a version of marianne faithfull's truth bitter truth

This is an unaccompanied, rewritten version of Marianne Faithfull's Truth Bitter Truth.

The song was written by Court, Faithfull, Reynolds - Wikipedia info here. The full length original can be heard here. The single version, with better video is here.




The biggest change I've made is in cutting the lyrics. I don't like the two verses beginning 'Who is he?' - they strike me as vague and a bit clumsy. I've replaced them with two of my own, and also cut the ending after the first repeat of the chrous.

Original lyrics (Copyright Courts, Faithfull, Reynolds):

Where did it go to my youth,
Where did it fade away to ?

Who was it told the truth, the bitter truth,

The truth we didn't want to know ?



What is it — do you know ?

What is it — can I bear it ?

Who did it — do I care ?

Who is it — when did it happen and where ?


Why did you let me know,

How could you think I'd stand it ?

You knew I'd pay you back,

I did it, and it happened — do you care ?



Where did it go to, my youth ?

Where did it fade away to ?

Who was it told the truth, the bitter truth,

The truth we didn't want to know ?


Who is he — do you know ?

This man of power but a fool.

They said he was so high and pure,

They also said that he was cruel.



They killed him, did you see ?

They knew he couldn't take it.

They wanted lies — he said the truth.

They did it — and it happened — who cares ?



Where did it go to, my youth ?

Where did it slip away to ?

Who was it told the truth, the bitter truth,

The truth they didn't want to know ?


Why did you let me know,

How could you think I'd stand it ?

You knew I'd pay you back.

I did it, and it happened — do you care ?



What is it — do you know ?

Who did it — can I bear it ?

Who did it — do I care ?

Who is it — when did it happen and where ?



What is it — do you know ?

Who did it — can I bear it ?

Who did it — do I care ?

Who is it — when did it happen and where ?



Where did it go to, my youth ?

Where did it slip away to ?

Who was it told the truth, the bitter truth,

The truth I didn't want to know ?

My rewritten lyrics (my bits in italics):

Where did it go to my youth,
Where did it fade away to?
Who was it told the truth, the bitter truth,
The truth we didn't want to know?


What is it — do you know?
What is it — can I bear it?
Who did it — do I care?

Who is it — when did it happen and where?

Why did you let me know,


How could you think I'd stand it?
You knew I'd pay you back,
I did it, and it happened — do you care?

Where did it go to my youth,
Where did it fade away to?
Who was it told the truth, the bitter truth,
The truth we didn't want to know?


I walked until I bled

My feet were burning all the way

I thought of everything you said

And walked until it went away.




I carried it too long

I knew it would hurt me

I realised that it would sting

But I kept touching all the same.

Where did it go to my youth,
Where did it fade away to?
Who was it told the truth, the bitter truth,
The truth we didn't want to know?

[Note: had to do repeated edits here, wanted to blockquote the original lyric, but it fucked up the formatting. When I removed that it bollocksed up other bits of the post.]

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