No More Lies
by Thundercat (featuring Tame Impala)

Album: single release only (2023)
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Songfacts®:

  • "No More Lies" marks Thundercat's first song as a lead artist since his fourth studio album, It Is What It Is, in April 2020. Dropped on April 25, 2023, the track, a collaboration with Tame Impala's Kevin Parker, was released through Brainfeeder, a renowned West Coast indie label founded by longtime Thundercat collaborator Flying Lotus.
  • "No More Lies" is a groovy and psychedelic rock track featuring Thundercat and Parker's vocals, singing about a relationship that is beyond repair.

    Thundercat sets the scene in the first verse, portraying two people who can't seem to fully commit to each other.

    I'm sorry, girl, didn't mean to drag you in my dreams
    Baby, no more lies
    Feelin' free, that's the way it's s'posed to be
    For you and me


    Thundercat employs a metaphorical language to convey the idea that he accepts his share of responsibility for the challenges in the relationship. Using a car as an analogy, he warns they are heading towards a crash that will cause immense pain if they don't change course. Thundercat implores his partner to buckle up and brace for impact.

    That's just the way it works or you and I keep getting hurt.
    We're gonna lose control of the wheel
    So put your seatbelt on, I think we're about to crash
    In a world of pain


    Parker takes on the chorus, where he prepares himself for a period of being alone and reflecting on his thoughts and emotions.

    I'll just be on my own
    I'll just be home alone
    My troubles are my own


    Having left the possibility of reconciliation open, Thundercat ultimately decides to cut ties.

    If you think there's no pain in my heart to say goodbye
    Please don't cry, I'm letting go
  • The song concludes with Thundercat trying to justify himself to the girl with a touch of West Coast nonchalance.

    Everybody hates when they get to that part when they realize that
    I don't wanna tell you I don't care but if it seems like I don't care
    It doesn't mean I don't care, it just looks like I don't care
    Because my emotions have been sanded off
    Haha, I live in L.A., sweetie, what do you expect? Hahahaha


    In Los Angeles' cutthroat show business industry, the survival-of-the-fittest mentality prevails, causing those involved to become more abrasive towards their peers. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Thundercat explained how the song's closing lines relate to the entertainment industry's harsh environment.

    "Everybody has dreams, everybody's a star, everybody's expendable, everything is expendable, everything is too expensive. It's embedded in our culture. Even though there are other places than Hollywood, it's still Hollywood. 'There's no such thing as bad publicity' - where else would you hear that? You wouldn't hear that in Wisconsin."
  • Thundercat and Parker share writing and production credit on the track, which pairs the American's slip-n-slide bass with the Australian psych-whiz's lush instrumentation.
  • Thundercat has been a fan of Kevin Parker's work since the very first Tame Impala album. He especially has a deep affection for the track "Apocalypse Dreams."

    When he finally had the chance to work with Parker, Thundercat couldn't resist telling him how much he loves that psychedelic masterpiece. "The minute you [sang], 'Everything is changing,'" Thundercat recalled of their conversation to Apple Music, "It just made me feel OK."

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