Alyssa Lies

"Alyssa Lies" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Jason Michael Carroll. The song was released as a single in October 2006, and served as his debut single and the lead-off to his debut album Waitin' in the Country.

"Alyssa Lies"
Single by Jason Michael Carroll
from the album Waitin' in the Country
ReleasedOctober 17, 2006 (2006-10-17)
Recorded2006
GenreCountry
Length4:19
LabelArista Nashville
Songwriter(s)Jason Michael Carroll
Producer(s)Don Gehman
Jason Michael Carroll singles chronology
"Alyssa Lies"
(2006)		 "Livin' Our Love Song"
(2007)

Background

Carroll took two years to write "Alyssa Lies." The song was so emotionally painful to write that he got migraines while writing. It is based on a true story of a girl that wasn't saved in time. It seemed to Carroll that no matter what he wrote, he would never be satisfied with it. When he realized that he would not be able to make the song perfect, he tried the best he could to make it realistic and sufficiently emotional. After three years, he felt it was as heartfelt as he could make it, and recorded the song.[1]

Content

The song is about a young girl, the narrator's daughter, who met a school friend named Alyssa, who is suffering abuse.[1] To explain her injuries, Alyssa lies to the teachers and classmates, so as not to implicate the culprit. The narrator's daughter had all explained this to him, and then asks why Alyssa lies about her situation ("My little girl asked me why Alyssa lies").

Eventually, the father (the singer) of the little girl, after hearing her pray one night for Alyssa's safety, decides to report the suspected abuse at school. However, when they get to school on Monday, it is too late; the culprit has apparently beaten Alyssa to death. Thus the lyrics, "She doesn't lie in the classroom ..." The singer goes on to bemoan the failings of her teachers and others who could have reported the abuse, and then tells how he had to tearfully explain why Alyssa wasn't at school to his little daughter.

Response

On the radio station 93.7 The Bull, located in St. Louis, Missouri, a trucker called in, and he said he had just listened to the song, and his eyes had become so filled with tears that he almost veered off of the road.[2]

The song has received much attention for its message in the severity and prevalence of child abuse.

Chart performance
Chart (2006-2007) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[3] 5
US Billboard Hot 100[4] 58
US Billboard Pop 100 91

Year-end charts
Chart (2007) Position
US Country Songs (Billboard)[5] 44

Sources
  1. Morris, Edward (2007-02-06). "Ironies Abound on Jason Michael Carroll's Road to Fame". CMT. Retrieved 2009-11-02.
  2. "Jason Carroll site". Archived from the original on 2007-11-12. Retrieved 2007-11-15.
  3. "Jason Michael Carroll Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  4. "Jason Michael Carroll Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  5. "Best of 2007: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2007. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
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