Zach Bryan & Lana Del Rey's "Lies": From Preview to Release
First previewed in March 2026, "Lies" brought Zach Bryan and Lana Del Rey together on an original collaboration released months later. The track features a piano-and-strings arrangement and lyrics that address fidelity, promises and the difficulty of facing the truth. It appears as the third song on Bryan's eight-track EP.
How "Lies" developed before its release
Bryan shared an early snippet of the song in March 2026 under the working title "Tell Me Your Lies."
The preview offered an initial glimpse of the piano-led arrangement before the complete recording became available. In September, Del Rey acknowledged the collaboration in an Instagram post: "Whale, we finally got our song done. And that's no lie." Her caption confirmed that the track was finished without revealing details about its composition or the circumstances behind the partnership.
The two artists had a musical connection before this release. Bryan covered Del Rey's "Video Games" in 2025, although neither artist has confirmed that the performance directly led to "Lies."
What do the lyrics reveal?
The chorus revolves around the request
"Tell me your lies, babe, your sweet little lies"
placing the desire for romantic reassurance directly alongside an acknowledgment of dishonesty. Rather than resolving that contradiction, the repeated phrase keeps it at the centre of the song. Another line,
"Been seeking the truth all of my youth"
introduces a longer pursuit of honesty. The following words contrast that search with the appeal of a lover's promises, making the conflict explicit without explaining the relationship's history. The second verse raises questions about fidelity, excuses and whether declarations of commitment were sincere.
Later, the lyrics turn toward the consequences of telling the truth, including the possibility of separation. They do not identify the people involved or establish a specific real-life story.
How the duet brings both voices together
Bryan opens the track before Del Rey takes the second verse. Their separate entrances establish the song's vocal structure, with both singers contributing to the later sections.
Piano and strings provide the instrumental foundation, keeping the arrangement focused on the vocals. The recording credits also list Brooke Waggoner on piano and musicians performing violin and cello, adding detail to the track's string-led sound.
Zach Bryan - "Lies" (feat. Lana Del Rey)
Who wrote and produced "Lies"?
Bryan and Del Rey share the songwriting credits. Production credits name Bryan, Jamie McLaughlin and Eddie Spear, with the latter two also credited for engineering and mixing. The recording took place at Easy Eye Sound in Nashville.
Neither artist has publicly confirmed a specific autobiographical inspiration for the lyrics. The available credits document the people involved in making the recording but do not explain how the songwriting was divided or whether particular lines refer to personal experiences.
Where does "Lies" appear on the EP?
Released on October 16, 2026, "Young Manhood and Other Donatable Organs" contains eight tracks, with "Lies" appearing third. The collection also includes "Plainsman," featuring the Turnpike Troubadours, alongside six other songs.
The EP followed Bryan's January 2026 album "With Heaven on Top." For Del Rey, "Lies" added a collaboration with another established songwriter to her catalogue, while the track's release also gave listeners their first officially released original song together.
FAQs
Who wrote and produced "Lies"?
Zach Bryan and Lana Del Rey share the songwriting credits. Bryan, Jamie McLaughlin and Eddie Spear are credited as producers.
Is "Lies" based on a true story?
Neither artist has confirmed a specific real-life inspiration. The lyrics address romantic promises and fidelity, but the events behind them remain undocumented.
Further Reading