truth
Patty Griffin feat. Emmylou Harris Lyrics
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Coming from my mouth
You say that I like the proof
Baby that might be so
I might get to the end of my life
Find out everyone was lying
Look like you are not afraid anymore
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 I 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?
Now I looked at our reflections
In the window walking past
And I saw strangers
I think we`re just so scared all the time
That`s the main reason why
The world is so 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 like the proof
Baby that might be so
Tell what`s wrong with having a little faith
In what you`re feelin' in your heart
Why must we be so afraid
And always so far apart
In Patty Griffin's song "Truth #2", the singer addresses someone who doesn't like the truth that's coming from her mouth. The listener accuses her of enjoying proof, but the singer insists she would rather die trying than to become complacent in a world full of lies. The chorus brings in Southern swing influences as the singer asks her lover to sing her something brave from his mouth while she offers "pearls of water" and "love in my lips".
The second verse begins with the singer referencing a moment when she found herself lying flat after swinging the bat - an incident that prompts her to ask what a waste of time it was. As she and her lover walk by a window with their reflections, she realizes how much of strangers they've become because of their constant fear, which leaves them so far apart from each other. The second chorus follows as she repeats her earlier request of the lover to sing something brave.
The song speaks of the importance of honesty and how fear can mask the truth. The singer encourages bravery and faith in one's heart, even if it means risking heartbreak or disappointment. The motif of water - which can both cleanse and drown - can be interpreted as a symbol for the conflicting emotions in a relationship, and the "love in my lips" reinforces the idea of authentic communication and passion.
Line by Line Meaning
You don`t like the sound of the truth
The singer's honesty is unpleasant for the listener's ears.
Coming from my mouth
The truth is spoken by the singer, which is causing discomfort to the listener.
You say that I like the proof
The listener accuses the singer of enjoying proving the truth.
Baby that might be so
The artist concedes that the listener's accusation might be true.
I might get to the end of my life
The artist contemplates the end of their life.
Find out everyone was lying
The singer expresses the possibility of discovering that everyone was deceitful at the end of their life.
Look like you are not afraid anymore
The singer observes a change in the listener's demeanor, implying that they are no longer frightened.
I say that I would rather die trying
The artist asserts that they would prefer to risk and fail than never try at all.
Oh swing me way down south
The artist seeks comfort in the listener's words and pleas for support.
Sing me something brave from your mouth
The artist asks the listener to encourage her with brave words.
And I`ll bring you pearls of water on my hips
The singer offers to reciprocate emotional support and bring the listener emotional nourishment.
And the love in my lips
The artist implies that her love is genuine and is communicated through her words.
All the love in my lips
The singer concludes the stanza with reinforced emphasis on the authenticity of her love.
This time when I swung the bat
The singer uses a metaphor of failing to hit something in baseball to describe an unsuccessful venture in life.
And I found myself laying flat
The singer encountered failure in this attempt.
I wondered
The artist expresses a moment of pondering or self-questioning.
What a way to spend a dime
The artist questions whether wasting time in this manner was a wise use of resources.
What a way to use the time
The singer reflects on the poor decisions they made regarding how they spent their time.
ain`t it baby?
The singer invites the listener to agree with her and her criticism of one's own inadequate ways.
Now I looked at our reflections
The artist shifts to reflect on a moment with the listener where they saw their reflections.
In the window walking past
The artist clarifies that the reflections were in a window while walking past it.
And I saw strangers
The artist felt that the pair of them were becoming a pair of strangers due to their individual life experiences.
I think we`re just so scared all the time
The singer suggests that fear is the overwhelming source of our tendency for estrangement.
That`s the main reason why
The artist asserts that fear is key to why the world is so dangerous.
The world is so dangerous
The stanza concludes with a commentary on the danger in the world.
Tell what`s wrong with having a little faith
The singer challenges the factors that prevent people from having faith.
In what you`re feelin` in your heart
The singer invites people to believe in their hearts and emotions.
Why must we be so afraid
The artist questions the reason why fear has to rule our lives.
And always so far apart
The artist lamentsthe human tendency to distance ourselves from others due to fear.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PATRICIA J. GRIFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cynthiamadrid1430
Can't get any prettier than those two angels.
@tjwash5118
I had the pleasure of seeing Emmylou, Patty, Dave Matthews, Bud and Julie Miller at Austin City Limits, 1999, or 2000. A songwriters collaboration, they all took turns sharing their original songs, supported by each other’s musical accompaniment. It was a stunning array of talent, free of egos, celebrating friendship and musical appreciation of each others gifts.
@davidparnell1893
Emmylou and Patty together...angels do descend from Heaven with a song to lead us from the dark in time to reason and find the joy of this life...
@dreamwell2020
If you hear that Patty, Buddy, and Emmylou will be appearing on a stage anywhere even kinda close to where you live, go get a ticket right quick.
@mixndrink41
Patty Griffin, wow, she could be Emmy's vocal twin....similar qualities.....
@charleshenry-jm9rd
For years i am looking and Iistening to this video. I still like it . Thank you for the post.
@Yesica1993
One of my favorite songs from the album. (Though it's hard to pick favorites, as the whole thing is brilliant!)
@akhan5871
beautiful - poigniant - haunting - a true love song from the heart. love, arthur
@scottforesman7968
wonderful. tears.
@yokehuatgoh
fav in the album downtown church! :) guitar intro's awesome. song has traditional country/folk lines i love. rest of the album's alil too bluesy gospel for me. she's eternally my music hero becos of forgiveness, mary, heavenly day, sweet lorraine, moses.. she's brilliant