After having had his recording contract terminated by Columbia Records, Tim Hardin achieved some success in the 1960s as a songwriter based in Greenwich Village. The original recording of "Reason to Believe" comes from Hardin's debut album, "Tim Hardin 1", recorded in 1965 and released on the Verve Records label in 1966 when he was 25.
Tim Hardin's original recording of the song is also on the soundtrack to the 2000 film "Wonder Boys".
Reason To Believe
Tim Hardin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd find a way to believe that it's all true
Knowing, that you lied, straight-faced
While I cried
But still I'd look to find a reason to believe
Someone like you makes it hard to live
Without, somebody else
Someone like you, makes it easy to give
If I gave you time to change my mind
I'd find a way to leave the past behind
Knowing that you lied, straight-faced
While I cried
But still I'd look to find a reason to believe
(Instrumental)
If I listen long enough to you
I'd find a way to believe it's all true
Knowing that you lied, straight-faced
While I cried
Still I'd look to find a reason to believe.
Tim Hardin's song Reason to Believe is a touching ballad about staying hopeful in a relationship despite being lied to. The opening lines convey how the singer is willing to trust their partner blindly, even if it means ignoring the obvious lies. There is a hint of desperation in the lyric "still, I'd look to find a reason to believe," which suggests a person hanging onto something, perhaps the relationship, that they know isn't true. The second verse of the song reveals how the person being lied to relies on the other person's presence to survive; someone like them makes it "hard to live without somebody else." Here, "someone like you" can be interpreted in two senses; as someone who lies or as someone who is dearly loved.
The chorus is a brief instrumental break that serves to highlight the repeated message, that the person hearing the lies would still look to find a reason to believe. The last verse is identical to the first one, highlighting the consistency in the person's feelings. The song Reason to Believe is a beautiful testament to the power of hope in a relationship, even when things seem dire. The melody is soft and soothing, matching the compassionate tone of the lyrics. Despite the sadness and heartbreak underlying the lyrics, the song does not leave the listener feeling hopeless but, rather, empathic and hopeful.
Line by Line Meaning
If I listen long enough to you
The singer is so desperate to have something to believe in that they are willing to listen to someone they don't trust or respect.
I'd find a way to believe that it's all true
The singer is searching for something to hold onto and is willing to believe anything to fill that void, even if it's not true.
Knowing, that you lied, straight-faced
Despite the fact that the singer knows the other person is lying, the liar maintains a serious and convincing demeanor.
While I cried
The singer is deeply affected by the lies and is in emotional pain.
But still I'd look to find a reason to believe
Despite everything, the singer remains hopeful and continues to search for something to believe in.
Someone like you makes it hard to live
The other person's presence makes life difficult and unpleasant for the singer.
Without, somebody else
The singer feels they cannot function or find happiness without the other person in their life.
Someone like you, makes it easy to give
The other person has a strong influence on the singer and can easily convince them to do things they might not normally do.
Never think of myself
The singer puts the other person's needs and wants above their own and disregards their own well-being.
If I gave you time to change my mind
The singer is willing to give the other person a chance to prove themselves and possibly change the singer's perspective.
I'd find a way to leave the past behind
The singer is willing to forgive and move on from past hurts if they see a positive change in the other person.
Instrumental
No lyrics are sung during this part of the song.
If I listen long enough to you
The singer reiterates their desire to believe in something, even if it means listening to someone they don't trust.
I'd find a way to believe it's all true
The singer is still searching for something to hold onto and is willing to believe anything to fill that void, even if it's not true.
Knowing that you lied, straight-faced
Despite the fact that the singer knows the other person is lying, the liar maintains a serious and convincing demeanor.
While I cried
The singer is deeply affected by the lies and is in emotional pain.
