Only the Truth
The Last Shadow Puppets Lyrics
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Only the truth
She reckoned she owed
Only the truth
She reckoned she owes
The way she walks
Is scripted and taught
She snipered your mind
See by her hands
That she's been there before
She lifts up her glass
As if to bring down a mess
[Chorus]
Climbing the stairs
As if to follow her there
Her golden lace boots
May stop your right there
Hands on your arm
She greets all your friends
Twist of a lime
It seems a bitter end
[Chorus]
The girl with many
Different strategies
Wakes the wolves
To curse them
To their knees
She's in the one
By the riverbank
So it's easier for her
To drown you
And she claims
Oh, she claims
[Chorus]
The Last Shadow Puppets’ melancholic ballad, “Only the Truth,” centers around a mysterious woman who seems to be deceiving those around her. The chorus, “Only the truth, she reckoned she owed, Only the truth, she reckoned she owes” suggests that the woman is grappling with her own conscience and the consequences of her actions. The first verse describes the woman's movements as carefully scripted and controlled, with even her posture and the way she holds her glass being calculated. The second verse is more ominous, with the singer describing the woman leading someone up the stairs, possibly to their ruin. The third verse seems to suggest that the woman has a long history of manipulating people, with the image of her waking wolves to curse them to their knees being particularly striking.
Overall, the song seems to be a warning about the dangers of trusting someone who is skilled at deception. The woman in the song may be charming and alluring, but ultimately she is someone to be feared and avoided. The haunting melody and slow pace of the song underscore the sense of impending danger.
Line by Line Meaning
Only the truth
The only thing that she believes she owes is honesty.
She reckoned she owed
She believes that it's her responsibility to be truthful.
Only the truth
The only thing that she believes she owes is honesty.
She reckoned she owes
She believes that it's her responsibility to be truthful.
The way she walks
Her movements are rehearsed and learned.
Is scripted and taught
Her actions are preplanned and instructed.
Don't give her an eye
Don't stare at her.
She snipered your mind
She's capable of manipulating your thoughts and emotions.
See by her hands
You can tell from her hands that she's experienced.
That she's been there before
She has had similar experiences in the past.
She lifts up her glass
She raises her drink.
As if to bring down a mess
She acts as though she wants to remedy a problem.
Climbing the stairs
She's ascending a staircase.
As if to follow her there
One might get the impression that they should follow her.
Her golden lace boots
She's wearing fancy footwear.
May stop you right there
Her shoes might prevent you from going any further.
Hands on your arm
She's touching your arm.
She greets all your friends
She's friendly with all of your acquaintances.
Twist of a lime
By adding a lime to a drink.
It seems a bitter end
It appears that something unpleasant is happening.
The girl with many
She's a complex person.
Different strategies
She has numerous methods for achieving her goals.
Wakes the wolves
She arouses troublemakers.
To curse them to their knees
She reduces them to a state of misery and despair.
She's in the one
She's near or inside a particular location.
By the riverbank
Next to the river.
So it's easier for her
It's a more optimal location for her.
To drown you
She might cause harm to you in that spot.
And she claims
She says that something is true.
Oh, she claims
She really emphasizes that she is telling the truth.
Only the truth
The only thing that she believes she owes is honesty.
She reckoned she owed
She believes that it's her responsibility to be truthful.
Only the truth
The only thing that she believes she owes is honesty.
She reckoned she owes
She believes that it's her responsibility to be truthful.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ALEX TURNER, MILES KANE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind