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The Penguin Discography: Little Lies




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    Song Title »
Little Lies
    Authors »
Christine McVie, Eddy Quintela

    Year Written »
1987

    This Performance »
Date Performance 1987-00-00
Performers Mick Fleetwood (Drums), John McVie (Bass), Lindsey Buckingham (Guitar), Lindsey Buckingham (Background Vocals), Christine McVie (Keyboards), Christine McVie (Vocals), Stevie Nicks (Background Vocals), Lindsey Buckingham (Produced By), Richard Dashut (Produced By)
Comments(Dub)
Appears On
Little Lies/Ricky (0000)
Fleetwood Mac
I Do/Talkin' To My Heart/Little Lies (0000)
Fleetwood Mac

    Lyrics »

If I could turn the page
In time then I'd rearrange just a day or two
Close my, close my, close my eyes

But I couldn't find a way
So I'll settle for one day to belive in you
Tell me, tell me, tell me lies

Tell me lies
Tell me sweet little lies
(Tell me lies, tell me, tell me lies)
Oh, no, no you can't disguise
(You can't disguise, no you can't disguise)
Tell me lies
Tell me sweet little lies

Although I'm not making plans
I hope that you understand there's a reason why
Close your, close your, close your eyes

No more broken hearts
We're better off apart let's give it a try
Tell me, tell me, tell me lies

Tell me lies
Tell me sweet little lies
(Tell me lies, tell me, tell me lies)
Oh, no, no you can't disguise
(You can't disguise, no you can't disguise)
Tell me lies
Tell me sweet little lies

If I could turn the page
In time then I'd rearrange just a day or two
Close my, close my, close my eyes

But I couldn't find a way
So I'll settle for one day to belive in you
Tell me, tell me, tell me lies

Tell me lies
Tell me sweet little lies
(Tell me lies, tell me, tell me lies)
Oh, no, no you can't disguise
(You can't disguise, no you can't disguise)

Tell me lies
Tell me sweet little lies
(Tell me lies, tell me, tell me lies)
Oh, no, no you can't disguise
(You can't disguise, no you can't disguise)
Tell me lies
Tell me sweet little lies
(Tell me, tell me lies)

    Fan Interpretation »

The Rumours-era band reunited for the Tango In The Night effort in 1986/87, but they did not tour to support it.  This final album with Lindsey Buckingham (until The Dance) produced several hits, including Little Lies.

Little Lies isn’t necessarily a description of Christine’s love life at that time, but certainly there is an undercurrent of her breakup with ex-husband John McVie.  In fact, there was a conversation between Christine and John on the subject:

In a joint interview, John asked her sheepishly, "You writin' that about me?" , as if to say he still often feels as if her lyrics are concerning him. Her response (said with a chuckle) was, "No John...it's not our song!"  He laughed and said, "That's what I figured!"  There was a weird moment of awkwardness as he mumbled a few lines about how he doesn't know...he's just heard it.... then silence.  Very sweet but sad in a way.  Perhaps Christine thought he meant was she still writing romantic-type songs about him, while John meant that he feels that her lyrics about bad relationships might still be about him after all these years.

Some think Christine wrote Little Lies about her relationship with Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys.  Her frustration with his habits could have fueled the wishful regret that continues throughout Little Lies.

Perhaps she was moved by both these experiences.  At the time she wrote Little Lies, Christine had just married Eddy Quintela;  they are still married, so he’s off the hook!

Incidentally, many fans hadn’t realized the Little Lies was a Fleetwood Mac song when they first heard it!

Simplified, Little Lies is about recognizing that a relationship is failed but (at least) one of the two is unwilling to see it go.  She’s saying something like, "If you'd just go on lying to me (telling me it is OK), then maybe I'll believe it (just to postpone the heartache), at least for today."

"If I could turn the page in time, I’d rearrange just a day or two."  Christine wishes she could change something in their history that is causing the breakup of her relationship.  But since she can't change the past, she'll instead take a day in the present where she can make believe in her love:   "I'll settle for one day to believe in you;  Tell me, tell me, tell me lies."

Another interpretation of the "tell me lies" chorus holds that she's being sarcastic.  Perhaps she is saying, "Go ahead, try to tell me sweet little lies." In this view, the target of the song is trying to hide these lies, but Christine sees through them, as in " … Oh no, no you can’t disguise."

She has finally had enough of the wishing, and realizes it’s over:  "No more broken hearts;  we're better off apart,  let's give it a try."

