Many people know the feeling of being lied to by a significant other. There are plenty of relatable songs that capture the hurt that comes from a deceiving partner. But what about when a friend lies? Fake friends usually lead to fizzling fallouts, and many say that friendship breakups are worse than romantic ones.
Whether a friend is talking smack behind another’s back, using someone, or being fake, it can leave the other person feeling hurt and sad.
If you’re experiencing this with a friend and need a pick-me-up to know you’re not alone, you’ve come to the right place.
Here are our top ten favorite songs about lying friends. There are many genres of songs, including r&b, rap, and country songs about lying. You’re bound to find one on this list that hits the spot.
“Fake Love” – Drake
Drake keeps it real and wants his friends to do the same. This song addresses all the fake haters in his life. The hip-hop icon lets you know he can see through the fakeness that people show him because he’s famous now. This song will resonate if you’re looking for songs about liars and fakes.
The Canadian artist sings, “I’ve been down so long, it look like up to me/They look up to me/ I got fake people showing fake love to me/Straight up to my face.”
Drake criticizes friends and others in his circle who only show him love due to his newfound success. They weren’t there when he was down, but they look up to him since he’s a star. Drake doesn’t care for the admiration, though, unless it’s real.
“Complicated” – Avril Lavigne
Speaking of Canadian artists, we’d be crazy if we didn’t mention the Canadian “Punk Princess” herself. In the 2002 smash hit, “Complicated,” Avril Lavigne sings about the frustration of friends trying to be someone they’re not. Although this song could be about a crush, we can interpret it in a platonic way.
“Complicated” took over the radio after its release, peaking at number 2 on the Billboard Top 100. Lavigne has said the inspiration was “people that bother her” because they’re “not real and being two-faced.”
With lyrics like “you’ve become somebody else ‘round everyone else/watching your back like you can’t relax/you’re trying to be cool/you look like a fool to me,” this is a perfect song to sing when you’re dealing with lying friends.
“Real Friends” – Kanye West
Kanye West is constantly in the news for many reasons. Despite his intense social media posts, this Chicago-based rapper understood the meaning of lying friends when writing “Real Friends” with Ty Dolla $ign. This song is one of the best rap songs about lying friends.
This song is a representation of Kanye’s struggles with his relationships after becoming a famous rapper. In the song, he asks, “Real friends, how many of us? How many jealous? How many honest?” He wonders how many of his friends are still genuine and honest and how many are jealous because of his success.
“Bad Blood” – Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift is well-known for her songs about bad ex-boyfriends, but the pop icon has also written songs about falling outs with friends. “Bad Blood” describes the betrayal she experienced from another female musician.
Swift sings lyrics like “I was thinking that you could be trusted” and “band-aids don’t fix bullet holes.” Taylor later revealed that this betrayal occurred between her and Katy Perry. While Swift and Perry have recently let bygones be bygones, this pop anthem lives on as a tribute to anyone who’s ever experienced betrayal by a friend.
“Fake Friend” – Nothing, Nowhere
Joseph Mulherin, better known by his stage name Nothing, Nowhere, has emerged as one of the most famous artists in the emo rap genre. “Fake Friend” celebrates the positive aspect of losing a lying friend while also expressing the frustration with thinking they’re trustworthy.
Nothing, Nowhere is well-known for his expressive lyrics, and this song is no different. The chorus includes the lyrics, “Where the hell have you been?/I don’t need a fake friend.” He questions this so-called friend, asking why they haven’t been there for him.
He goes on to sing, “losing you is a win-win/I don’t need a fake friend.” While he’s frustrated that this person isn’t supportive when he needs him most, seeing their true colors is better, so he knows they’re not true friends.
“No, It Isn’t” – Plus 44
Blink-182 is one of the most influential bands in the pop-punk genre. While they are a beloved band, they’ve been known to break up more than once.
After their first break-up in 2005, bassist Mark Hoppus and drummer Travis Barker created a new band called Plus 44. Hoppus and Barker wrote “No, It Isn’t” about former bandmate and best friend, Tom Delonge. This song is one of our favorite rock songs about lying friends.
The lyrics of this song include “This isn’t just goodbye/this is I can’t stand you” and “curse my enemies forever.” While Delonge was once a best friend, Hoppus began to view him as an enemy for breaking up the band. “No, It Isn’t” is a great rock song about lying friends.
“F.F.F.” – Bebe Rexha
Bebe Rexha and G-Eazy call out fakeness in “F.F.F.” The acronym stands for “F*ck Fake Friends,” but the short version reads as appropriate to more audiences. Both artists describe their friendship goals in the song.
In the chorus, Rexha sings, “f*ck fake friends/we don’t need ‘em/only thing they’re good for is leaving.” In his verse, G-Eazy asks, “is anybody real here?” Both artists are over fake friends. They only need those who always stick by their side.
“All My Friends are Fake” – Tate McRae
Tate McRae started on So You Think You Can Dance, then quickly became an internet sensation after her songs went viral on YouTube. In “All My Friends Are Fake,” McRae expresses all the feelings she keeps inside about her fake friends. You’ll love this one if you’re looking for a country song about fake friends.
In the chorus, McRae sings, “All my friends are fake/they just want me for the day.” It’s clear she believes these so-called friends just want her for whatever they can get out of her.
She goes on to ask, “What if I broke my legs?/What if I changed my name?/Would you still love me the same?” McRae finds herself wondering if something serious happened to her, would these friends still be there for her? It’s hard to say, and this song expresses that uncomfortable feeling.
“Not Ur Friend” – Jeremy Zucker
In “Not Ur Friend,” Jeremy Zucker sings about letting go of a toxic person. Zucker is an American singer-songwriter who goes by they/them pronouns.
Zucker expresses their anger in dealing with a lying friend who has let them down one too many times. They sing, “sit down if you need someone to lean on/I’ve decided that I’m not your f*cking friend.” The added curse word is enough to show how frustrated Zucker is with this fake friend.
“WHERE THE HELL ARE MY FRIENDS?” – LANY
LANY, a pop band from Nashville, continues to grow as an iconic and aesthetic band. When the band moved to Los Angeles, they wrote “WHERE THE HELL ARE MY FRIENDS?” to express how they felt when moving to the Golden State. This song is one of our favorite songs about manipulation of power in a friendship.
In the song, frontman Paul Klein asks, “Where the hell are my friends?/Out without me again.” He then sings, “I don’t know why I don’t have anyone on a weekend night.”
Many of us have experienced the same thing where our so-called friends are out without us. These “friends” should be with Klein but are nowhere to be found.
Final Thoughts
Lying friends are not fun to experience, but we’ve all been there. Whether you’re looking for r&b songs about lying, songs about liars and fakes, or simply a catchy tune, these ten songs are sure to resonate with you. Remember that no one needs a fake friend.
