It's A Wonderful Lie
Paul Westerberg Lyrics
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And I look for rain
Take an amphetamine
And a crushed rat's brain
How am I feelin'
Better I suppose
How am I lookin'
What am I doin'
I ain't in my youth
I'm past my prime
Or was that just a pose
It a wonderful lie
And I still get by on those
I've been accused of never opening up
You get too close
Then I keep my mouth shut
I'm gonna run to the wind
Where the big bad city blows
It a wonderful lie
And I still get by on those
It a wonderful lie
And I still get by on those
You can dress to the eights
You can dress to maim
It'll make you feel great
This fortune and fame
Wearing too much makeup
Not near enough clothes
It a wonderful lie
And I still get by on those
It a wonderful lie
And I still get by on those
So don't pin your hopes
Or pin your dreams
To misanthropes or guys like me
The truth is overrated
I suppose
It a wonderful lie
And I still get by on those
It a wonderful lie
And I still get by...
The song "It's A Wonderful Lie" by Paul Westerberg is a commentary on the societal obsession with self-deception and the lies we tell ourselves. The opening lines, "Get up from a dream/And I look for rain/Take an amphetamine/And a crushed rat's brain" suggest the singer's disillusionment with reality and reliance on drugs to cope. He then reflects on his age and past, wondering whether his youthful antics were genuine or just a facade.
The chorus repeats the phrase "It's a wonderful lie/And I still get by on those," emphasizing the comfort and security that lies and self-deception can provide. The verse beginning with "You can dress to the eights/You can dress to maim" comments on the superficiality of societal standards of beauty and success.
The song concludes with a warning against relying on "misanthropes" like the singer and the idea that the truth is overrated. The lyrics of "It's A Wonderful Lie" is an insightful critique of the societal obsession with lies and the illusion that we often believe to maintain a comforting status quo.
Line by Line Meaning
Get up from a dream
Rise from my subconscious thoughts
And I look for rain
Seeking something to fill the emptiness inside
Take an amphetamine
Use drugs to escape from reality
And a crushed rat's brain
Consume things that are destructive without care for the consequences
How am I feelin'
Trying to evaluate my emotional state
Better I suppose
Feeling slightly improved compared to yesterday
How am I lookin'
Questioning my physical appearance
I don't want the truth
Preferring people to lie about my appearance to boost my ego
What am I doin'
Wondering about my purpose in life
I ain't in my youth
Not as young as I used to be
I'm past my prime
Believing that the best years of my life are behind me
Or was that just a pose
Questioning whether or not I was ever really in my prime
It a wonderful lie
Deceiving myself into thinking that everything is okay
And I still get by on those
Faking my way through life, relying on lies to survive
I've been accused of never opening up
People have criticized me for keeping my feelings hidden
You get too close
Feeling uncomfortable when people try to get emotionally intimate
Then I keep my mouth shut
Choosing to stay silent rather than reveal my true feelings
I'm gonna run to the wind
Trying to escape from reality by fleeing to a new place
Where the big bad city blows
Going to a metropolis known for its harshness
You can dress to the eights
Dressing up extravagantly
You can dress to maim
Dressing to cause harm or intimidate others
It'll make you feel great
Thinking that appearance can solve emotional problems
This fortune and fame
Believing that monetary success and recognition are the keys to happiness
Wearing too much makeup
Using cosmetics to hide one's true face
Not near enough clothes
Dressing scantily to grab attention
So don't pin your hopes
Advising others not to rely on someone like me
Or pin your dreams
Warning people to avoid investing their future in something that could collapse
To misanthropes or guys like me
Discouraging people from looking up to someone who is disillusioned with humanity
The truth is overrated
Thinking that honesty is not as important as self-preservation
It a wonderful lie
Preferring to remain in a fantasy world rather than face reality
And I still get by on those
Surviving through self-deception and living in lies
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: PAUL WESTERBERG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
The Last American Patriot
There isn't an artist more underrated than Paul Westerberg.
Robert Taylor
The way he sings "I'm past my prime" gets me every time
M Davis
i hear this in my head everyday...the one top of my list artist I’ve yet to work with! Suzi Katayama hired me for cello cues actually...so it’s kind of a dream come true!
Balderdash
Is it me or does this song sound like something John Prine would have written? And I mean that only as a testament to what a great song writer Paul Westerberg is.
John Little
Wow, TOTALLY. Good call!
Hazen Schumacher
This song brings tears of joy.
Albert Vara
Beyond amazing this guy.
Sady Maher
This song is awesome., no less .
Silky Wellman
What a songwriter.....
Hugh Jass
How am i feeling? better i suppose... A wonderful line