She still retains a hint of optimism, though --  "a try" suggests that the breakup may not be permanent.

Christine’s songwriting is inspired by her own experiences, but she does not necessarily write her songs as literal reflections of them (unlike Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, who seem to put their diaries to music).  Christine often says that she steps into other people's shoes when she writes songs, so many are not about her personal life at all.

Contributors to this interpretation included: Phil Hof, Erik, Carlene, Janice, Lis, dc, Villavic, K.E. Gil, and Marty.

(The interpretations to these lyrics were compiled through discussions on the message boards of the Penguin, The Ledge. It is entirely possible that the artists had something completely different in mind.)

    Tabs »
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    Other Performances »
Performance #1:
Running Time 3:38
Sound Clip Listen.
Performers Mick Fleetwood (Drums), John McVie (Bass), Lindsey Buckingham (Guitar), Christine McVie (Keyboards), Christine McVie (Vocals), Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Lindsey Buckingham (Vocals), Lindsey Buckingham (Produced By), Richard Dashut (Produced By)
CommentsChart: Billboard US Hot 100 Singles Peak Position: 4 Peak Dates: Nov 7, 1987 & Nov 14, 1987 Weeks On Charts: 20 Chart: Billboard UK Top 50/40 Singles Peak Position: 5 Peak Dates: Nov 7, 1987 Weeks On Charts: 9
Appears On
25 Years: The Chain (1992)
Fleetwood Mac
The Very Best Of Fleetwood Mac (2002)
Fleetwood Mac
The Female Touch 2 (1999)
Various Artists
Greatest Hits (1988)
Fleetwood Mac
Tango In The Night (1987)
Fleetwood Mac
The Best Rock Ballads In The World ... Ever! II (0000)
Various Artists
The Ultimate 80's Ballads (1994)
Various Artists
Performance #2:
Running Time 3:18
Performers Nic Johnston (Acoustic Guitar)
Appears On
A Tribute To Fleetwood Mac: An Acoustic Portrait On Guitar (1997)
Nic Johnston
Performance #3:
Running Time 4:13
Performers Billy Burnette (Guitar), Rick Vito (Guitar), Mick Fleetwood (Drums), John McVie (Bass), Christine McVie (Keyboards), Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Dennis May(e)(s) (Produced By), Dennis May(e)(s) (Remixed By), Dan Nash (Remixed By), Fleetwood Mac (Produced By), Billy Burnette (Produced By), Mick Fleetwood (Produced By), John McVie (Produced By), Christine McVie (Produced By), Stevie Nicks (Produced By), Rick Vito (Produced By), Christine McVie (Vocals), Billy Burnette (Vocals), Rick Vito (Vocals), (Is(s)aac) As(s)ante (Percussion), Sharon Celani (Backup Singer), Lori Perry-Nicks/Perry/Nicks (Backup Singer), Elis(e)cia Wright (Backup Singer), Dan Garfield (Additional Keyboards), Dan Garfield (Programming)
CommentsRecorded live at The Cow Palace, Sam Francisco, CA 12/12/87 & 12/13/87
Appears On
Tango In The Night (0000)
Fleetwood Mac
Performance #4:
Running Time 3:38
Sound Clip Listen.
Performers Mick Fleetwood (Drums), John McVie (Bass), Lindsey Buckingham (Guitar), Christine McVie (Keyboards), Christine McVie (Vocals), Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Lindsey Buckingham (Vocals), Lindsey Buckingham (Produced By), Richard Dashut (Produced By)
CommentsChart: Billboard US Hot 100 Singles Peak Position: 4 Peak Dates: Nov 7, 1987 & Nov 14, 1987 Weeks On Charts: 20 Chart: Billboard UK Top 50/40 Singles Peak Position: 5 Peak Dates: Nov 7, 1987 Weeks On Charts: 9
Appears On
Sounds Of The Eighties: 1987 (0000)
Various Artists
WEA Star Galerie (0000)
Various Artists
Performance #5:
Running Time 4:13
Performers Billy Burnette (Guitar), Rick Vito (Guitar), Mick Fleetwood (Drums), John McVie (Bass), Christine McVie (Keyboards), Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Dennis May(e)(s) (Produced By), Dennis May(e)(s) (Remixed By), Dan Nash (Remixed By), Fleetwood Mac (Produced By), Billy Burnette (Produced By), Mick Fleetwood (Produced By), John McVie (Produced By), Christine McVie (Produced By), Stevie Nicks (Produced By), Rick Vito (Produced By), Christine McVie (Vocals), Billy Burnette (Vocals), Rick Vito (Vocals), (Is(s)aac) As(s)ante (Percussion), Sharon Celani (Backup Singer), Lori Perry-Nicks/Perry/Nicks (Backup Singer), Elis(e)cia Wright (Backup Singer), Dan Garfield (Additional Keyboards), Dan Garfield (Programming)
CommentsRecorded live at The Cow Palace, Sam Francisco, CA 12/12/87 & 12/13/87
Appears On
Superstar Concert Series (0000)
Fleetwood Mac
Performance #6:
Performers Billy Burnette (Guitar), Rick Vito (Guitar), Mick Fleetwood (Drums), John McVie (Bass), Christine McVie (Keyboards), Stevie Nicks (Background Vocals)
CommentsRecorded live at Maine Road, Manchester, England.
Appears On
Next Stop: Main(e) Road (0000)
Fleetwood Mac
Performance #7:
Running Time 3:38
Sound Clip Listen.
Performers Mick Fleetwood (Drums), John McVie (Bass), Lindsey Buckingham (Guitar), Christine McVie (Keyboards), Christine McVie (Vocals), Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Lindsey Buckingham (Vocals), Lindsey Buckingham (Produced By), Richard Dashut (Produced By)
CommentsChart: Billboard US Hot 100 Singles Peak Position: 4 Peak Dates: Nov 7, 1987 & Nov 14, 1987 Weeks On Charts: 20 Chart: Billboard UK Top 50/40 Singles Peak Position: 5 Peak Dates: Nov 7, 1987 Weeks On Charts: 9
Appears On
Up Close (0000)
Fleetwood Mac
Masters Of Rock (0000)
Fleetwood Mac
Rock Stars (0000)
Fleetwood Mac
Startrak Profiles (0000)
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac: Tango In The Night (0000)
Warner Brothers Publications Inc.
Fleetwood Mac: Anthology Of Classics (1989)
Warner Brothers Publications Inc.
Fleetwood Mac Greatest Hits (0000)
Warner Brothers Publications Inc.
Little Lies/Little Lies (0000)
Fleetwood Mac
Little Lies/Ricky (0000)
Fleetwood Mac
Performance #8:
Running Time 4:13
Performers Billy Burnette (Guitar), Rick Vito (Guitar), Mick Fleetwood (Drums), John McVie (Bass), Christine McVie (Keyboards), Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Dennis May(e)(s) (Produced By), Dennis May(e)(s) (Remixed By), Dan Nash (Remixed By), Fleetwood Mac (Produced By), Billy Burnette (Produced By), Mick Fleetwood (Produced By), John McVie (Produced By), Christine McVie (Produced By), Stevie Nicks (Produced By), Rick Vito (Produced By), Christine McVie (Vocals), Billy Burnette (Vocals), Rick Vito (Vocals), (Is(s)aac) As(s)ante (Percussion), Sharon Celani (Backup Singer), Lori Perry-Nicks/Perry/Nicks (Backup Singer), Elis(e)cia Wright (Backup Singer), Dan Garfield (Additional Keyboards), Dan Garfield (Programming)
CommentsRecorded live at The Cow Palace, Sam Francisco, CA 12/12/87 & 12/13/87
Appears On
In The Back Of My Mind/Little Lies/The Chain (0000)
Fleetwood Mac
Skies The Limit/Little Lies/The Chain (0000)
Fleetwood Mac
In The Back Of My Mind/Lizard People/Little Lies/The Chain (0000)
Fleetwood Mac
Performance #9:
Performers Mick Fleetwood (Drums), John McVie (Bass), Lindsey Buckingham (Guitar), Lindsey Buckingham (Background Vocals), Christine McVie (Keyboards), Christine McVie (Vocals), Stevie Nicks (Background Vocals), Lindsey Buckingham (Produced By), Richard Dashut (Produced By)
Comments(Extended)
Appears On
I Do/Talkin' To My Heart/Little Lies (0000)
Fleetwood Mac

    Comments »

(C) 1987 Fleetwood Mac Music (BMI)/New Envoy Music ASCAP/Bright Music Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.

    Reviews »
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    Last Modified »
2009-04-15

    Discography Credits »
Lyrics contributed by Jeff Kenney and Marty Adelson. Interpretation prepared by Phil Hof.