Spirits of the Red City is a nine-member collective of friends and wanderin… Read Full Bio ↴Spirits of the Red City is a nine-member collective of friends and wandering musicians led by Will Garrison. Members call home places as close as Minneapolis and as far as Alaska and New York City. Call the music time-weathered folk or strewn remnants of Americana or something else entirely. Here is what you will hear: Opaque lyrics, at once lonely and longing and hopeful and weary and love-strewn, given breath with explorative structure and melody, and supported by an ensemble of strings, trumpets, drums and found percussion, banjos, accordions, vocal harmonies and more.

Spirits of the Red City are:
Will Garrison: guitars, lyrics, vocals
James Waldo: cello, vocals
Jason Overby: banjo, accordion, guitars, vocals
Brian Voerding: trumpet, valve horns
Anthony Poretti: drums, percussion
Ben Waldo: mandolin, viola
Alyssa Overby: vocals
Rachel Overby: bass, vocals
with help from a rotating cast of good friends.

Lie To Me
Spirits of the Red City Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Like a wheel turned on its side
All its weight thrown down a wide hill
I will follow
Or at least with my voice, I will

Lie to me
I know how it looks
Lie to me

Like this was the first time
Call me
Call me
Hold me

Like a stone fallen from your hand
Carried on by its weight to the ground
I will quit you
Or at least with my voice, I will

Lie to me
I know how it looks
Lie to me
I know how it looks
Lie to me
Like this was the first time
Call me

Call me
Hold me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Lie to Me" by Spirits of the Red City suggest a relationship in turmoil, with the singer struggling to let go of someone they love. The comparison of their love to a wheel turned on its side, tumbling down a hill, paints a picture of a love that's lost momentum and is careening out of control. In spite of this, the singer remains devoted, promising to follow even if they can't be physically present. They appear desperate for affection and intimacy, asking to be lied to, called, and held as a way to maintain their connection.

The second verse continues this theme of a relationship falling apart, with the image of a stone falling from a hand showing that the inevitability of separation has already been set in motion. However, the singer still struggles to let go, and again, pleads for some kind of reassurance from their partner. The repetition of the phrase "Lie to me, I know how it looks" suggests that the singer knows deep down that their love is doomed, but is still in denial and holding on to hope.

Overall, the lyrics of "Lie to Me" explore the pain and confusion of a relationship on the brink of collapse, with the singer struggling to let go of their love and seeking comfort in little moments of connection.

Line by Line Meaning

Like a wheel turned on its side
The situation feels unstable and out of control

All its weight thrown down a wide hill
The situation is gaining momentum and becoming increasingly difficult to stop

I will follow
I am committed to staying with you through this difficult time

Or at least with my voice, I will
If I can't physically be with you, I will support you emotionally

Lie to me
Tell me everything is going to be okay, even if it's not true

I know how it looks
I understand that the situation is bad, but I need reassurance

Like this was the first time
Make me believe that this isn't a recurring pattern and things will improve

Call me
Stay in touch with me, even if it's just a brief message or call

Hold me
Provide physical comfort and support

Like a stone fallen from your hand
The situation feels like a loss, something that slipped away from us

Carried on by its weight to the ground
The situation is heavy and difficult to move past