… Read Full Bio ↴Ruthie Foster is an American singer/songwriter of blues and folk music.
She is from Gause, Texas and from a family of gospel singers. She studied music at McLennan Community College and then worked in the US Navy, where she started performing. Her debut was released in 1997 and she has performed in North America, Europe and Australia. She has often been compared to Ella Fitzgerald and Aretha Franklin.
Truth
Ruthie Foster Lyrics
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What it really mean to be true
Somebody tell me
Tell me what it mean to you
You can't find it in a TV screen
You can't read it in a book no
You won't see it in the future
You know truth ain't hard to find
You know truth sitting deep inside
And that truth can be in disguise
You don't have to go far
Truth is right where you are, yeh, hoo!
Somebody asked me
What it really mean to be true
Somebody tell me
Tell me what it mean to you
You're trying to find it in the government ya'll
And look for it in the courthouse too
You try to speak it in the cell phone ya'll
Waiting to hear it on the radio news
You can't find it in a whisper
You can't find it in a shout no
You can't find it in a schoolyard
They sing about it in the church house
Look out now!
I said truth
Getting hard to find
You know truth
Somewhere deep inside
You know truth
It'll change your mind
And truth
It may be in disguise
You don't have to go far
Truth is right where you are
Truth, truth, yeah
You got truth,
You got truth,
Oh, yeah, hey, oh
Got to got to got to got to got to got to got to
Gotta have a little truth now
Little truth now
How bout a little bit of
How bout a little bit of
Just a little bit of truth now
Somebody somebody somebody tell me, yeah...
(truth can't hide it
Truth can't fight it)....
Ruthie Foster's uplifting song "Truth" is an ode to the elusive concept of truth and what it means to her. In the first verse, she highlights that truth cannot be found in exterior sources like TV, books, or the future. Rather, she suggests that the truth is more internal and personal and sits deep inside each of us. The truth can be in disguise, and we don't have to go far to find it; it's right where we are. In the second verse, Foster illustrates that we often search for truth in systems that we have designed, like government or courthouses, and even in our modern communication channels, like cell phones and the radio.
The song seems to invite the listener to reflect on their own understanding of truth and where they look for it. Foster's delivery of the lyrics is powerful, with a bluesy energy that makes it clear she has grappled with these questions herself. Her voice is expressive and strong, and the repetition of the chorus makes the song an anthem for those in search of truth.
Line by Line Meaning
Somebody asked me
I was asked a question by someone
What it really mean to be true
The question was about the meaning of being true
Somebody tell me
I want someone to give me a response
Tell me what it mean to you
I am asking for someone to share their personal interpretation
You can't find it in a TV screen
Watching television will not help you find the answer
You can't read it in a book no
Reading a book will not provide an answer
You won't see it in the future
Looking ahead will not reveal an answer
No matter how hard you look ya'll
Regardless of how much effort you put in
You know truth ain't hard to find
The answer is not difficult to obtain
You know truth sitting deep inside
The answer lies within oneself
And that truth can be in disguise
The answer may not always be apparent
You don't have to go far
The answer is not far away
Truth is right where you are, yeh, hoo!
The answer is within one's surroundings
You're trying to find it in the government ya'll
Searching for the answer in the government
And look for it in the courthouse too
Looking for the answer in the courthouse
You try to speak it in the cell phone ya'll
Attempting to find the answer via a phone call
Waiting to hear it on the radio news
Anticipating to hear about the answer on the radio
You can't find it in a whisper
Whispering will not reveal the answer
You can't find it in a shout no
Yelling will not provide the answer
You can't find it in a schoolyard
The answer cannot be found in a schoolyard
They sing about it in the church house
The answer is sung about in the church
I said truth
I am stating the word 'truth'
Getting hard to find
It is becoming increasingly challenging to find the answer
Somewhere deep inside
The answer can be found within oneself
It'll change your mind
Discovering the answer can alter one's thoughts
And truth
Referring to 'truth'
It may be in disguise
The answer can be camouflaged
You don't have to go far
The answer is not far away
Truth is right where you are
The answer is present in one's surroundings
Got to got to got to got to got to got to got to
Expressing the need to
Gotta have a little truth now
Desiring to discover the answer
Little truth now
Seeking the answer
How bout a little bit of
Suggesting a small amount of
Just a little bit of truth now
Asking for a small piece of the answer
Somebody somebody somebody tell me, yeah...
Asking for someone to provide an answer
(truth can't hide it
The statement that truth cannot be hidden
Truth can't fight it)....
The statement that truth cannot be defeated
Contributed by Riley T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.