The featured image is of Tom Courtenay as the title character in the fine British film, Billy Liar. He’s not a drum major, he’s a Walter Mitty style fantasist who is regarded as a liar by most people. Billy would fit in perfectly in our age of fantastic lies and liars. He could even be elected POTUS but only if he was a convicted felon who fomented a coup. Sorry, Billy. You’re SOL.
This listicle was inspired by my Emil Bove Is A Perjurer post. Lying is winning as far as Team MAGA are concerned. It helps them get away with their bullshit. Despite his mendacity, Bove is now a federal judge who may be headed to the Supreme Court. Oy, just oy.
The songs are arranged in chronological order. The titles have some variation on the words lie and liar. Sounds like just another day at the Trump White House to me.
I felt a bit straitjacketed by the dozens format this time, so I posted four songs with LIES in the title as lagniappe. Lagniappe often saves the day. That’s no lie.
We begin with Chuck Berry for whom lying was second nature. He cheated on his taxes and rocked a prison cell for three months.
I had never heard of Ketty Lester until doing research for this post. What’s not to love about this song title?
The Staple Singers with a stern message:
Liar was written by Russ Ballard of Argent. The song became a hit when Three Dog Night recorded it in 1970:
When Big Star speaks, I listen.
I had almost forgotten about this Queen classic. I’m glad Emil Bove’s perjury jogged my memory.
Let’s visit the cheating side of town with a song that was featured in the Friday Cocktail Hour in 2021.
The Gibb brothers spent a lot of time in Miami, so we’ll dedicate this scathing song to a local liar: The Louse DBA Ron DeSantis.
When someone says Would I Lie To You, I assume that they’re lying. Did Annie and Dave have that in mind? Discuss amongst yourselves.
Next up, one of my all-time favorite songs by one of my all-time favorite artists. What’s not to love about a song that rhymes Astley with ghastly? That’s no lie.
Ready for Becker without Fagen? It’s like gin without tonic but it still works.
Many liars have screws loose, so Lie To Me was a perfect way for The Pretenders to open 2002’s, Loose Screw. It’s the band’s most underrated album. Loosen up and play Loose Screw when you get a chance. You won’t feel screwed. That’s no lie.
Ready to lap up some lying lagniappe? I should have said LIES because all four tunes have that word in the title.
Mick Jagger is experienced at dealing with liars. He tried to warn John Lennon that crooked manager Allen Klein would rob The Beatles blind, but John believed the liar instead of his fellow rock star.
Christine McVie’s birth name was Perfect. I am not making this up. The word describes many of her songs. I’m not lying, not even a little.
Finally, a doubleheader of deceptive and deceitful songs by The Black Keys:
That concludes The Liar Song Dozen. If you didn’t enjoy the post, be sure to lie and tell me you did. Lying is in fashion. Le sigh.