Lying, cheating, and deception are among the more common themes found in music. Anyone who’s either lied or been lied to knows that neither is the best feeling to experience. We turn to music to help us express emotions we can’t otherwise put into words and these songs about lying will definitely do the job.
We have compiled a list of over 60 songs below bound to be relatable. Whether it’s about lying to yourself, being cheated on, or questioning the integrity of your relationship, you are bound to find something that compliments your mood!
Here are the 60 Best Songs About Lying
- Love the Way You Lie – Eminem featuring Rihanna
- Liar – Queen
- Bad Liar – Selena Gomez
- Lie to Me – 5 Seconds of Summer
- Beautiful Liar – Beyonce and Shakira
- My Heart Won’t Lie – Reba McEntire and Vince Gill
- Lie to Me – Bon Jovi
- Liar – Sex Pistols
- LiesLiesLies – Ministry
- Lying is the Most Fun a Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off – Panic! at the Disco
- Little White Lies – One Direction
- Don’t Lie – Black Eyed Peas
- Little Lies – Fleetwood Mac
- Liar – Camila Cabello
- Lies – Rolling Stones
- Liar – Argent
- No Lie – Sean Paul featuring Dua Lipa
- Said I Love You…But I Lied – Michael Bolton
- Sweet Lies – Wilkinson
- Sweetest Lie – Goo Goo Dolls
- White Lies – Mr. Hudson
- Would I Lie to You – Charles & Eddie
- Lie to Me – Queen Naija featuring Lil Durk
- Lying from You – Linkin Park
- I Lied – Nicki Minaj
- Beautiful Lies – Birdy
- Lies – Evanescence
- Your Life is a Lie – MGMT
- You Lie All the Time – Beabadoobee
- Livin’ a Lie – The-Dream featuring Rihanna
- Lies – MARINA
- Lyin’ Eyes – Eagles
- A Beautiful Lie – Thirty Seconds to Mars
- No Lie – 2 Chainz featuring Drake
- Liar Liar – The Castaways
- Hips Don’t Lie – Shakira
- White Liar By Miranda Lambert
- The Heart Never Lies – McFly
- A Lie – French Montana featuring The Weeknd and Max B
- Save the Lies – Gabriella Cilmi
- Beautiful Lies – Jana Kramer
- The Beautiful Lie – Dolly Parton
- Lies – Black Keys
- I’d Lie for You (And That’s the Truth) – Meat Loaf
- Lies – Thompson Twins
- Tell Me a Little Lie – Huey Lewis & the News
- Little White Lie – Sammy Hagar
- Liars Dance – Robert Plant
- I Love You So I Told You a Lie – Ted Nugent
- Liar – Motorhead
- Wherein Lies Continue – Slipknot
- Don’t You Lie to Me – Tampa Red
- Lie to Me – Pretenders
- La-La-La-Lies – The Who
- Lie – Lukas Graham
- Would I Lie To You? – Eurythmics
- Liar – Rollins Band
- Lies – The Knickerbockers
- Dear Lie – TLC
- Lies – En Vogue
1. Love the Way You Lie – Eminem featuring Rihanna
This 2010 release has been a staple in many of our iPods. Whether it was the obsession with Eminem or Rihanna’s feature, the song hits harder once you focus on the lyrics about being in a relationship where you grow to resent your partner.
The song won many awards and received five Grammy nominations. It is Eminem’s best-selling single and charted number one on several record charts, including the US Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks.
2. Liar – Queen
Queen has many legendary songs like The Bohemian Rhapsody, but this lesser-known hit is part of the band’s debut album Queen, and one they seem particularly proud of considering how long it was part of the setlist. You want to scream and jam along, especially when Freddy Mercury bellows out “LIAR!!!”
3. Bad Liar – Selena Gomez
Ever had a crush on someone so bad you keep fumbling and messing up until your obsession is obvious? Don’t worry, love turns all of us into bad liars, especially during the initial phase of attraction.
Billboard ranked Bad Liar as the best song of 2017 and Rolling Stone ranked it at number 39 on its list of best songs of the 2010s.
