'I Never Lie' by Zach Top – Lyrics & Meaning

When Zach Top arrived on the scene, he brought with him something new yet familiar.

Country music's premiere neo-traditionalist, the Washington native has made it his mission to reintroduce the nostalgic sound of '90s country to a new audience, and he's doing so in style.

With his debut single, 'Sounds Like The Radio,' Top turned heads, but with the release of his first full-thing project, Cold Beer & Country Music, he captured the ears and attentions of a growing legion of fans.

While nearly every song on the debut project is a proven hit, there's one song in particular that has seemingly spread like wild fire across social media. Called 'I Never Lie,' the tongue-in-cheek ballad comes in near the end of the album's track list but has become one of Top's leading performances across his live dates since its release.

Dripping in sarcasm and Top's cool charisma, it's the country crooner at his very best as he takes inspiration from some of the music giants of the past to pave a new path to the future.

A mesmerizing take on the best of '90s country, 'I Never Lie' – as well as most of Top's discography thus far – feels like a trip back in time with twangy guitars and ear-catching steels keeping time and warming us up from start to finish.

The song, which Top wrote alongside Tim Nichols and Carson Chamberlain, who also serves as the track's producer, follows a similar formula to many of the big hits of decades past. With the band acting simply as a backing element through the verses their tight and bold instrumentation joins in the spotlight for the choruses as the whole ensemble comes together as one.

Taking on a similar sound to that of Tracy Lawrence, 'I Never Lie' is one of Top's most compelling vocal performances as his twangy, nasal tone checks all the right boxes while he croons about being over his ex... or so he says... but more on that in a bit.

'I Never Lie' isn't overly complicated from either a production or lyrical standpoint. In fact, it proves just how much you can do and how versatile you can be without reinventing any wheels or bringing out any newfangled bells or whistles.

"Well, it's been some time
You still look like an angel
I heard you're doin' fine
Got promoted back in April
And you met someone
Your dad says he's okay
Well, I've never been better
Things are going my way"

We find Top chatting up an old flame as the song opens, noting that even though it's been a while since he last saw her, she's still just as beautiful as he remembers.

As in most country songs, small towns are full of big mouths so Top is pretty up to date on what she's been up to, whether he's chosen that or not. With a new promotion and a new man lined up, everything seems to be working out for his ex.

Whether trying to convince her or himself, Top takes his opportunity to share that he, too, is doing well. In fact, he's never been better, and he's about to tell us why.

"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

Oh, and I ain't been lonely since you said goodbye
I wish I could say I miss you, but you know I never lie"

Top tries to lay it on think how well he's doing since the pair split by noting that he's sleeping better than ever, always on time for work, doesn't partake in any drinking and hasn't felt love's cool sting at all. By all accounts, he's untouchable and life couldn't be going better.

However, as we get to the second part of the chorus, there's a distinct change in his tone and cadence as he calls out the elephant in the room. Trying to sell that he hasn't been lonely since they parted ways, he adds that he wishes he could be moved to miss her, but alas, he can't tell a lie.

With the full chorus in context, you can hear the sarcasm radiating off of the lines from the first half as we understand that all of this is, in fact, a lie and he's merely trying to cover up how broken he still is over their split.

"Yeah, I met somebody too
She's a model out in LA
And she's begging me to move
She's says Malibu is really great
Ain't decided if I'm going or not
But at the end of the day"

Still pressing on with these white lies and grand schemes, Top goes on to say that he's met someone, too, and she's way better than whatever chump she's dating. Top's made up girlfriend is allegedly a model out in LA who's just begging on her knees for him to move out to the West Coast and live with her.

Top doesn't know if he'll move to the fake girlfriend's house or not just yet, but he knows without a doubt that he's doing way better than his ex as he takes us through the chorus once more.

"I sleep like a baby
I never show up late for work
Oh, and I don't drink whiskey
I don't know how it feels to hurt

Oh, and I ain't been lonely since you said goodbye
Wish I could say I miss you, oh, but you know I never lie"

During CMA Fest 2024, Holler had the pleasure of spending some time with Top as part of the Holler Nashville Sessions Presented by George Dickel.

Treating us to a trio of his hits or those soon to be, he noted that 'I Never Lie' is one of his favorite tunes from his debut record, Cold Beer & Country Music.

"It's kinda sad but pretty much mostly sarcastic the whole way through. I think that's pretty indicative of my personality, too. I love this song and I really enjoy playing it," Top shared before playing a stripped back version of the poignant track.

Well, it's been some time
You still look like an angel
I heard you're doin' fine
Got promoted back in April
And you met someone
Your dad says he's okay
Well, I've never been better
Things are going my way

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

Oh, and I ain't been lonely since you said goodbye
I wish I could say I miss you, but you know I never lie

Yeah, I met somebody too
She's a model out in LA
And she's begging me to move
She's says Malibu is really great
Ain't decided if I'm going or not
But at the end of the day

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

Oh, and I ain't been lonely since you said goodbye
Wish I could say I miss you, but you know I never lie

Yeah, I've never been better
Things are going my way

I sleep like a baby
I never show up late for work
Oh, and I don't drink whiskey
I don't know how it feels to hurt

Oh, and I ain't been lonely since you said goodbye
Wish I could say I miss you, oh, but you know I never lie

--

For more on Zach Top, see below: