I Never Lie
{{Short description|2024 song by Zach Top}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{distinguish|Never Lie}}
{{Infobox single
| name = I Never Lie
| type = single
| artist = Zach Top
| album = Cold Beer & Country Music
| released = November 25, 2024
| recorded =
| genre = Neotraditional country
| length = 3:45
| label = Leo33
| writer =
- Carson Chamberlain
- Tim Nichols
- Zach Top
| producer = Carson Chamberlain
| prev_title = Sounds Like the Radio
| prev_year = 2024
| next_title = Good Times & Tan Lines
| next_year = 2025
| misc = {{External music video|1={{YouTube|ne_Evl2Du8s|"I Never Lie"}}|type=single}}
}}
"I Never Lie" is a song by American country music singer Zach Top from his debut studio album Cold Beer & Country Music. Top co-wrote the song with Carson Chamberlain and Tim Nichols, and was produced by Chamberlain. The song notably went viral on social media platform TikTok,{{Cite web |title=Zach Top Performs Viral Hit 'I Never Lie' During Holler Nashville Session Presented by George Dickel {{!}} Holler |url=https://holler.country/news/breaking/zach-top-performs-viral-hit-i-never-lie-during-holler-nashville-session-presented-by-george-dickel/ |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=holler.country |language=en}} which led to it being released as the album's second single.{{cite magazine|url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/bulletins.billboard.com/country/country_update_2024_1125.pdf|title=Billboard Country Update|magazine=Billboard|date=November 25, 2024|access-date=November 25, 2024}}
Musical style and composition
"I Never Lie" is influenced by the neotraditional country style of country music popularized in the 1980s and 1990s.{{Cite web |title='I Never Lie' by Zach Top – Lyrics & Meaning {{!}} Holler |url=https://holler.country/news/general/i-never-lie-by-zach-top-lyrics-and-meaning/ |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=holler.country |language=en}} Its comedic lyricism has been compared to George Strait's "Ocean Front Property" on the 1987 album of the same name.{{cite web |last1=Edwards |first1=Clayton |title=Watch Lukas Nelson Deliver a Stunning Piano-Driven Cover of Zach Top’s Hit “I Never Lie” |url=https://americansongwriter.com/watch-lukas-nelson-deliver-stunning-piano-driven-cover-zach-top-i-never-lie/ |website=American Songwriter |access-date=January 24, 2025 |date=December 27, 2024}}
Critical reception
Country Central writer Will Chapman wrote that the song "as well as a classic voice, Zach Top has plenty of personality, and just like the greats he seeks to follow in the footsteps of, he puts a high premium on witty lyrics".{{Cite web |last=Chapman |first=Will |date=2024-04-07 |title=Zach Top, "Cold Beer & Country Music" - Album Review |url=https://countrycentral.com/reviews/zach-top-cold-beer-country-music-album-review/ |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=Country Central |language=en-US}} Taste of Country placed it at number 17 on its list of the Top 40 Country Songs of 2024.{{cite web|url=https://tasteofcountry.com/top-country-songs-2024/|title=2024's Top 40 Country Songs Proves Country Music Is in Good Hands|author=Billy Dukes|date=December 5, 2024|website=Taste of Country|access-date=December 12, 2024}}
Live performances
Chart performance
The song debuted at number 95 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of September 28, 2024, and became Top's first entry on the chart.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2024-09-28|title=Billboard Hot 100: Week of September 28, 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 8, 2024}} It debuted at number 45 on Billboard Hot Country Songs.{{cite magazine|url=http://bulletins.billboard.com/country/country_update_2024_0819.pdf|title=Billboard Country Update|magazine=Billboard|date=August 19, 2024|access-date=2024-09-19}} In May 2025, it reached a peak of number two on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, and became Top's first number-one hit on the Canada Country chart.
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for "I Never Lie" ! scope="col"| Chart (2024–2025) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| Australia Country Hot 50 (The Music){{cite web|url=https://countrytown.com/charts/countrytown-hot-50?year=2025&week=14|title=Countrytown Hot 50 – 2025, Week 14|work=Countrytown|access-date=April 10, 2025}}
| 1 |
|---|
| {{single chart|Canada|36|artist=Zach Top|rowheader=true|access-date=May 12, 2025}} |
| scope="row"|Canada All-Format Airplay (Billboard){{Cite magazine|url=https://ca.billboard.com/charts/canada-all-format/2025-05-10|title=Canada All-Format Airplay − Week of May 10, 2025|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 18, 2025}}
| 3 |
| scope="row"| Canada Country (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://ca.billboard.com/charts/canada-country/2025-05-10|title=Canada Country: Week of May 10, 2025|magazine=Billboard Canada|access-date=May 10, 2025}}
| 1 |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|24|artist=Zach Top|rowheader=true|access-date=May 12, 2025}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcountryairplay|2|artist=Zach Top|rowheader=true|access-date=May 10, 2025}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcountrysongs|6|artist=Zach Top|rowheader=true|access-date=March 18, 2025}} |
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "I Never Lie"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|title=I Never Lie|artist=Zach Top|type=single|award=Gold|access-date=April 1, 2025|relyear=2024|certyear=2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|title=I Never Lie|artist=Zach Top|type=single|award=Platinum|access-date=April 18, 2025|relyear=2024|certyear=2025}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|noshipments=true|nosales=true}}