Still I'd look to find a reason to believe
Despite everything, the singer remains hopeful and continues to search for something to believe in.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Tim Hardin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Steve Cabral
“People understand me through my songs. It’s my one way to communicate.” - Tim Hardin
The sadly ironic thing about that statement is that the majority of people who heard those songs did so through the cover versions done by other artists. “If I Were A Carpenter” became a hit for Bobby Darin, The Four Tops, and Johnny Cash. “Don’t Make Promises” was a single for the Beau Brummels. Of a more recent vintage, Okkervil River used Hardin’s “Black Sheep Boy” as the title track for a 2005 album partially inspired by the late singer’s difficult life.
The unlikely trajectory of “Reason To Believe”, a song first performed by Hardin on his 1966 debut album Tim Hardin 1, is perhaps most emblematic of his star-crossed career. The song is a melancholy beauty, sung by Hardin in dejected tones that suggest he’s likely to fall again for the deceptive ploys of the girl he’s addressing and suffer dire consequences as a result. “If I listened long enough to you,” he sings, “I’d find a way to believe that it’s all true.” Hardin’s narrator walks that fine line between sacrifice and self-destruction: “Someone like you makes it easy to give/ Never thinking about myself.” The final line implies he’s soon to cross over that line against all better judgment: “Still I look to find a reason to believe.”
In 1971, Rod Stewart not only chose the song to close out his album Every Picture Tells a Story but also made it the opening single. Stewart gives an achingly soulful performance, moaning alongside the sympathetic Hammond organ of Ian McLagan and even singing a portion a cappella in a showstopper of a moment. Yet what could have been a huge boost for Hardin’s back catalog got sidetracked when the B-side of Stewart’s single started gaining attention and eventually was flip-flopped to the A-side. The song in question: “Maggie May”, which turned out to be the signature song of Stewart’s illustrious career.
In 1993, Stewart reunited with his old Faces buddy Ronnie Wood for an MTV Unplugged appearance that would later become the album Unplugged … and Seated. The pair decided to dust off “Reason To Believe.” Behind a winningly ramshackle arrangement, Stewart’s relaxed vocal gave the song an almost joyful feel. That attitude change seemed to resonate, as the live version of the song garnered enough airplay to push it to #19 on the US charts, completing its 27-year journey to Hitsville.
That the song reached the peak of its success well after its author had passed away is pretty much par for the course for Tim Hardin’s story. Thus “Reason To Believe” serves as a testament to both the excellence of his songwriting and the misfortune of his life.
farha sameer
"Reason To Believe"
(originally by Tim Hardin)
If I listened long enough to you
I'd find a way to believe that it's all true
Knowing that you lied straight-faced while I cried
Still I look to find a reason to believe
Someone like you makes it hard to live without
somebody else
Someone like you makes it easy to give
never think about myself
If I gave you time to change my mind
I'd find a way just to leave the past behind
Knowing that you lied straight-faced while I cried
Still I look to find a reason to believe
If I listened long enough to you
I'd find a way to believe that it's all true
Knowing that you lied straight-faced while I cried
Still I look to find a reason to believe
Someone like you makes it hard to live without
somebody else
Someone like you makes it easy to give
never think about myself
Jeff Loewi
Tim wrote it and his version, this version, is and will always be playing in my mind and heart. It's so gentle, so straightforward, so beautifully quiet yet powerful. Great talent, sad end.
LaurenJayne Diamond
Magnificent version!!!!! Thanks friend.
Coconut ScienceGirl92
He truly meant every word. The others are good but they didn’t sing It from the heart like only the person who wrote it could.
Peter de Vries
Well said Jeff, so true
Michelle Lekas
I love this song like crazy and also Tim too. Still, I have to give SOME props to Rod Stewart. Gritty, lovely. Both great.
Doug Smith
Beautifully said.. and yes, very sad end!
Nancy Woodward
I don't think anyone ever did this song better than Tim Hardin.
Peter Bartlett
Neither do I Nancy.
Malcolm Marshall
Yes, this version had a painful charm, so real, it blows away Rod Stewart's version.
Shelley Cohen Montgomery
me neither Nancy. He's a great writer and singer. I never did care for Rod Stewart's version.