Released: 2024
Zach Top’s ‘I Never Lie’ is a heart-wrenching country ballad about a man trying to convince himself and his ex-lover that he’s doing just fine after their breakup. He’s putting on a brave face, claiming he’s moved on, but the underlying pain and loneliness are palpable.
The song starts with the protagonist running into his ex-girlfriend. He notes her successes and new relationship, then quickly assures her that he’s doing great. This is a classic country music trope, where the singer tries to hide their heartbreak behind a mask of bravado.
When he says ‘I sleep like a baby, I never show up late for work, I don’t drink whiskey, I don’t know how it feels to hurt’, he’s using hyperbole to insist he’s not affected by the breakup. However, these lines are dripping with irony, suggesting the opposite. In country music, whiskey often symbolizes sorrow and heartache.
The line ‘I ain’t been lonely since you said goodbye’ is a clear indication of his denial. The repetition of this phrase throughout the song emphasizes his struggle to accept the reality of his loneliness.
The verse about meeting a model in LA who wants him to move to Malibu is another attempt to show he’s moved on. But his indecision about moving suggests he’s not as over his ex as he claims.
The chorus ‘Wish I could say I miss you, but you know I never lie’ is the crux of the song. It’s a clever play on words, as he’s essentially admitting he does miss her, but he’s ‘lying’ about not missing her. This contradiction underscores the complexity of his emotions.
Overall, ‘I Never Lie’ is a poignant exploration of post-breakup denial and heartache, wrapped in a catchy country tune. Zach Top masterfully uses irony and wordplay to convey the protagonist’s inner turmoil.
