Truth
Patty Griffin Lyrics


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You don't like the sound of the truth
Coming from my mouth
You say that I lack the proof
Baby, that might be so

I might get to the end of my life
And find out everyone was lying
But I don't think that I'm afraid any more
I say that I would rather die trying

Oh swing me way down south
Sing me something brave from your mouth
And I'll bring you pearls of water on my hips
And the love in my lips, all the love in my lips

This time when you swung the bat
And I found myself laying flat I wondered
What a way to spend a dime
What a way to use the time, ain't it, baby?

And I looked at my reflection
In the window walking past and I saw a stranger
I'm just so scared all the time
Makes me one more reason why the world is dangerous

Oh swing me way down south
Sing me something brave from your mouth
And I'll bring you pearls of water on my hips
And the love in my lips, all the love in my lips

You don't like the sound of the truth
Coming from my mouth
You say that I lack the proof
Baby, that might be so

Tell me what's wrong with having a little faith
In what you're feeling in your heart?
And why must we be so afraid
And always so far apart?

Oh swing me way down south
Sing me something brave from your mouth




And I'll bring you pearls of water on my hips
And the love in my lips, all the love in my lips

Overall Meaning

Patty Griffin's song "Truth" deals with the theme of honesty, specifically the struggle between speaking one's truth and being met with resistance from others. The opening lines of the song set the stage for this conflict, as the singer laments the fact that someone doesn't like the "sound of the truth coming from [her] mouth." The other person asserts that she lacks proof, and while she acknowledges that this might be the case, she asserts that she would rather die trying to speak her truth anyway.


The second verse of the song takes a more introspective turn as the singer reflects on her own self-doubt and fear. She has a moment where she sees her own reflection and feels like a stranger to herself. This fear makes her feel like the world is a dangerous place, adding another layer to the struggle she is facing in speaking her truth.


The chorus of the song offers a glimmer of hope amidst this struggle - a call to someone to "swing [her] way down south" and "sing [her] something brave from [their] mouth." In return, she promises to bring "pearls of water on [her] hips" and "the love in [her] lips." This can be interpreted as an offer of vulnerability in exchange for the other person being brave enough to share their own truth.


Line by Line Meaning

You don't like the sound of the truth
You hate hearing honest things from me


Coming from my mouth
When I talk about reality


You say that I lack the proof
You believe I don't have facts to support


Baby, that might be so
But that may not be true


I might get to the end of my life
Maybe when everything is over


And find out everyone was lying
I'll see that people were dishonest


But I don't think that I'm afraid anymore
I'm no longer scared of that


I say that I would rather die trying
I'd rather try and be truthful


Oh swing me way down south
Take me somewhere unfamiliar


Sing me something brave from your mouth
Tell me something bold


And I'll bring you pearls of water on my hips
I'll give you all I have to offer


And the love in my lips, all the love in my lips
I'll speak only words of affection


This time when you swung the bat
When you attacked me


And I found myself laying flat I wondered
I was concerned


What a way to spend a dime
What a waste of money


What a way to use the time, ain't it, baby?
What a waste of time, isn't it?


And I looked at my reflection
I saw myself in a reflection


In the window walking past and I saw a stranger
And felt like a stranger to myself


I'm just so scared all the time
I'm constantly full of fear


Makes me one more reason why the world is dangerous
It makes the world scarier


Tell me what's wrong with having a little faith
What's the problem with believing


In what you're feeling in your heart?
In what you truly feel deep down?


And why must we be so afraid
Why do we have to be so scared


And always so far apart?
And so distant from each other?


Oh swing me way down south
Take me somewhere unknown


Sing me something brave from your mouth
Say something courageous


And I'll bring you pearls of water on my hips
I'll offer you everything I have


And the love in my lips, all the love in my lips
I'll speak words of love




Contributed by Henry J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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