“Truth About You” by Mitchell Tenpenny
On Mitchell Tenpenny’s “Truth About You”, the narrator is addressing his ex. And to his chagrin, it is one of those types of situations where their breakup has not been peaceful. More specifically, his main beef at the moment is that she is being untruthful – a tendency of hers that has manifested both pre- and post-breakup.
On top of that, she possesses anger-management issues. For instance, when they were together, she would spaz every time that she noticed him receiving a text message. Or put more plainly, she regularly and falsely accused him of cheating. But meanwhile, what actually tore the relationship apart in the end was rather him ‘catching her red-handed’.
Addressee keeps destroying Narrator’s Reputation
And now that they aren’t together anymore she’s going around town, telling tales and spoiling his reputation. Such stories are getting back to Tenpenny and simply pissing him off.
And one of the reasons he’s bummed is because he idealized their parting ways as a peaceful incident. That is to say that he’s ‘wishing her the best’ in life, even without him. So he doesn’t want his ex to conversely set about trying to destroy his future.
But all of that noted, Mitchell is not going to take the situation lying down. So he has issued an ultimatum. He’s mature enough to know that “there’s two sides to every breakup”, so the vocalist isn’t mad at the addressee, his ex. Rather he wants to “call a truce”, as in accepting that the two parties involved are “even” in terms of hurting each other or what have you.
But if she continues to tell lies in the name of making him look bad, he’s going to turn around and ‘tell the truth about her’. Thus as presented, he never actually told other people the reason they broke up as detailed above – with her being a hothead, hypocrite and cheat.
But now he is feeling compelled to behave similarly as herself, i.e. setting out to lay waste to her reputation just as she is doing to him. And by the looks of things, it won’t take long for such juicy gossip to spread throughout the town. Also there is an inherent diss in making such a threat, i.e. the truth about your opponent being even more disgraceful than the lies she told about you.
In Conclusion
So conclusively, we can say that this is akin to a nightmarish situation for the both of them. Indeed the intended message behind this whole narrative, in Mitchell Tenpenny’s own words, is that exes should not set out to “ruin each other’s lives after a breakup”.
Writing Credits and Release of “Truth About You”
Mitchell Tenpenny wrote this song alongside Thomas Archer and Matt Alderman.
“Truth About You” was made public on 9 July 2021, after initially being teased during May of that year.
It is to be part of an EP, that was announced on the release date of the song but is set to come out itself shortly thereafter.
Who is Mitchell Tenpenny?
Mitchell Tenpenny, a country music Nashville native, has been active since the mid-2010s, coming out with his first album, an LP entitled “Black Crow”, in 2015. His biggest hit thus far has been his 2018 single “Drunk Me”, which has been RIAA-certified double-platinum. And the last album he came out with was a 2020 EP entitled “Neon Christmas”.
I love this song !! My 30yr marriage broke up, from a friend stealing, kept messing with the love of my Life. We were Best Friends, did everything together. Her Husband & her had their own business, worked in same type business. We were friends. Our children went to same school, my daughter & their son same yr., we were Room Moms at school. Her sister told her to leave him alone, he worships the ground she walks on & same for me. I worked full time, took 11yrs to have One child.
I could feel something was different. We went to Church, I taught Sunday School, then Girl Scout leader, had 4 foot surgeries, neuroma, kept growing back. My cowgirl boots, did not work anymore in my foot. He ran Marathons, I would buy groceries, cook, take care of our daughter, his work hrs., before her, & running. Ended family meals, he would give her bath & get ready for bed when he could get home in time. I used a frozen coke ice bottle in foot for pain. Then cook, if he ran at night, would not eat.. We were so in Love, both Loving families.
My Mom left him in family photo when I was 17yrs old… His Mother Loved me like a daughter. He had big family & we had big times at Holidays. My parents lived close, and other family another state, 1400 miles away. I miss those times, the drink table,, haha, But I live alone, in his family home, we bought, then moved for his job. I left a good job place, but, did get a job with same company & good benefits, (provided Insurance for family) & received good retirement.
But, I lived with Pain (20 plus yrs), still do. 11yrs ~ 8 surgeries to have a baby, then my foot.. Then Back surgery 2008, from foot, lifting.. Coded Blue.. Drugs from HOSP. I kept the house going, Pain, doctors & all. He walked out in me & my daughter (15yrs), Memorial Day, weekend, 2006 with the clothes in his back.
In 2008 got a letter in the mail, he never paid something he owed from his business. In 2003 he went into business with her & her Husband. In 2004, her husband got out of the partnership. My daughter and I lived together, she was mad at first, but always a daddy’s girl. Then she stay at his office, he made him a living room & bed room, from an older house He bought for their office. I would not take him back, he never asked, 2 weeks we did not talk. Then we talked almost everyday he paid for house , I always paid bills.. NO one knew, I was in shock, well my very close friend from Church, we already suspected,, he denied affair, but, laughed. I knew, I hated Divorce or saying my EX.. But that was nothing compared to what that letter said. He put me in such financial debt, people always thought of I’m so sorry about the divorce.
I never said anything about the financial situation, I was not raised that way. You pay what you owe, my Mom almost fainted.. He never told me, said he did not lie, I said you lied by omission,, I think that might have been a 3 -4 glasses of Wine or Margaritas night ~ I never in my whole life thought.. I’m just able to tell people. I just became this other person, not going around people, they would ask about Him.. A few guys at our old Church. I quit going to Church. But, always kept God close or closer to me. I had brothers, my sister’s were in his family. Which I stayed close with. Watch 2 hrs of a baseball game with his sister that got cancer. Even before, we would call each other on a play. I miss that, miss my daughter, as she lives still same town, and know works with both of them with het daughter.
Thank you for listening.
You are truly a beautiful country singer. Love to hear your songs on the radio, then you made a comment on the radio, about how you had to write this song.
I listen to 93Q Houston, Tx & 101.7 KSAM Huntsville, Tx.
I’m from Wyoming, we have a family Ranch in Thermopolis, Wyoming. Love the Ranch.
As kids my older brother & I would go out, 30 miles out if town and stay. I have 5 cousins, 2 more kids for my Aunt was nothing. Grandpa & Grandma had their own house, next door. Haha.. I loved helping my Country Cowgirl grandma. !
Cheers, Many blessings to you
Julie