Released: April 3, 1990

Featuring: Debbie T

Songwriter: Denzil Foster Thomas McElroy Khayree En Vogue

Producer: Denzil Foster Thomas McElroy

[Chorus]
Lies, lies, using lies as alibis
Lies, lies, just a devil in disguise

[Verse 1: Dawn Robinson]
It's the same game
Played in many ways
Everyone is the victim too
It's just a waste of time
Made for simple minds
So why do people insist on lies?

[Pre-Chorus: Cindy Herron]
I'll live my life a different way
Refuse to let myself become a victim
Getting caught up in a vicious web of lies

[Chorus]
Lies (they can hurt you), lies (and destroy you)
Using lies as alibis (watch out for lies)
Lies, lies, just a devil in disguise
(Just a devil in disguise)

[Verse 2: Dawn]
The nation's leaders as well as teachers
Practice lies as a way of life, yes they do
So think before you speak
'Cause what you sow you reap
The truth will always be brought to light

[Pre-Chorus: Cindy]
Will we ever learn one day
That telling lies will always lead to madness
Misery and sometimes pain

[Chorus]
Lies, lies, using lies as alibis (using lies as alibis)
Lies, lies, just a devil in disguise (and it's made for simple minds)
Lies, lies, using lies as alibis (made for simple minds)
Lies, lies (you've got to think about it), just a devil in disguise
(Those lies)

[Rap: Debbie T]
Lies and deceit, yes, it's running real rampant
Communities suffering, yo, I can't stand it
When we think of lies, we tend to think of politicians
But what about the husband who's on a mission?
Lying to his wife so he can get it on and get some
Coming back home with a dumb expression
Written on a face that's guilty as a criminal
It's time to change your attitude
People do you hear me though?
Listen, to a funky rhyme that's kickin' knowledge that we need
We lie about our hair and we know we got a weave
Politicians lie about the things they're gonna do
And they re-lie the tale, affects me and you
A smoker lies about the money that he stole
And a dope dealer never tells you how he got his gold
I guess what Debbie T. is really trying to say
When you break it all down, we're really all the same

[Pre-Chorus: Cindy]
I'll live my life a different way
Refuse to let myself become a victim
Caught up in a vicious web of lies

[Chorus]
Lies, lies, using lies as alibis (using lies)
Lies (stop lying), lies, just a devil in disguise (stop cheating)
Lies, lies, using lies as alibis (oh yeah, they'll ruin your life)
Lies (you better think twice), lies, just a devil in disguise
Lies, lies, using lies as alibis
Lies, lies, just a devil in disguise
Lies, lies, using lies as alibis
Lies, lies, just a devil in disguise

En Vogue

Cindy Herron, Terry Ellis, Maxine Jones, and Dawn Robinson are the original members of the R&B girl group En Vogue. The group was put together by producers Thomas McElroy and Denzil Foster after a talent search in Oakland, California in 1989. Their debut album Born to Sing was released in 1990 and featured the #1 R&B hits “You Don’t Have To Worry,” “Lies,” and their platinum debut single “Hold On,” which also peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and won a Billboard and Soul Train Music Award. Their 1992 follow-up album Funky Divas hit #1 on the Billboard R&B Albums chart and peaked at #8 on the Billboard 200 on its way to triple platinum status. The lead single, “My Lovin' (You’re Never Gonna Get It),” helped propel that success as it hit #1 on the Billboard R&B Singles chart and #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album also featured the #1 R&B hit cover of Aretha Franklin’s “Giving Him Something He Can Feel” as well as the Top 10 pop single “Free Your Mind.”

In 1993, they released the EP Runaway Love and made appearances on the TV shows In Living Color, Roc and A Different World. In 1994, they collaborated with Salt-N-Pepa on their Top 3 platinum single “Whatta Man” and in 1996 they contributed to the Set It Off soundtrack with their hit single “Don’t Let Go (Love)” which peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and hit #1 on the R&B Singles chart.

While working on their third album, Dawn Robinson decided to leave the group due to issues with management. The group decided to go on as a trio and released their third platinum album EV3 in 1997 featuring the Top 10 R&B/Top 20 pop hit “Whatever,” which was produced and co-written by Babyface. They went on to release three more albums—Masterpiece Theatre in 2000, The Gift of Christmas in 2002, and Soul Flower in 2004. During that time, Maxine Jones left the group in 2001 and was replaced by Amanda Cole, and Cole was later replaced in 2003 by Rhona Bennett. While the original four members have reunited for performances throughout the years, the current lineup consists of Herron, Ellis, and Bennett, and they released the single “Déjà Vu” in 2016 and released their album Electric Café in 2018.