso, Lies and Subway Sex.

Band members:
Jim Kerr (Pripton Weird) - vocals/keyboards
Charlie Burchill (Charlie Argue) - guitar/violin
Brian McGee - drums
Tony Donald - bass
John Milarky (Johnnie Plague) - vocals/guitar/sax
Alan McNeil (Sid Syphilis) - guitar

Lies
Johnny And The Self Abusers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The moon was all aglow
But heaven was in your eyes
The night that you told me
Those little white lies

The stars all seemed to know
You didn't mean all those sighs
The night that you told me

Those little white lies

I try, but there's no forgetting
When evenin' appears
I sigh but there's no regretting
In spite of my tears

Who wouldn't believe those lips
Who wouldn't believe those eyes
The night that you told me
Those little white lies

I try, but there's no forgetting
When evenin' appears
I sigh but there's no regretting
In spite of my tears

The Devil was in your heart
But Heaven was in your eyes
The night that you told me
Those little white lies

Those lies
Teeny-weeny little white lies

Overall Meaning

The song "Lies" by Johnny And The Self Abusers has a melancholic and contemplative feel to it, as the lyrics delve into the pain and confusion caused by being deceived. The opening lines set the scene of a romantic night under the stars, with the moon shining brightly and the singer caught up in the allure of his or her partner's eyes. However, as the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that the partner has been telling "little white lies" and that the trust in the relationship has been broken. Despite trying to forget and move on, the singer is haunted by the lies and unable to find peace.

The lyrics use a metaphor of heaven and hell to describe the conflicting emotions involved in the situation. The partner is described as having "the Devil in [their] heart" but also "Heaven in [their] eyes," suggesting that their deceit has caused both pain and pleasure. The singer is torn between believing the partner's words and seeing through their deception, and this internal conflict is reflected in the repetition of lines such as "I try, but there's no forgetting" and "I sigh but there's no regretting."

Overall, "Lies" is a poignant reflection on the complexities of human relationships and the difficulty of reconciling conflicting emotions. The use of vivid imagery and emotive language creates a vivid sense of the singer's pain and confusion, making the song a powerful exploration of the human experience.

Line by Line Meaning

The moon was all aglow
The moon was bright and shining

But heaven was in your eyes
You looked beautiful like heaven

The night that you told me
On that particular night

Those little white lies
Those trivial false statements

The stars all seemed to know
The stars could sense that you were insincere

You didn't mean all those sighs
You were not truthful about how you felt

I try, but there's no forgetting
I am trying to forget but I can't

When evenin' appears
When night falls

I sigh but there's no regretting
I sigh but I do not regret

In spite of my tears
Even though I am crying

Who wouldn't believe those lips
Who would not be convinced by your kiss