The truth
Willmon Trent Lyrics
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Say I went to visit friends
That you ain't seen or heard from me in quite a while
When they ask you where Ive been
Tell 'em I'm out on the west coast where it don't ever rain
And I'm probably doing fine
[Chorus]
That I'm still strung out over you
Tell 'em anything you want to
Just don't tell 'em all the truth
Don't tell 'em all the truth
Tell 'em all I'm out in Vegas
Throwing every dollar I have away
Tell 'em that I must be into something bad for me cause
I sure lost a lot of weight
Tell 'em I'm out on the road with some old Rock n Roll Band
Living like a Gypsy King
[Chorus]
The truth is that I'm asking you to lie
We both know that it ain't right
If you ever loved me please
Baby have mercy on me
Tell 'em anything you want to
Just don't tell 'em all the truth
Don't tell 'em all the truth
I still need you
Yeah baby thats the truth
I still love you
Yeah baby thats the truth
The song "The Truth" by Willmon Trent is a heart-wrenching ballad about a person who is grappling with a difficult truth. The song's protagonist is asking his former lover to conceal the truth about his current whereabouts and state of mind to others. The lyrics convulse with pain and regret as the singer pleads his lover to not spill the beans about his current situation. He begs her to tell people that he is on vacation visiting friends and having fun on the west coast where it never rains, instead of revealing that he is in Vegas, suffering from the trauma of their breakup and has lost a lot of weight.
The chorus powerfully conveys the song's central message with the repetition of "just don't tell 'em all the truth." The singer seems to be asking his lover for a second chance or a hope for reconciliation, as he confesses that he still needs and loves her, but for that, he needs her instrumentality in hiding the truth. The song speaks to the complexities of relationships and the lengths we go to shield ourselves from emotional vulnerability. It also underscores the power that former lovers hold and the secrets we ask them to keep.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell 'em all I'm on vacation
Please tell everyone that I am out of town enjoying some time off.
Say I went to visit friends
Inform them that I'm visiting some old acquaintances elsewhere.
That you ain't seen or heard from me in quite a while
If anyone inquires about my whereabouts, just say it's been quite a while since you've seen or spoken to me.
When they ask you where Ive been
In anticipation of their inquiries, just prepare to tell them where I've been.
Tell 'em I'm out on the west coast where it don't ever rain
Let them know that I'm out on the West Coast where there is less rainfall.
And I'm probably doing fine
Assure them that I'm doing well and there is nothing to be concerned about.
Just don't tell 'em I've gone crazy
However, I'd prefer it if you didn't mention my mental state or suggest I'm unwell.
That I'm still strung out over you
Please don't allude to the possibility that I am still hung up on you.
Tell 'em anything you want to
Feel free to tell them any falsehoods you want—just not the truth.
Tell 'em all I'm out in Vegas
If you want to mention a location, tell them I'm in Las Vegas.
Throwing every dollar I have away
You can make up a story that I'm in the gambling capital of the world, blowing through my entire savings.
Tell 'em that I must be into something bad for me cause
Consider telling them that you suspect I'm involved in illicit activities.
I sure lost a lot of weight
You can mention that since you last saw me, I've lost a lot of weight.
Tell 'em I'm out on the road with some old Rock n Roll Band
Alternatively, you could tell them that I'm traveling with a rock band on tour.
Living like a Gypsy King
Or that I'm enjoying a nomadic lifestyle that's akin to royalty.
The truth is that I'm asking you to lie
Regardless of what you say, please bear in mind that I'm asking you to stretch the truth and keep certain things under wraps.
We both know that it ain't right
In all honesty, I'm aware that this is wrong, but I'm too emotional to confront the truth.
If you ever loved me please
I'm pleading with you. If there was ever any affection between us, please help me now.
Baby have mercy on me
I'm in a highly vulnerable, feeble state, so please go easy on me.
I still need you
I'm not entirely over you, and I still have a strong emotional connection to you.
Yeah baby, that's the truth
This is one thing that I'm not lying about: I still do love you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Robert S. Kelly
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind