Fans of traditional country music were quick to hand Zach Top the overused “next George Strait” award after hearing “Sounds Like the Radio,” his debut radio single.

Nobody will be taking it back after listening to “I Never Lie.” The straightforward country song is a vocal showcase that appears to have straightforward lyrics. Anyone on the back end of a breakup will race to say, “I wish I could say I miss you / But you know I never lie” to his or her ex. 

Carson Chamberlain and Tim Nichols helped Top pen the lyrics to “I Never Lie” (see below). It’s a simple statement, although after repeated listens one starts to wonder.

Is Top being truthful, or is using his known alliance with the truth to hide an epic lie? When taken that way, the song stings in the way Blake Shelton‘s “Mine Would Be You” stings.

Cries from a steel guitar and the little tremble in his voice as he sings “you still look like an angel” all lean into this theory, but again, it’s possible you’ve just listened to many times if you’ve gotten here.

During the second verse, he’s giving contentment with a new girlfriend, a model, who is begging him to move to Malibu, as it turns out. That’s not the truth for many cowboys, but it is the kind of thing you tell an ex to make her jealous.

“Yeah, I’ve never been better / Things are going my way,” Top tries at the bridge. Nope, not buying it. What makes “I Never Lie” a great country song is that he does.

Zach Top, “I Never Lie” Lyrics:

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.

Chorus:
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.

Repeat Chorus

Yeah, I’ve never been better / Things are going my way.

Repeat Chorus