4. Lie to Me – 5 Seconds of Summer
Would you prefer the cold, harsh truth? Or being lied to so that your feelings remain protected? The song features the same dilemma, with the narrator realizing his partner is insincere but still hoping she doesn’t come clean.
The song was a commercial success, ranking number 30 on the Australian Artist End of Year Singles Chart 2019. The re-recorded version featured American singer-songwriter Julia Michaels.
5. Beautiful Liar – Beyonce and Shakira
The song features two of the most powerful women in the industry – Shakira and the Queen Bee herself, singing about being cheated on by the same man.
The song peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and experienced the largest upward movement until 2008. It also peaked at number one in various European countries and the video won the for Most Earth Shattering Collaboration at the 2007 VMAs.
6. My Heart Won’t Lie – Reba McEntire and Vince Gill
Combine country music legends Reba McEntire and Vince Gill along with Kim Carnes’s songwriting, and you’ve got yourself a heartbreaking anthem about never being able to run from true love. This anthem charted at number 1 on both Canada Country Tracks (RPM) and US Hot Country Songs (Billboard).
7. Lie to Me – Bon Jovi
Life can go downhill fast, but we believe as long as we have love to hold on to, everything works out for the better. Although less commercially successful, this track is a Bon Jovi fan favorite and certainly one we enjoyed.
8. Liar – Sex Pistols
The band that influenced the punk movement in the United Kingdom, “Sex Pistols” produced many iconic punk-rock hits, ‘Liar’ being one of them. Rumored to be about the band’s first manager, the song perfectly sums up the anger and frustration at being lied to.
9. LiesLiesLies – Ministry
A powerful political statement post 9/11, the Grammy-nominated song questions the integrity of those in power and the politicians, infamous for being the biggest liars of them all. Though this song caused quite a controversy, it was still nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 49th Grammy Awards.
10. Lying is the Most Fun a Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off – Panic! at the Disco
Based on the iconic Natalie Portman dialogue from the film Closer (2007), this steamy single from the band’s debut album remains one of their most iconic songs to date. The song deals with infidelity and saw great commercial success, charting at number 4 on the U.S. Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles.
11. Little White Lies – One Direction
One of my favorite songs from the best One Direction album ever. Yes, please! With Zayn Malik’s insane vocals on the song’s bridge, it’s no wonder ‘ Little White Lies’ is a cult favorite. Did we all not at one point so desperately wish to be the woman they were talking about in this song?
12. Don’t Lie – Black Eyed Peas
“What are you gonna do when it all comes out?” Getting into a bad habit of lying to his partner, our narrator doesn’t seem to know. A commercial hit worldwide, the song peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top 10 in several countries including Australia and the UK.
13. Little Lies – Fleetwood Mac
Wanting to be lied to just to keep your fragile relationship intact seems to be a recurring theme in this list. Little Lies set aflame quite the revolution, inspiring many covers including one by Disney star Hillary Duff. It stayed at number one for four weeks on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and reached number five on the UK Singles Chart, where it has since achieved Platinum status.
14. Liar – Camila Cabello
Have you ever liked someone so much that they make you go back on your resolve? Lie to yourself that you won’t, only to give in? The singer sure seems to feel so. ‘Liar’ peaked at number 21 on the UK Singles Chart, and was certified platinum in many countries including the U.S.
15. Lies – Rolling Stones
There comes a point where after being sick and tired of being lied to, the pent-up frustration comes out as rage. This ‘70s Rolling Stone’s hit puts the exact sentiment into words with McJagger delivering the lyrics full of raw pain and anger.
16. Liar – Argent
This rock song features the sad story of our protagonist trapped in a relationship, unable to leave despite knowing he’s being lied to. The rollercoaster of emotion is synced with the musical composition, with the transition into the song’s chorus almost seeming like a jump-scare.
The song peaked at number 7 on the U.S. Billboard chart and at number 4 in Canada.
17. No Lie – Sean Paul featuring Dua Lipa
Who isn’t familiar with this tropical pop hit? From clubs to raves to frat parties, there isn’t a place where we haven’t danced along to this number. The 2016 hit charted at the top 10 on charts in 7 countries across Europe and has since been certified gold or higher in eight different territories, including a platinum certification in the UK.
