Truth Hurts

Song Meaning and Background of Truth Hurts by Lizzo

"Truth Hurts" is a song released by American singer and rapper Lizzo. It was originally released in 2017.

“That song is my life and its words are my truth,” Lizzo explains.

A writing credit is given to British singer Mina Lioness for the iconic line “I just took a DNA test, turns out I’m 100 percent that bitch.

“Truth Hurts” was originally released in 2017, but the song got a big boost two years later, when Gina Rodriguez day-drunkenly sang it in the Netflix show Someone Great.

The song was re-released in 2019 and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Lizzo's first song to do so. It spent seven weeks at number one. 

The accompanying music video stars Lizzo playing a bride that marries herself.

The song was eligible for the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards in 2020, being nominated for three awards, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year, and winning for Best Pop Solo Performance.

Musically, it is a trap, hip hop, and pop song led by a "glittering" piano loop.

Lyrically, the song sees the singer addressing romantic problems, singing the lyrics, "'You coulda had a bad bitch, non-committal/ Help you with your career, just a little', she sings. 'You're 'posed to hold me down/ But you're holding me back/ And that's the sound of me not calling you back'."

The song was motivated by a distressing voicemail Lizzo received from a boyfriend telling her not to contact him again as he has got back with ex-girlfriend. Lizzo told Billboard she went into the studio to create some material but did not want to be there. "I was so upset and depressed and sad," she said.

Lizzo told her producer what had happened, and he was taking notes and she asked him what he was writing, and he responded "I hope you know you just wrote a song."

Once Lizzo entered the vocal the booth, the lyrics of the song began to flow. "I literally kind of went in the booth and laid down everything, verbatim, that I had said about this person who had hurt me," she said.

Lyrics of Truth Hurts by Lizzo

Why're men great 'til they gotta be great?

Woo

I just took a DNA test, turns out I'm a hundred percent that bitch

Even when I'm crying crazy

Yeah, I got boy problems, that's the human in me

Bling bling, then I solve 'em, that's the goddess in me

You coulda had a bad bitch, non-committal

Help you with your career just a little

You're 'posed to hold me down, but you're holding me back

And that's the sound of me not calling you back

Why're men great 'til they gotta be great?

Don't text me, tell it straight to my face

Best friend sat me down in the salon chair

Shampoo press, get you out of my hair

Fresh photos with the bomb lighting

New man on the Minnesota Vikings

Truth hurts, needed something more exciting

Bom bom bi dom bi dum bum bay

You tried to break my heart?

Oh, that breaks my heart

That you thought you ever had it

No, you ain't from the start

Hey, I'm glad you're back with your bitch

I mean who would wanna hide this?

I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever be your side chick

I put the sing in single

Ain't worried 'bout a ring on my finger

So you can tell your friend, "shoot your shot" when you see 'em

It's OK, he already in my DM

Why're men great 'til they gotta be great?

Don't text me, tell it straight to my face

Best friend sat me down in the salon chair

Shampoo press, get you out of my hair

Fresh photos with the bomb lighting

New man on the Minnesota Vikings

Truth hurts, needed something more exciting

Bom bom bi dom bi dum bum bay

I'ma hit you back in a minute

I don't play tag, bitch, I been it

(One time) We don't fuck with lies (Two times), we don't do goodbyes

We just keep it pushing like aye yi yi

I'ma hit you back in a minute

I don't play tag, bitch, I been it

(One time) We don't fuck with lies (Two times), we don't do goodbyes

We just keep it pushing like aye yi yi

Why're men great 'til they gotta be great?

Don't text me, tell it straight to my face

Best friend sat me down in the salon chair

Shampoo press, get you out of my hair

Fresh photos with the bomb lighting

New man on the Minnesota Vikings

Truth hurts, needed something more exciting

Bom bom bi dom bi dum bum bay

(With the bomb lighting)

(Minnesota Vikings)