Try Honesty

Album: Billy Talent (2006)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Two theories as to the meaning of this song:

    1) It's about a very strict father who eventually drives his child crazy and causes him to kill him.

    2) It's about being lied to and taking revenge as a result. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Ryan - Ottawa, Canada
  • In our 2016 interview with Billy Talent's lead singer Ben Kowalewicz, he expressed his feelings toward this tune now. "It's hard to put myself back because that song's probably, I don't know, 15 or 16 years old," he said. "But I will say we've played it every single show we've ever played since changing the name to Billy Talent. We play it every time. So I think it's become synonymous with the band a little bit.

    I remember writing the verse lines. I don't even really know what I was talking about other than just struggling. Like, 'I tripped, I fell down naked.'

    Every time you try to move forward something s--tty happens. The chorus line, the 'forgive me father, why should you bother,' I remember Ian had the [sings], 'Try honesty, try honesty,' and I just filled in the gaps. That song is more or less like, 'Well, everything I'm doing, nothing's going my way.' So you could try to ask for forgiveness from the Lord above, but don't even bother because everything sucks so that sucks as well. But then it kind of has this hopeful reprise at the end."

Comments: 8

  • Matthew John Lapointe from CanadaPossibly the red flag could be our blood supply.
    Blood banks were created in early 1900,s. Dr Charles R Drew in Washington DC separated blood types just before the federal reserve was established. WW1 started shortly after. Breading of the human populous has brought us from 2billion people to a current 8.1 billion in a century of warfare. A bloody mess if you ask me. Lol This is whyI started my personal boy-cot of my blood type. Even printed a hoody
    Global O- blood Strike.
  • Laura from Bham, United KingdomThis song always reminds me of one of my teachers...

    Awesome song. One of my favorites!
  • Pete from Tibshelf, United Kingdomdoes anyone know what red flag is all about?
  • Ben from Gosford, AustraliaThis song was actually from 2003, off their first album.
  • Emma from Brisbane, AustraliaThi song is awesome all there songs are awesome my 3 personal favourites are red flag, lies and try honesty. So sean go suck a dick.
  • Joshua from Celina, OhBilly Talent rocks like no other
  • Joshua from Celina, OhSean well you dont know anything
  • Sean from Toronto, Canadaa terrible song, all of their songs are so bad
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Oliver Leiber

Oliver LeiberSongwriter Interviews

Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.

Gene Simmons of Kiss

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.