18. Said I Love You…But I Lied – Michael Bolton
This poetic romance hit is one of Bolton’s most famous, describing a feeling even more intense than being in love. The song topped the American and Canadian adult contemporary charts and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
It also earned Bolton a Grammy nomination in the category Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 37th Grammy Awards. We think the song deserves a place on our list of Best Love Songs.
19. Sweet Lies – Wilkinson
Personally, I don’t see the hype with this song, but this electric number featuring Karen Harding’s vocals seems to be quite a hit on raves and electronic festivals across Europe, even having earned a Silver certification in the U.K.
20. Sweetest Lie – Goo Goo Dolls
One of my all-time favorite Goo Goo Dolls songs, Sweetest Lie will definitely remind you of an ‘80s prom scene montage with its insanely catchy lyrics and a tune that will make you jump up and down.
21. White Lies – Mr. Hudson
White lies in an already crumbling relationship? You have the perfect recipe for a disaster. This R&B song with Hudsons’s heavenly vocals entered the UK charts at number 20 upon its release in 2009
22. Would I Lie to You – Charles & Eddie
I feel like nothing can beat a quiet evening with a cup of tea and the most heavenly soul music. Their largest success yet, Would I Lie to You reached number 1 and entered the top 5 lists around the world including the UK, and New Zealand, and peaked at number 11 in the U.S. on the Cash Box Top 100 and number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100.
23. Lie to Me – Queen Naija featuring Lil Durk
A song about acknowledging your lover is seeing other women is certainly strange, but Queen Naija’s heavenly vocals take the focus off the weird context and help us immerse in the refreshing music.
24. Lying From You – Linkin Park
A song our playlist would have been incomplete without. This single describes the pain of having to lie to someone until they get angry enough to leave. The hit reached number 1 on the US Alternative Airplay (Billboard) and number 2 on the US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)
25. I Lied – Nicki Minaj
When the queen of rap herself sings about the heartbreak that comes from having to lie to keep your partner interested, you stop and listen. Part of her 3rd album The Pinkprint, the song peaked at number 37 on the U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
26. Beautiful Lies – Birdy
I don’t know whether it’s my love for piano melodies or relating to the feeling of wanting to relive a certain moment in the past, but something definitely draws me to this song. You’re sure to love it if slow and somber are your themes.
27. Lies – Evanescence
I don’t think we could do justice to a list of songs about lying without including at least one Goth-Rock single on the topic. Whether you interpret it as a song about Jesus or about letting go, it’s a haunting experience.
28. Your Life is a Lie – MGMT
On the topic of haunting songs, MGMT is infamous for transporting listeners into an uncomfortable space mentally with the imagery in their songs. Whether it is the fear that creeps in from listening to “Little Dark Age” or this single’s sense of alienation, we can’t deny they are bangers in their own right.
29. You Lie All the Time – Beabadoobee
Sometimes we are acutely aware that having a serious conversation might break the relationship so we tiptoe around the issue, lying both to ourselves and our partners. This mellow Indie single summarizes the dread perfectly.
30. Livin’ a Lie – The-Dream featuring Rihanna
If I had a penny for every Rihanna feature on a list of songs about lying, I’d have two pennies which isn’t a lot but, weirdly, it happened twice. We would definitely recommend this number for a post-breakup playlist.
31. Lies – MARINA
Lying to yourself to maintain the illusion that they do love you is a recurring theme yet no one can describe heartbreak with such intensity as MARINA.
32. Lyin’ Eyes – Eagles
The hit single about leading a double life received critical acclaim for its catchy lyrics and composition. The Eagles received a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group, or Chorus, and the song reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 8 on the Billboard Country chart.
33. A Beautiful Lie – Thirty Seconds to Mars
Sometimes don’t we all wish to retreat into our imaginations and forget the troubles of life? Well, escaping from reality only works for so long, it is after all a beautiful lie. This single from the band’s album of the same title, reaching the top 20 charts in Italy and Portugal, certainly seems to agree.
34. No Lie – 2 Chainz featuring Drake
This 3x Platinum-certified rap hit featuring Drake is an anthem of joy and celebration and quite the favorite amongst fans. Both artists reflect on their careers and the success they have achieved, making the hit a source of motivation and empowerment for fans.
