Said I Loved You... But I Lied

Album: The One Thing (1993)
Charted: 15 6
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In this song, Michael Bolton delivers some devastating news to his girl, telling her, "I said I loved you but I lied."

    But there's a twist! In the next line, he makes it all better:

    'Cause this is more than love I feel inside

    This idea of an ineffable emotion even greater than love is a very romantic concept and on brand for Bolton, who after releasing two hard rock albums with his band Blackjack in 1979 and 1980 (using his real name: Michael Bolotin), made his mark with searing love songs like this one.
  • Bolton wrote and produced this song with Mutt Lange, the superproducer behind both Back In Black by AC/DC and The Woman In Me by Shania Twain. Lange could come up with titles and storylines that sound like bad Hallmark movies, and it seems that's what he did here (another Lange title: "All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You," a hit for Heart in 1990).

    DJs had a chuckle when they talked up the song, but they played it. In 1995, Bolton and Lange teamed up again for another song that could be the title of a romance novel (complete with ellipsis): "Can I Touch You... There?"
  • This was the first single from Michael Bolton's The One Thing album, released in 1993 as he was just past his commercial peak, but still extremely popular. After his massive-selling Time, Love & Tenderness album in 1991, he put out an album of covers called Timeless: The Classics in 1992, then returned with more original material on The One Thing.

    Over the next few years, he released less material but did a lot of touring and charity work. In 1997 he published a children's book called The Secret of the Lost Kingdom.
  • The music video is grandiose, with Bolton and his luxurious hair amid the stunning vistas of Alstrom Point and Antelope Canyon in Utah. There are also horses, and a beach, and a girl, but she and Bolton never interact. As in the video for "Soul Provider," it's as if the girl thinking about Bolton, mesmerized by his song.

    The video was directed by Rebecca Blake, a fashion and beauty photographer who also did the Prince video for "Kiss."
  • "Said I Loved You... But I Lied" gave Bolton his eighth #1 hit on the Adult Contemporary chart. He had one more: "Go The Distance" in 1997.

Comments: 1

  • Nelson Kuta from Papua New GuineaSaid I loved you...but I lied was my best and favorite song. Hollywood digital music moguls are coming down. Computer musics weren't there that time, talents like Michael Bolton and many have shown real talents back then . Long live my KING BOLTON.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. Televangelists

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. TelevangelistsSong Writing

When televangelists like Jimmy Swaggart took on rockers like Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica, the rockers retaliated. Bono could even be seen mocking the preachers.

Jonathan Cain of Journey

Jonathan Cain of JourneySongwriter Interviews

Cain talks about the divine inspirations for "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Faithfully."

Gentle Giant

Gentle GiantSongwriter Interviews

An interview with Ray and Derek Shulman of the progressive rock band Gentle Giant to discuss counterpoint, polyrhythms, and... Bon Jovi.

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors Examined

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors ExaminedSong Writing

Doors expert Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined, talks about some of their defining songs and exposes some Jim Morrison myths.

Album Cover Inspirations

Album Cover InspirationsSong Writing

Some album art was at least "inspired" by others. A look at some very similar covers.

Artis the Spoonman

Artis the SpoonmanSong Writing

Even before Soundgarden wrote a song about him, Artis was the most famous spoon player of all time. So why has he always been broke?