Bad Liar

Selena Gomez's 'Bad Liar' is a song that delves into the emotional turmoil of trying to suppress feelings for someone. The lyrics describe the protagonist's attempts to distract themselves from thoughts of a person they are evidently infatuated with. The opening lines set the scene of the internal conflict, as the protagonist sees the face of their interest everywhere they go, indicating an obsession that's hard to shake off. The battle of Troy metaphor suggests that their efforts to hide these feelings are as futile as the attempt to conceal the Greek soldiers within the Trojan Horse; eventually, the truth comes out.

The chorus of 'Bad Liar' is a repetitive confession of the protagonist's struggle to not think about or give in to the person they have feelings for. The repetition emphasizes the ongoing battle within the protagonist's mind, highlighting the difficulty of moving on from someone who has left a significant impact. The phrase 'with my feelings on fire' suggests an intense passion that's hard to extinguish, leading to the self-deprecating conclusion that the protagonist is a 'bad liar,' unable to convincingly hide their true emotions.

The song also touches on themes of desire and the complexity of relationships. The lyrics 'If you're the art, I'll be the brush' convey a sense of wanting to be intertwined with the other person's life, to create something beautiful together. However, the overall tone of the song is one of resignation, as the protagonist seems to acknowledge that their feelings are unrequited or that the relationship is not feasible. The song resonates with anyone who has ever tried to deny their feelings or has struggled with the remnants of a past relationship.