It’s that feeling. You know the one. You’re sitting there, looking at a text that makes absolutely no sense, or watching someone you love do something remarkably stupid, and instead of calling them out, you just... don't. You rewrite the narrative in your head because the truth is too much work.
Maisie Peters didn’t just write a song about this; she basically performed an autopsy on the female urge to self-delude. When the lie to girls lyrics first started circulating on TikTok and eventually landed on her 2023 album The Good Witch, they didn't just trend. They felt like a collective call-out.
The Anatomy of the Lie
The song starts with a realization. It’s not about being tricked by some master manipulator or a guy who is particularly good at lying. It’s actually much more humiliating than that. It’s about being so willing to be lied to that the other person barely has to try.
Maisie captures this perfectly when she sings about how a girl will do all the heavy lifting for you. Honestly, it’s a brutal observation. You don't need a complex alibi if the person you're dating is already busy building one for you. This isn't just "songwriting"—it's a psychological phenomenon. Psychologists often refer to this as confirmation bias within relationships, where we actively seek out or interpret information in a way that confirms our hopes rather than our reality.
If you look at the lie to girls lyrics, you’ll see she mentions things like "I'll say you're just a little bit messy" or "I'll say you're just a little bit young." These aren't just excuses. They are survival mechanisms.
Why "Lie to Girls" Became a Cultural Touchpoint
The song blew up because it touched on the "good girl" complex. Many of us were raised to be peacemakers. To be understanding. To be the one who "gets it."
Maisie turns that on its head.
👉 See also: New Movies in Theatre: What Most People Get Wrong About This Month's Picks
She suggests that being "understanding" is often just a fancy way of saying you're ignoring your own intuition. The song highlights a specific kind of intelligence—girls are smart, we notice everything, we see the cracks—but then we use that same intelligence to paper over the cracks. It’s a paradox. You’re smart enough to see the lie, but you're "smart" enough to know that acknowledging it would mean the end of the relationship.
The Specificity of the Writing
What makes Maisie Peters a standout in the current pop landscape is her "journalistic" style. She doesn't just say "you hurt me." She says "I'm the smartest person I've ever met / And I'm still doing this."
That line is a gut punch.
It’s the admission that logic doesn’t protect you from feelings. You can have a degree, a great career, and a solid head on your shoulders, and you will still find yourself explaining away why he didn't call for three days. The lie to girls lyrics resonate because they remove the "victim" narrative and replace it with something much more uncomfortable: accountability.
Comparing "Lie to Girls" to Other Songwriting Giants
People often compare Maisie to Taylor Swift, and while the "confessional pop" label fits, Maisie’s edge is a bit more self-deprecating. Where Swift might focus on the "red flags" of the other person, Maisie focuses on her own hand on the telescope, purposely looking the other way.
Take Olivia Rodrigo’s "traitor," for example. Olivia is devastated by the betrayal. Maisie, in "Lie to Girls," is devastated by her own complicity. It’s a subtle shift but a massive one in terms of emotional maturity. She isn't just mad at the guy; she’s frustrated with the "girl" as a concept—the part of herself that is socialized to endure.
✨ Don't miss: A Simple Favor Blake Lively: Why Emily Nelson Is Still the Ultimate Screen Mystery
The "Good Witch" Context
You can’t fully understand these lyrics without looking at the album they live on. The Good Witch is an album about reclaimed power. It’s about being the protagonist of your own life, even when you’re making mistakes.
"Lie to Girls" acts as the thesis statement for the record. Before she can be the "Good Witch" who has all the power, she has to admit where she gave her power away.
Think about the production of the track. It starts small. Intimate. Acoustic. It feels like a secret being whispered in a bedroom at 2 AM. As it builds, it feels less like a secret and more like a manifesto. By the time the bridge hits, it's an anthem for anyone who has ever felt like a fool for believing a lie they knew was a lie.
Real-Life Impact
I’ve seen dozens of threads on Reddit and Twitter where people break down these lyrics. They talk about "gaslighting," but Maisie’s take is different. Gaslighting implies the other person is the architect. Maisie suggests we are often the interior decorators of our own gaslighting.
It's a tough pill to swallow.
How to Apply the Lessons of "Lie to Girls"
So, what do we actually do with this? Is it just a sad song to cry to in the car? Maybe. But if you're actually listening, it's a warning.
🔗 Read more: The A Wrinkle in Time Cast: Why This Massive Star Power Didn't Save the Movie
- Check your "Edit" function. Are you telling your friends the truth about your relationship, or are you giving them the "edited for TV" version? If you're hiding things to protect his reputation, you're doing exactly what Maisie describes.
- Value your intuition over your "understanding." Being an "understanding" partner is great, but not at the expense of your sanity. If something feels off, it probably is. Don't use your brain to talk your heart out of what it already knows.
- Embrace the discomfort. The reason we lie to ourselves is to avoid the pain of a breakup or a confrontation. But that pain is temporary. Living a lie is a slow burn that lasts much longer.
The lie to girls lyrics serve as a mirror. Sometimes we don't like what we see in the mirror, but looking is the only way to change.
Final Thoughts on the Maisie Peters Phenomenon
Maisie is part of a new wave of artists—alongside people like Lizzy McAlpine and Gracie Abrams—who are moving away from "perfect" pop and toward something that feels like a voice note from a friend.
"Lie to Girls" isn't a radio hit in the traditional sense. It doesn't have a massive, upbeat hook. But it has something better: truth. In an era of filters and curated lives, hearing someone admit that they are "stupid for you" is incredibly refreshing.
It’s okay to be the girl who believed the lie. But after the song ends, the goal is to be the girl who doesn't need to lie anymore.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Audit your narratives: Take five minutes today to think about a situation where you might be "filling in the gaps" for someone else's bad behavior. Write down the raw facts without the excuses you usually add.
- Listen to the full album: To get the resolution to the heartbreak in "Lie to Girls," listen to "The Lost Art of Keeping Friends" or "History of Man" to see how Maisie processes the aftermath of these realizations.
- Trust your "Gut-Check": The next time you feel the need to explain away a red flag, pause. Ask yourself: "Am I being understanding, or am I being the girl in the song?"
The power of the lie to girls lyrics isn't just in the relatability—it's in the way they demand you do better for yourself. You're too smart to keep pretending you don't see what's right in front of you.