35. Liar Liar – The Castaways
“Liar, liar, pants on fire, Your nose is longer than a telephone wire”. A children’s poem? No, a rock single about confronting a cheater. No hipster would be able to proclaim themselves as one without an obsession with The Castaways. This hit reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 locally.
36. Hips Don’t Lie – Shakira
The eyes may lie but Shakira’s hips sure don’t. This reggaeton pop hit has been the life of every dance club since its inception in 2005. With its groovy beat and Spanglish lyrics, this 4x Platinum-certified song has cemented its place as one of the 50 Best English Songs Of All Time, reaching number one in 17 countries.
37. White Liar By Miranda Lambert
Taking the title of one of the most famous songs about confronting a cheater alongside ‘Before He Cheats’, this country ballad received three nominations (for Single of the Year, Song of the Year, and Video of the Year) at the 2010 Academy of Country Music Awards; of these, Lambert took home the award for Video of the Year.
38. The Heart Never Lies – McFly
What is true love, if not being able to find sincerity in your love’s eyes amidst an insincere world? This beautiful romance song debuted at number three on the UK Singles Chart and remains one of my favorite romantic songs of all time.
39. A Lie – French Montana featuring The Weeknd and Max B
French Montana, The Weekend, and Max B on a single song? Now that’s our idea of a hit. The song projects themes of success, loyalty, and pleasure with all three artists reflecting on their career trajectories. The single peaked at number 12 on the UK Hip Hop/R&B chart.
40. Save the Lies – Gabriella Cilmi
In some instances, instead of beating around the bush, it is better to warn your date not to mess up while you’re in your best dress. I genuinely loved this rock ballad and will be adding it to my pre-date playlist for a confidence boost.
The song entered the UK Singles Chart at number 91 on downloads alone, eventually jumping up to number 33 upon its physical release.
41. Beautiful Lies – Jana Kramer
Yet another song lamenting the pains of infidelity, however, this one is about quite the prolific celebrity breakup. Jana Kramer married footballer Mike Caussin in 2015 but their marriage hit the deep end when Caussin confessed to cheating after the couple welcomed their first daughter. What a shame!
42. The Beautiful Lie – Dolly Parton
The queen of imagery and immersive lyrics herself, I personally found this one of Parton’s most amazing works lyrically. The song paints a story of a couple that’s tried to make their relationship work but failed mutually. Every line is full of heartbreak and anguish, a complement to one’s melancholy mood.
43. Lies – Black Keys
Whether you interpret this song as one about a secret relationship where the narrator has had enough of the hiding, or, about getting your heart broken, either way, the Jazzy tune hits home.
44. I’d Lie for You (And That’s the Truth) – Meat Loaf
This is one of those songs we all wish someone would dedicate to us. The song is a peak example of what happens when you treat songwriting like poetry, and we aren’t the only ones who seem to think so. The single release reached number 2 in the United Kingdom and 13 in the United States.
45. Lies – Thompson Twins
The song has a simple yet impactful chorus meant to mimic a school-yard taunting chant. The song has a sense of urgency because the term “lies” is used frequently, amplifying the theme of betrayal and deceit. The song was a top 40 hit in the UK and reached the top 30 in the US.
46. Tell Me a Little Lie – Huey Lewis & the News
Loving someone and all their flaws? That we’re familiar with. Being so attached that you beg for a lie to remember them by? That is the dedication we’re looking for. This hit has all the musical qualities of an 80s hit with beautiful lyrics and Huey Lewis’s heavenly vocals.
47. Little White Lie – Sammy Hagar
While on the surface we find little white lies harmless, this song begs to differ, narrating the consequences of these lies piling up over time and coming to us like Karma. This song was a major mainstream rock hit, topping the mainstream rock tracks chart for five weeks.
48. Liars Dance – Robert Plant
Relationships can be a dangerous dance, especially if the courtship is one filled with deceit. The lyrics explore the intricacies of relationships and the masks people put on to conceal their actual selves. The song is part of the former Nirvana singer’s fifth gold-certified studio album.
