The Around My Way (Freedom Ain't Free) Songfacts reports that Fiasco’s first single off his fourth studio album, Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1 debuted on May 21, 2012. On "Around My Way (Freedom Ain't Free)," he spits rhymes about aspects of modern American life he doesn’t like such as "Suicide bombers and prosperity gospels, emaciated models, with cocaine and blood pouring out their nostrils” as well as socio-political problems in Ghana and the invasion of Iraq.
Lupe released his fifth studio album Tetsuo & Youth on January 20, 2015.
Lupe's 8th Studio Album DRILL MUSIC IN ZION was released on June 23rd 2022
Lupe has previously been on label Epic with his group Da Pak and then signed a solo deal with Arista. His years at Arista only led to the 2003 promo single "Pop Pop" as well as guest appearances on singles from Tha' Rayne (2002's "Kiss Me" and 2003's "Didn't You Know") and K Fox (2003's "This Life"), then Arista folded in 2004 and Lupe was signed to Atlantic Records.
Never Lies
Lupe Fiasco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And he never lies
And he never lies
Lupe Fiasco:
(uh, yea)
He just sits, and watches the people in the boxes
He mimics and he mocks it
And he hates the box but he cant remember how to stop it
(uh) So he continues to watch it
Hopin that it can give him somethin he can box with
Or how the locksmith seen the boxes
Locked in the box and aint got the combination to unlock it
Thats why he watches, scared to look away
Cuz at that moment it might show him what to take off the locks with
So he chained himself to the box, took a lock and then he locked it
Swallowed the combination and then forgot it
As the doctors jot it all down with they pens and pencils
The same ones that took away his voice and just left his instrumental, like damn
Chorus Mike Shinoda:
And he never lies
(he never lies, he never lies, uh)
And he never lies
(uh, he never lies, he never lies, no)
And he never lies
(he never lies)
Cuz he never said anything at all
Lupe Fiasco:
He just sits, and listens to the people in the boxes
Everything he hears, he absorbs and adopts it
Anything not comin out the box he blocks it
See he loves the box and hope they never stop it
Anything the box tell him to do, he does it
Anything it tell him to get, he shops and he cops it
He protects the box, locks it in a box when he goes to sleep
But he never sleeps
Cuz he stays up to watch it, scared to look away
Cuz at that moment it might get stolen
And thats the last of the boxes
So he chained himself to the box, took a lock and locked it
Swallowed the combination and then forgot it
As the doctors jot it all down with they pens and pencils
The same ones that took away his voice and just left his instrumental, like damn
Chorus:
And he never lies
(he never lies, he never lies, uh)
And he never lies
(uh, he never lies, he never lies, no)
And he never lies
(he never lies)
Cuz he never said anything at all, anything at all
(he never lies, uh)
Interlude Lupe Fiasco:
And you cant tell me just who you are
You by new clothes just to hide those scars
You build that roof just to hide those stars
Now you cant take it back to the start x2
Chorus:
And he never lies
(he never lies, he never lies, uh)
And he never lies
(uh, he never lies, he never lies, no)
And he never lies
(he never lies)
Cuz he never said anything at all, anything at all
(fading out)
And you cant tell me just who you are
You by new clothes just to hide those scars
You build that roof just to hide those stars
Now you cant take it back to the start (3x)
Lupe Fiasco's song "Never Lies" is a commentary on the ways that society has become a slave to its own technology and media. The song is essentially about the metaphorical "box" that people have confined themselves to, where they are constantly bombarded with information from the TV, internet, and other sources. The first verse describes how people have become so entrenched in the box that they can't even remember how to escape it. They absorb and mimic everything they see, but they also hate it. They are chained to the box, both literally and figuratively, and they are afraid to look away.
In the second verse, Lupe Fiasco explains that people have also become slaves to the information they receive from the box. They buy and consume everything it tells them to, and they will do anything to protect it. They have created a cycle where they never sleep because they are afraid to let down their guard and stop watching the box. They have swallowed the key to their own liberation, and even the doctors who could help them are too busy taking notes to actually offer any real assistance.
The chorus, which is repeated several times throughout the song, emphasizes the fact that the people in the song "never lie" because they never say anything at all. They are completely numb to their own thoughts and desires, and simply absorb and act on whatever information they are given.
Overall, "Never Lies" is a powerful commentary on the ways that we have become addicted to our technology and media, and how it has taken over our lives. Lupe Fiasco's lyrics offer a stark and sobering reminder to step back and reevaluate the role that these things play in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
He just sits, and watches the people in the boxes
He passively observes the world around him through screens and devices.
Everything he sees, he absorbs and adopts it
He takes on the values and behaviors that are portrayed in the media he consumes.
He mimics and he mocks it
He imitates and ridicules the superficial and materialistic values that are promoted.
And he hates the box but he cant remember how to stop it
He despises the cycle of consumerism but is unable to break free from it.
So he continues to watch it
He perpetuates the system by consuming and participating in it passively.
