About the song
Background
“White Liar” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Miranda Lambert. It was released in August 2009 as the second single from her album Revolution. The song is a moderate up-tempo song in the key of F major with a flattened 7th backed primarily by steel guitar. The female narrator in the song describes confronting her man for cheating, whom she refers to as being a “white liar” for deceiving her, in reference to the term white lie.
The song was a commercial success, reaching number 16 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and number 49 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was also certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Themes
- Infidelity: The main theme of the song is infidelity. The narrator is angry and hurt that her man has been cheating on her, and she confronts him about it.
- Deception: The song also explores the theme of deception. The narrator’s man is a “white liar,” which means that he tells small lies to avoid conflict or to protect himself. However, these lies have eroded the trust between the narrator and her man.
- Anger and betrayal: The narrator is full of anger and betrayal when she confronts her man. She feels like he has broken her trust and that she can no longer believe anything he says.
- Empowerment: Despite the pain of the situation, the narrator also feels a sense of empowerment. She is no longer going to let her man walk all over her. She is taking back her power and standing up for herself.
Music video
The music video for “White Liar” was directed by Trey Fanjoy and premiered in August 2009. The video opens with Lambert sitting in a bar, drinking and watching her man flirt with another woman. She eventually confronts him, and the two have a heated argument. The video ends with Lambert walking away from her man, leaving him behind.
Critical reception
“White Liar” was met with positive reviews from critics. AllMusic praised the song’s “fiery lyrics” and “catchy melody,” while Billboard called it a “fiery, fiddle-driven anthem.” The song was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 2010.
Commercial performance
“White Liar” was a commercial success, reaching number 16 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and number 49 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was also certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Impact
“White Liar” was one of Lambert’s biggest hits of her career, and it helped to solidify her status as one of the leading country music artists of her generation. The song is still a popular choice for radio airplay and live performances, and it is considered to be one of Lambert’s signature songs.