49. I Love You So I Told You a Lie I Told You a Lie – Ted Nugent
The song is a story on its own – it portrays a man who values his independence so highly that he is willing to let a lover go in order to preserve it. He then keeps on lying to himself, convincing himself he broke it off for her, not due to his own selfishness. But that’s the nature of music, no matter how ugly, it is an accurate representation of human nature.
50. Liar – Motorhead
While being lied to is infuriating in its own right, being lied to under the pretext of religion? Absolutely infuriating and the band seems to agree. The lyrics are harsh and brutal, challenging an unknown ‘liar’ on his claim he tries to back up with the word of God.
51. Wherein Lies Continue – Slipknot
According to the lead singer, the song is “a dressing down of the world as we know it where the ‘leaders’ are so pretentious that they think they are deemed to speak for the people”. We personally love the theme of political rage rampant in these songs.
52. Don’t You Lie to Me – Tampa Red
One of the landmarks of Blues music and inspiring many future pieces, Don’t You Lie to Me is a 1940s hit that has been re-recorded by many artists including Fats Domino and Albert King. The song warns of the consequences of lying to the narrator, who is “evil as a man can be.”
53. Lie to Me – Pretenders
“Lie to Me” is part of the Pretender’s eighth studio album “Loose Screw” which charted at number 8 on the US Independent Albums. It tells the tale of a protagonist so tired of being deceived that they’ve simply given up and no longer care if they’re being lied to.
54. La-La-La-Lies – The Who
The realization that you don’t need liars in your life and the resolve to break free of them is an empowering feeling, much like the song itself. It reached the top 20 in Sweden but did not chart in the United Kingdom.
55. Lie – Lukas Graham
The story of this song is quite different from the others on this list – it tells of a narrator aware that the description of a ‘perfect’ relationship he’s being told off by the girl he loves, is a lie.
The song is rumored to be about Lukas Forchhammer’s teenage life where he fell in love with a girl whom he would later get engaged to as an adult. The single peaked at number two on the Danish Singles Chart.
56. Would I Lie To You? – Eurythmics
An icon amongst songs about being cheated on, this is the POV of a girlfriend walking out on a cheating lover, fuming with rage. The Jazzy lyrics with the rock beat have put this song amongst our favorites on this list. The song peaked at number 17 on the UK charts and at number five on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It also is the duo’s biggest hit in Australia, where it topped the Kent Music Report for two weeks.
This is one of the songs we think Amy Dunne from Gone Girl would have on repeat.
57. Liar – Rollins Band
This song is perhaps the most dangerous we’ve come across, particularly because this brand of ‘liars’ is so common in the dating scene. The song is from the perspective of a guy who becomes the savior of a lonely, dejected girl, only intending to use her and hurt her later on. It is the album’s only charting single and is one of the group’s best-known songs.
58. Lies – The Knickerbockers
Being lied to sucks, but the vengeful reassurance that you will one day be happy while the person who hurt you suffers, is enough to keep us going. The song sums up these emotions in a groovy rock beat and peaked at number 20 on the U.S. pop chart in 1966.
59. Dear Lie – TLC
Letting lies control you is a recipe for disaster, and one the band has expressed excellently in this single. The song was a minor success, peaking at number 51 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reaching the top 40 in several other countries.
60. Lies – En Vogue
Finishing off this list with a powerful anthem about refusing to be caught up in lies, the song became the group’s second single to top the Billboard R&B singles chart. It hit number 38 and was also the band’s second US Billboard Hot 100 top 40 hit.
FAQs
What genre are the songs about lying?
These songs span various genres, including but not limited to pop, reggaeton, rock, indie, R&B, soul music, Goth rock, and electronic music. Most of these are a fusion of different genres.
What are the most famous songs about lying?
The most commercially famous songs would be “My Heart Won’t Lie by Reba McEntire and Vince Gill”, “ Lying From You Linkin Park” and “Would I Lie to You by Charles & Eddie”, all of which peaked at number 1 on their respective charts. Other than these “Hips Don’t Lie by Shakira” and “No Lie by Dua Lipa” are also well-renowned.
What other themes are there in these songs about lying?
These songs cover a variety of themes, from political injustice to cheating. From manipulation to delusion and self-awareness. Some also contain the themes of regret, lost love, and nostalgia for a better time.