‘Would I Lie to You?’ is a song written and performed by British duo Eurythmics. Released on 9 April 1985 as the lead single from the band's fourth studio album, Be Yourself Tonight (1985), the song was the first by the duo to feature their change in musical direction from a predominantly synthpop style to rock and rhythm and blues. The song, and its accompanying album, featured a full backing band and relied less on electronic programming.
Stewart set out to make a song with a "killer R&B riff". He worked it out one morning while having breakfast with his acoustic guitar on his knee. At first, Annie Lennox was hesitant, as it didn't fit their sound. Stewart said, "When we started putting it down the song had a lot of energy and inspired Annie to come up with the great lyric, 'Would I Lie To You" and a melody with very odd answering harmonies, 'Now, would I say something that wasn't true.' These harmonies are very unusual and Annie is a genius at working them out very quickly in her head. The song started to be a fusion between Stax type R&B and Eurythmics."
Lyrically, the song features Lennox confronting a cheating lover as she leaves him for good. This was conveyed in the music video for the single, in which actor Steven Bauer played the part of the boyfriend. The video was directed by Mary Lambert and was shown heavily on MTV. The front and back cover photos, and the inner cover art of the Be Yourself Tonight album are screenshots from the music video.
‘Would I Lie to You?’ is one of Eurythmics' most recognised tunes and continued the band's run of hit singles. In the UK, the song peaked at number 17, while it went to number five on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, becoming their third and last Top 10 hit in the U.S. Furthermore, it is the duo's biggest hit in Australia, where it topped the Kent Music Report for two weeks. The song served as the opening theme to the Canadian television series Border Security: Canada's Front Line.
Spin called it, "an onslaught of Kinks-type power chords, Stax horn sections, and frenzied jungle drums with Lennox's vocal riding effortlessly atop this stampede. The strength of the cut is so focused, you fear something's gotta give; glasses gotta shatter."[4] Cash Box said that the "hard rocking early Kinks guitar and a pounding Motown drum beat forms the background for Annie Lennox's R&B lead vocal."
Label – RCA
Songwriters – Annie Lennox, David A. Stewart
Producer – David A. Stewart
SONG LYRICS
Would I lie to you? (oh yeah)Would I lie to you honey? (oh, no, no no)
Now would I say something that wasn't true?
I'm asking you sugar, would I lie to you?
My friends know what's in store
I won't be here anymore
I've packed my bags
I've cleaned the floor
Watch me walking
Walking out the door
(Believe me) I'll make it, make it
(Believe me) I'll make it, make it
Would I lie to you?
Would I lie to you honey? (oh honey, would I lie to you?)
Now would I say something that wasn't true?
I'm asking you sugar, would I lie to you?
Tell you straight, no intervention
To your face, no deception
You're the biggest fake
That much is true
Had all I can take
Now I'm leaving you
(Believe me) I'll make it, make it (oh yes, I will)
(Believe me) I'll make it, make it (make it, make it)
Would I lie to you?
Would I lie to you honey?
Now would I say something that wasn't true?
I'm asking you sugar, would I lie?
Would I lie to you?
Would I lie to you honey?
Now would I say something that wasn't true?
I'm asking you sugar
Would I lie to you?
My friends know what's in store
I won't be here anymore
I've packed my bags
I've cleaned the floor
Watch me walking
Walking out the door
(Believe me) Watch me, watch me
(Believe me) Watch me, watch me, yes I will, yeah
Would I lie to you?