The Damned is a punk rock band started in 1976 in London, UK. Despite being… Read Full Bio ↴The Damned is a punk rock band started in 1976 in London, UK. Despite being one of the definitive early punk bands they were also one of the most ambitious; with their later albums moving away from gothic rock to psychedelic rock.

They are notable for being the first of the British punk bands to release a single, put out an album, and tour the United States. Their debut album, Damned Damned Damned, was released six months before The Sex Pistols' debut, Never Mind The Bollocks.

The Damned have dissolved and reformed many times, with singer Dave Vanian remaining the sole constant. They have incorporated many styles in their music, most notably garage rock, psychedelic music, the British theatrical rock of Screaming Lord Sutch and The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, and New Romantic.

In addition to serving as inspiration for many of the young bands who created hardcore punk in the US, The Damned are also generally regarded as one of the founders of goth music.

Original members Dave Vanian (David Lett), Captain Sensible (Raymond Burns), and Rat Scabies (Chris Millar) were all members of the semi-legendary Masters of the Backside which included future Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde.

Original guitarist Brian James (Brian Robertson) was a member of the early punk band London SS, a unit that never played live, but whose members later found fame in bands including The Clash and Generation X. Rat Scabies was also tried as the drummer for London SS, but was rejected.

Maintaining the goth connection, between 1996 and 2004 the bass guitarist of the Damned was one-time the Sisters of Mercy / the Sisterhood / Gun Club member Patricia Morrison. Morrison married Dave Vanian in 1996 but left the band after the birth of their daughter Emily. She originally joined the band after bassist Paul Grey was injured during a concert.

Discography:

Damned, Damned, Damned – February 25, 1977 (# 36)
Music For Pleasure – November 18, 1977
Machine Gun Etiquette – November 2, 1979 (# 31)
The Black Album – October 20, 1980 (# 29)
Strawberries – October 1, 1982 (# 15)
Phantasmagoria – July 15, 1985 (# 11)
Anything – December 5, 1986 (# 40)
Not of This Earth – November 11, 1995 (Retitled I'm Alright Jack & The Beanstalk in the UK, Germany and Sweden)
Grave Disorder – August 21, 2001
So, Who's Paranoid? – October 28, 2008
Evil Spirits – April 13, 2018
Darkadelic - April 28, 2023

liar
The Damned Lyrics

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Theres not a word of truth in anything that I say
I don't really want to listen till they go away
I haven't finished and I never try
If you ask me reasons I just lie

I'm a liar, liar, I never tell the truth
I'm a liar, liar, I never tell the truth

I tell you how I feel and why it is
And what you are if you don't start to give
I love spending hours watching television
I stole the best lies and then I call up your crepid politicians

I'm a liar, liar, I never tell the truth
I'm a liar, liar, I never tell the truth

I smoked your last cigarette I say that someone else did
I send your mum to the bed to find if your sisters frigid
You ask me why, I just lie
I'm a liar, liar

I'm gonna be the biggest liar in the world
I'll be so good you'll believe every word
I could even make you believe Adolf Hitler
Send him to Russia for the winter

I'm a liar, liar, I never tell the truth
I'm a liar, liar, I never tell the truth

Overall Meaning

The Damned's song "Liar" is a self-aware exploration of deceit and dishonesty. The singer openly admits to never telling the truth and even revels in the idea of becoming the "biggest liar in the world." The verses detail specific instances of lying, from stealing lies from politicians to blaming others for personal transgressions.

The chorus repeats the phrase "I'm a liar, liar, I never tell the truth" as a declaration of identity. The repetition of this phrase emphasizes the theme of the song and serves as a sort of mantra for the singer's dishonest behavior.

The chorus also features the line "I could even make you believe Adolf Hitler, send him to Russia for the winter." This line is particularly interesting because it suggests that the singer has a kind of sinister glee in his ability to convince others of falsehoods. The choice of Adolf Hitler as an example is notable as well, as he is widely regarded as one of history's most notorious liars and propagandists.

Overall, "Liar" is a song that confronts the idea of lying head-on, acknowledging the harm that dishonesty can cause while also exploring the thrill that can come from manipulating others.

Line by Line Meaning

Theres not a word of truth in anything that I say
I simply cannot be trusted, as every statement that comes out of my mouth is likely to be a fabrication.

I don't really want to listen till they go away
I am not interested in what others have to say, and I will avoid engaging with them until they disappear.

I haven't finished and I never try
I am lazy and uncommitted, and I rarely put in the effort to see things through to completion.

If you ask me reasons I just lie
When pressed for answers or explanations, I am likely to resort to falsehoods rather than telling the truth.

I'm a liar, liar, I never tell the truth
This line is a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the fact that the artist is fundamentally dishonest.

I tell you how I feel and why it is
I will describe my emotions and attach fabricated reasons to them, in order to manipulate or control you.

And what you are if you don't start to give
If you fail to comply with my demands, I will criticize and belittle you, casting aspersions on your character.

I love spending hours watching television
I am content to waste hours of my life on vapid or meaningless pursuits, rather than engaging in anything productive or meaningful.

I stole the best lies and then I call up your crepid politicians
I am constantly seeking out new falsehoods and manipulative tactics, and I am not above using them to influence others in underhanded ways.

I smoked your last cigarette I say that someone else did
I will not hesitate to pin the blame for my misdeeds on others, rather than admitting my own culpability.

I send your mum to the bed to find if your sisters frigid
This line is particularly vile and misogynistic, suggesting that I am willing to degrade and humiliate women in order to assert my dominance or satisfy my base desires.

You ask me why, I just lie
If you press me for answers or explanations, I am likely to resort to falsehoods rather than telling the truth.

I'm gonna be the biggest liar in the world
I am proud of my deception, and I aspire to a status of preeminent dishonesty and manipulation.

I'll be so good you'll believe every word
I am confident in my ability to deceive and manipulate others, and I believe that I can convince them of even the most absurd falsehoods.

I could even make you believe Adolf Hitler
This line demonstrates the singer's hubris, suggesting that he or she is capable of convincing people to believe even the most widely-discredited and reviled figures in history.

Send him to Russia for the winter
This line is perhaps a non-sequitur, as it does not seem to be connected to the topic of deception or manipulation. It is likely intended as a joke or a throwaway line.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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