Hopin that it can give him somethin he can box with
He seeks validation and purpose in the material possessions and values that are promoted.
Or how the locksmith seen the boxes
He is like a locksmith who is entranced by the very boxes that he is skilled at opening.
Locked in the box and aint got the combination to unlock it
He feels trapped within the cycle of consumerism and is unable to break free from it.
Thats why he watches, scared to look away
He is afraid to confront the reality of his situation and is thus complicit in the system.
Cuz at that moment it might show him what to take off the locks with
He fears that confronting his situation will expose the truth about the emptiness of consumerism.
So he chained himself to the box, took a lock and then he locked it
He has become a slave to the cycle of consumerism and is unable to break free from it.
Swallowed the combination and then forgot it
He has lost sight of the key to his own freedom and is unable to unlock the cycle of consumerism.
As the doctors jot it all down with they pens and pencils
The doctors and experts in the system are writing down his situation and prescribing solutions.
The same ones that took away his voice and just left his instrumental, like damn
The very experts that are supposed to help him have silenced him and left him without a voice or agency.
And you cant tell me just who you are
The listener is called to examine their own identity and values in the face of the critique of consumerism.
You by new clothes just to hide those scars
People often try to cover up their emotional scars and insecurities with material possessions and appearance.
You build that roof just to hide those stars
Individuals often prioritize comfort and security over adventure and risk-taking.
Now you cant take it back to the start
Once one becomes entrenched in the cycle of consumerism, it is difficult to break free and start anew.
And he never lies
Despite his consumption and perpetuation of the system, he does not actively deceive others.
Cuz he never said anything at all, anything at all
He is complicit in the system of consumerism through his passive participation and silence.
Contributed by Nora F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@carlosvillanueva1658
[Intro: Mike Shinoda]
And he never lies
And he never lies
[Lupe Fiasco:]
(uh, yea)
He just sits, and watches the people in the boxes
Everything he sees, he absorbs and adopts it
He mimics and he mocks it
And he hates the box but he cant remember how to stop it
(uh) So he continues to watch it
Hopin that it can give him somethin he can box with
Or how the locksmith seen the boxes
Locked in the box and aint got the combination to unlock it
Thats why he watches, scared to look away
Cuz at that moment it might show him what to take off the locks with
So he chained himself to the box, took a lock and then he locked it
Swallowed the combination and then forgot it
As the doctors jot it all down with they pens and pencils
The same ones that took away his voice and just left his instrumental, like damn
[Chorus Mike Shinoda:]
And he never lies
(he never lies, he never lies, uh)
And he never lies
(uh, he never lies, he never lies, no)
And he never lies
(he never lies)
Cuz he never said anything at all
[Lupe Fiasco:]
He just sits, and listens to the people in the boxes
Everything he hears, he absorbs and adopts it
Anything not comin out the box he blocks it
See he loves the box and hope they never stop it
Anything the box tell him to do, he does it
Anything it tell him to get, he shops and he cops it
He protects the box, locks it in a box when he goes to sleep
But he never sleeps
Cuz he stays up to watch it, scared to look away
Cuz at that moment it might get stolen
And thats the last of the boxes
So he chained himself to the box, took a lock and locked it
Swallowed the combination and then forgot it
As the doctors jot it all down with they pens and pencils
The same ones that took away his voice and just left his instrumental, like damn
[Chorus:]
And he never lies
(he never lies, he never lies, uh)
And he never lies
(uh, he never lies, he never lies, no)
And he never lies
(he never lies)
Cuz he never said anything at all, anything at all
(he never lies, uh)
[Interlude Lupe Fiasco:]
And you cant tell me just who you are
You by new clothes just to hide those scars
You build that roof just to hide those stars
Now you cant take it back to the start x2
[Chorus:]
And he never lies
(he never lies, he never lies, uh)
And he never lies
(uh, he never lies, he never lies, no)
And he never lies
(he never lies)
Cuz he never said anything at all, anything at all
[fading out:]
And you cant tell me just who you are
You by new clothes just to hide those scars
You build that roof just to hide those stars
Now you cant take it back to the start [x3]
@techanina4203
This song is the reality of everyday life.. what men go through everyday with his personality and obscure feelings… 2022 still alive and I never lie. It’s the way. Lets unite. As one.
@keepkind396
Just remembered this song in the middle of the night and now I can’t stop listening to it
@famouszeke
I remember this song, Madden NFL 07 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@eazyj2888
FACTS!🙌🏾💯
@isaiahharris1998
Same!!!! 🏈🎮🔥
@Bnic9155
Shout out to madden and all games that produce good music
@jamariuswalker1712
I've kinda figured that this song was from Madden NFL 07 I've watched my brother played the s**t outta this game while I listened to THIS track rh!! When things were simple back in the good ol'days!!
@marcusfrazier4923
Yes, FLAMES 🔥🔥
@arthuraleph6378
Today I remembered this track and now I'm listening here, it's great
@TwincVanilaSpilla
this is lupe's best song the creative brilliance shines in the song, fiasco u da man