About the song
“The Heart Won’t Lie” is a country duet by Reba McEntire and Vince Gill, released in February 1993. Here’s a breakdown of its background and themes:
Background:
- Written by Kim Carnes and Donna Terry Weiss.
- Second single from McEntire’s album “It’s Your Call.”
- Became a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
- The success of the song, along with their onstage chemistry, helped fuel rumors about McEntire and Gill’s relationship (they married in 2000).
Themes:
- Denial vs. Truth: The song explores the conflict between what someone says and what their heart truly feels. The lyrics depict a couple going through the motions in a failing relationship, but their hearts know the truth.
- Following Your Heart: The song encourages listeners to be honest with themselves and their partners, even if it’s difficult.
- Unveiling Hidden Emotions: Despite social pressures or personal reservations, true emotions eventually surface.
While the song doesn’t explicitly mention romantic love, it can be interpreted as a metaphor for any kind of relationship where feelings are unspoken or ignored.
Video
Lyrics
Looking back over the yearsOf all the things I’ve always meant to sayBut the words didn’t come easilySo many times through empty fearsOf all the nights I tried to pick up the phoneSo scared of who might be answering
You try to live your life from day to dayBut seeing you across the room tonightJust gives me away
‘Cause the heart won’t lieSometimes life gets in the wayBut there’s one thing that won’t changeI know I’ve triedThe heart won’t lieYou can live your alibiWho can see you’re lost inside a foolish disguiseThe heart won’t lie
Long after tonightWill you still hear my voice through the radio?Old desires make us act carelesslyLong after tonight, after the fireAfter the scattered ashes flyThrough the four winds blown and goneWill you come back to me?
You try to live your life from day to dayBut seeing you across the room tonightJust gives me away
‘Cause the heart won’t lieSometimes life gets in the wayBut there’s one thing that won’t changeI know I’ve triedThe heart won’t lieYou can live your alibiWho can see you’re lost inside a foolish disguiseThe heart won’t lie
The heart won’t lie