Secret

The song 'Secret' by The Pierces delves into the intriguing yet dangerous nature of secrets and the human tendency to share them despite promises of silence. The repetitive chorus, 'Got a secret, can you keep it? Swear this one you'll save. Better lock it in your pocket taking this one to the grave,' suggests a test of trust, emphasizing the gravity of the secret being shared. The phrase 'two can keep a secret if one of them is dead' is a dark reminder that secrets often don't stay hidden, and it may take extreme measures to ensure they do.

The verses explore the psychological burden of holding onto secrets and the paradox of wanting to keep them while feeling compelled to reveal them. The lines 'Why do you smile like you've been told a secret? Now you're tellin' lies 'cause you have sworn to keep it' reflect the inner conflict and guilt that can arise from knowing something meant to be concealed. The song also touches on the idea of secrets being hypnotic or addictive, as suggested by the line 'Are you hypnotized by secrets that you're keeping?' This indicates the power secrets hold over individuals, often leading to a cycle of concealment and disclosure.

The spoken bridge, where one character swears to another to never reveal a secret, adds a theatrical element to the song, heightening the drama and the stakes of secret-keeping. The Pierces, known for their folk-pop sound with gothic and mysterious undertones, effectively use this song to capture the allure of secrets and the human fascination with the unknown, while also commenting on the potential consequences of sharing or keeping those secrets.