I Could Have Lied
Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

There must be something
In the way I feel
That she don't want me to feel
The stare she bares cut me
I don't care
You see so what if I bleed

I could never change
Just what I feel
My face will never show
What is not real

A mountain never seems to have
The need to speak
A look that shares so many seek
The sweetest feeling
I got from you
The things I said to you were true

I could never change
Just what I feel
My face will never show
What is not real

I could have lied I'm such a fool
My eyes could never never never
Keep their cool
Showed her and I told her how
She struck me but I'm fucked up now

But now she's gone yes she's gone away
A soulful song
That would not stay
You see she hides 'cause she is scared
But I don't care
I won't be spared

I could have lied I'm such a fool
My eyes could never never never
Keep their cool
Showed her and I told her how
She struck me but I'm fucked up now

I could have lied I'm such a fool
My eyes could never never never
Keep their cool




Showed her and I told her how
She struck me but I'm fucked up now

Overall Meaning

"I Could Have Lied" by Red Hot Chili Peppers speaks about a man's unrequited love for a woman despite her cold and hurtful demeanor towards him. From the lyrics, we can infer that the singer is aware that the woman he loves doesn't have feelings for him, but he cannot help how he feels, despite the fact that she doesn't treat him the way he deserves. He describes the stares she gives him as cutting, which suggests that she may be emotionally abusive towards him. However, the singer is still willing to take the emotional pain because he cannot change what he feels.


The second verse speaks about how the singer's feelings are true and genuine, and he can never change them, no matter how much he may want to. He describes his face as a facade of what he feels, which means that he is hiding his true emotions from others, possibly to get by in life or to avoid judgement.


The final verse speaks of the woman leaving him, but yet he still doesn't care about how it will impact him emotionally. Despite the rejection, he would rather have her in his life, hurting him emotionally, than to not have her in his life at all.


In conclusion, the song highlights the singer's pain, his inability to control his emotions, and his determination to hold on to an unrequited love despite the emotional toll it takes on him.


Line by Line Meaning

There must be something
The singer can sense that something is wrong in his relationship with the subject of the song.


In the way I feel
The singer's emotions are causing tension in the relationship.


That she don't want me to feel
The subject of the song is actively trying to prevent the singer from feeling a certain way.


The stare she bares cut me
The subject's disapproving or critical gaze is emotionally painful for the artist.


I don't care
Despite the subject's negativity, the artist is resolute in his feelings and refuses to be swayed.


You see so what if I bleed
The singer is willing to endure emotional pain if it means staying true to his feelings.


A mountain never seems to have
The singer compares himself to a mountain, which is a symbol of stability and strength, but may also suggest that he is emotionally distant.


The need to speak
Mountains don't have the same expressive desires as humans.


A look that shares so many seek
Despite the mountain's lack of expressiveness, people still find meaning in its appearance.


The sweetest feeling
The artist has experienced happiness or love in his relationship with the subject.


I got from you
The subject is the source of the singer's positive emotions.


The things I said to you were true
The artist believes that his expressions of love or affection were sincere.


I could have lied I'm such a fool
The singer acknowledges that he could have concealed his true feelings, even though it would have been foolish to do so.


My eyes could never never never
The singer's body language or nonverbal cues are insufficient to hide his true emotions.


Keep their cool
The singer cannot hide his true feelings even if he tries.


Showed her and I told her how
The artist has been open and honest about his feelings with the subject of the song.


She struck me but I'm fucked up now
The subject's rejection or unresponsiveness has caused the artist emotional pain or distress.


But now she's gone yes she's gone away
The singer and the subject are no longer together.


A soulful song
The singer may be expressing his emotions through music.


That would not stay
Perhaps the relationship was fleeting or unsustainable.


You see she hides 'cause she is scared
The subject is avoiding emotional vulnerability out of fear.


But I don't care
The artist is not deterred by the subject's emotional barriers.


I won't be spared
The singer is prepared to experience emotional pain again in pursuit of a genuine connection.




Lyrics © MoeBeToBlame, Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith, Michael Balzary, John Frusciante

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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