10 Best Songs With The Word "Lying" In The Title

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Narrowing down the best songs for any classic rock list is never easy, but when it comes to songs with the word “lying,” “lyin’,” or the apostrophe-dropped “lyin’” in the title, the challenge is in a league of its own. Unlike the endless wave of tracks that lean on “lie” or “lies,” the true test here was to exclude those more common forms and shine a spotlight on songs that specifically use “lying” or “lyin’.” It’s a stricter, more focused approach—one that makes this collection distinct from the hundreds of lists that simply round up any track dealing with deception or dishonesty. By zeroing in on these titles, we’re left with a smaller but strikingly memorable field, showing just how rare and impactful a great “lying” song can be in the rock and roll canon. No “lies,” no “lie”—just “lying,” “lyin’,” and the stories they tell.

# 10 – Keep Lying – Donna Missal

“Keep Lying,” featured on Donna Missal’s debut studio album This Time, was recorded in Los Angeles and released on September 7, 2018, via Harvest Records. Produced by Tim Anderson, the track showcases Missal’s powerhouse vocals layered over a blues-inflected, slow-burning arrangement, underpinned by Anderson’s atmospheric instrumentation and sparse guitar work. The personnel on the album includes Donna Missal on lead vocals, with Anderson contributing guitar, bass, and keyboard parts, as well as programming. “Keep Lying” was originally self-released in 2015 and quickly gained traction online, earning praise for its raw emotional intensity and dynamic vocal performance.

# 9 – Lying from You – Linkin Park

“Lying from You” by Linkin Park stands as a defining track from their 2003 album Meteora, recorded at NRG Studios in North Hollywood, California, between August and December 2002, with Don Gilmore handling production. The lineup features Chester Bennington on vocals, Mike Shinoda on vocals and keyboards, Brad Delson on guitar, Dave “Phoenix” Farrell on bass, Rob Bourdon on drums, and Joe Hahn on samples and programming. Released as an airplay-only single on March 16, 2004, “Lying from You” fuses a viola-inspired keyboard motif with a driving loop and distinctive car burn-out sample, a signature of the band’s knack for melding electronic and rock textures.

The track later became a notable part of Linkin Park’s collaborative mashup with Jay-Z on Collision Course (2004), further cementing its place in early-2000s rock history. Critically, “Lying from You” was praised for its dynamic energy and the interplay between Bennington’s and Shinoda’s vocals, a hallmark of Linkin Park’s nu-metal era. The single achieved notable radio success, reaching number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, underscoring the band’s dominance in the post-millennial rock landscape.

Read More: Top 10 Linkin Park Songs

# 8 – Lyin’ In A Bed Of Fire – Steven Van Zandt

Recorded at The Power Station in New York City during late 1981 and completed in the summer of 1982, “Lyin’ In A Bed Of Fire” opens Steven Van Zandt’s solo debut Men Without Women, released October 1, 1982, on EMI America. Produced by Van Zandt himself—credited here as Little Steven—the track features a powerhouse lineup, including Jean Beauvoir on bass, Dino Danelli on drums, and a robust horn section from the Miami Horns, with contributions from E Street Band and Asbury Jukes alumni. The song sets the tone for the album with its urgent blend of rock, soul, and R&B, marked by Van Zandt’s gritty vocals and sharp songwriting. While the album achieved only modest commercial success, peaking at number 118 on the Billboard 200, “Lyin’ In A Bed Of Fire” drew critical praise for its energetic arrangements and emotional immediacy, helping to establish Van Zandt’s voice outside the shadow of Springsteen. The album’s sound and live performances—including the Peppermint Lounge debut—would become touchstones for Van Zandt’s career as a bandleader and solo artist.

# 7 – Lying – Peter Frampton

Recorded at New River Studios in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, between 1984 and 1985, “Lying” appears on Peter Frampton’s ninth studio album, Premonition, released January 27, 1986, on Virgin and Atlantic Records. Produced by Frampton himself alongside Peter Solley, the track showcases Frampton’s signature melodic guitar work and expressive vocals, supported by Richard Cottle on keyboards, Tony Levin on bass, and Steve Ferrone on drums. Notably, Frampton played both guitar and bass on this track, as well as the Yamaha CS-80 synthesizer, adding a modern pop-rock sheen to the arrangement. “Lying” was the album’s lead single and became a modest radio hit in the mid-1980s.

# 6 – Easier Lying – Duff McKagan’s Loaded

Recorded at Studio X in Seattle and produced by Terry Date, “Easier Lying” appears as the fifth track on Duff McKagan’s Loaded’s 2011 album The Taking, released by Eagle Rock Entertainment. The band lineup on the album includes Duff McKagan on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Mike Squires on lead guitar, Jeff Rouse on bass and backing vocals, and Isaac Carpenter on drums.

