Story Behind The Song

Songwriter's Rule No.1: When in doubt, write a drinking song

Song Description

Song is in second person. In first verse narrator sets the stage by describing protaganist's night of drinking; chorus then stresses that alcohol has a way of bringing out the truth in people. Second verse makes the message more universal.

Lyrics

Verse 1:
It's quarter past four
When you open the door
And finally come a-stumblin' in
A real sorry sight
Having spent the whole night
Mixing Absolut and Bombay Gin
And now who's waiting there
At the top of the stairs
It's your ever-understanding wife
You need a story somehow
But it seems that right now
You can't think of one to save your life

CHORUS 1:
Liquor don't lie
I'm here to tell you all
It's like a great big shot of sodium pentathol
It stays on your breath
Makes you look like death
Puts the color in a bloodshot eye
So your alibi
Just went awry
Liquor don't lie

Verse 2:
Whiskey and ale
Have spawned many a tale
Ever since the world was young
And everyone thinks
If you have enough drinks
It'll loosen up a nervous tongue
Till you're spinning a yarn
That's as long as your arm
But it never seems to quite translate
Cause when your vision's blurred
And your speech is slurred
It's hard to keep your story straight

CHORUS 2:
Liquor don't lie
It don't even fib
It's like a giant neon sign flashing every foolish thing you did
Well you've rehearsed your lines
'Bout a million times
But now suddenly your mouth's gone dry
Your story won't fly
I think you know why
Liquor don't lie

Inst. Break/Repeat Chorus (1st half of Chorus 2; 2nd half of Chorus 1)

Reprise:
No it ain't gonna fly
I'm telling you why
Liquor don't lie