Song of the night: “Lesson Number One” by Marshall Crenshaw (1985)

The more I hear from Marshall Crenshaw, the more I appreciate how well he knows his way around a song. This one is no exception. From his third Warner Bros. album, “Downtown.” An amazing song.

It’s been no fun, learning lesson number one

Nobody can share my troubles, this I know
And let me tell you I learned a lesson, here I go
Don’t you know
It’s just as sure as the rising sun
Don’t you know
To tell the truth is lesson number one

I look around the room and know the hotel in one glance
And it seems that I’ve arrived at a battleground just by chance
Clothes thrown everywhere, mirrors broken, and damage done
And I’m all alone, thinkin’ back on lesson number one

I remember being told to be careful
That telling even one lie
Would surely lead to more problems
Of alarming dimensions
I wish I had paid attention

Clothes thrown everywhere, mirrors broken, and damage done
And I’m all alone, thinkin’ back on lesson number one

To lie to your lover is a sorry losing game
To lie is a violation and a shame

Don’t you know
It’s just as sure as the rising sun
Don’t you know
To tell the truth is lesson number one