# 5 – Lying To Myself – The Delfonics

Released as the B-side to “Hey Baby” on Philly Groove Records in 1974, “Lying to Myself” finds The Delfonics continuing their signature blend of Philadelphia soul, written and produced by Thom Bell—one of the key architects of the Philly sound. The track was recorded at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia, where Bell’s lush arrangements were brought to life by the group’s classic lineup: William Hart on lead vocals, with Wilbert Hart and Major Harris providing harmonies. MFSB, the famed Philadelphia house band, contributed the distinctive orchestral backdrop, with strings and horns woven seamlessly into the soulful rhythm section.

Read More: Top 10 Delfonics Songs

# 4 – Easier Than Lying – Halsey

“Easier Than Lying” appears as the third track on Halsey’s fourth studio album, If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power, recorded in 2021 at studios in Los Angeles and produced by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross of Nine Inch Nails. The song features Halsey’s dynamic vocals layered over an aggressive alternative rock arrangement, with Dave Grohl on drums and Reznor and Ross handling guitar, bass, and synthesizer duties. Released on August 27, 2021, by Capitol Records, the track was singled out by critics for its heavy, industrial-tinged sound and raw lyrical content, reflecting themes of betrayal and self-doubt.

Read More: Top 10 Halsey Songs

# 3 – Lying Is The Most Fun…. Panic! At The Disco

Recorded at SOMD! Studios in College Park, Maryland, and Dang! Studios in Lewisville, Texas, “Lying Is the Most Fun a Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off” is the third single from Panic! at the Disco’s debut album, A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out, released August 7, 2006, by Fueled by Ramen and Decaydance. Produced by Matt Squire, the track features the original lineup: Brendon Urie on vocals, Ryan Ross on guitar and lyricist duties, Spencer Smith on drums, and Jon Walker on bass. The song’s elaborate title is drawn from dialogue in the 2004 film Closer and is matched by an energetic, emo-pop arrangement that underpinned the band’s early sound. Critically, the track was noted for its sharp lyricism and theatrical flair, supported by a quirky music video directed by Travis Kopach and premiered on MTV2, which became instantly recognizable for its surreal imagery. Chart-wise, “Lying Is the Most Fun…” peaked at number 28 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart, number 26 in Australia, and number 39 in the UK, reflecting Panic! at the Disco’s swift rise as one of the mid-2000s’ defining alternative acts.

Read More: 10 Best Panic! At The Disco Songs

# 2 – Lyin’ Eyes – Europe

Recorded at Polar Studios in Stockholm and produced by Leif Mases, “Lyin’ Eyes” appears on Europe’s second studio album, Wings of Tomorrow, released on February 24, 1984, by Hot Records in Sweden and Epic Records in the United States. The lineup features Joey Tempest on vocals, John Norum on guitars, John Levén on bass, and Tony Reno on drums—this album being Reno’s last with the band. “Lyin’ Eyes” showcases Europe’s early blend of melodic hard rock and heavy metal, driven by Norum’s fluid guitar work and Tempest’s soaring vocals. It was released as a single in 1984 and stands out as a concert favorite for longtime fans. Importantly, this “Lyin’ Eyes” is a completely different composition from the Eagles’ hit of the same name, which we are showcasing next in this article. Europe’s “Lyin’ Eyes” earned critical recognition for its energetic arrangement and is often cited as a highlight of the band’s pre-Final Countdown catalog, contributing to the album’s chart success in Sweden and Japan and foreshadowing the international breakthrough Europe would achieve later in the decade.

# 1 – Lyin’ Eyes – The Eagles

Eagles - One of These Nights [Vinyl LP] (1 LP)

Recorded in early 1975 at Criteria Studios in Miami and Record Plant in Los Angeles, “Lyin’ Eyes” emerged as one of the Eagles’ signature narratives from their One of These Nights album, produced by Bill Szymczyk. Written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey—who also handled lead vocals and acoustic guitar—the track features Don Felder on acoustic guitar, Bernie Leadon delivering lead guitar, mandolin, and harmonies, Randy Meisner on bass and backing vocals, and Don Henley on drums, percussion, and harmonies, with additional piano work by Jim Ed Norman.

Released as the album’s second single on September 8, 1975, “Lyin’ Eyes” reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and number eight on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, marking a rare country crossover for a rock band at the time. Critics praised its melodic blend of acoustic instrumentation, smooth vocal harmonies, and storytelling detail, with Billboard highlighting its “country-flavored story” and Cash Box calling out the pedal steel and “plaintive” lead vocal. The song earned the Eagles the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus, and remains a staple in the band’s catalog, further solidified by multiple cover versions and gold certification in the UK.