Honestly

For the Nothing Ever Changes song, see Honesty.

"Honestly"
Single by Zwan
Album Lyrics Tabs
Released	February 24, 2003
Length	3:47
Label	Reprise
Songwriter(s)	Billy Corgan
Producer(s)	Billy Corgan, Bjorn Thorsrud
Zwan singles chronology
"Honestly" (2003) "Lyric" (2003)
Mary Star of the Sea Lyric Settle Down Declarations of Faith Honestly El Sol Of a Broken Heart Ride a Black Swan Heartsong Endless Summer Baby Let's Rock! Yeah! Desire Jesus, I / Mary Star of the Sea Jesus, I Mary Star of the Sea Come with Me

"Honestly" is a song by Zwan. It was the first single from their album, Mary Star of the Sea. It was written by Billy Corgan.

The song is featured on the soundtrack to the 2023 video game Hi-Fi Rush.

The B-side "The Number of the Beast", an acoustic cover version of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden, was used in the opening credits of the 2002 film Spun by director Jonas Åkerlund.

Content

"Honestly" is a rock song in the key of D major. Musically, it bears some similarities to the chord progression of Corgan compositions "Today" and the chorus of "Cherub Rock". The guitar parts liberally use a flanger effect.

Lyrics

i believe
i believe
i believe
i believe the love you talk about with me
is it true, do i care
honestly, you can try to wipe the memories aside
but it's you that you erase

'cause there's no place that i could be without you
it's too far to discard the life i once knew
honestly, all the weather and storms i bring
are just a picture of my needs
'cause when i think of you as mine
and allow myself with time
to lead into the life we want
i feel love, honestly
i feel love, yes, honestly

i believe you mean the best that life can bring
i believe in it all
honestly, you can try
your heart is just as long as mine
is it ours to let go

'cause there's not place that i could be without you
it's too dark to discard the life i once knew
honestly, a single wrong is not enough
to cover up the pain in us
'cause when i think of you as mine
and allow myself the time
to lead into the life we want
i feel love, honestly
i'll make a joke so you must laugh
i'll break your heart so you must ask
is this the way to get us back
i don't know, honestly
i don't know, yes, honestly

there's no place that i could be without you
honestly

there's no place that i could be without you
there's no place that i could be without you
there's no place that i could be without you
there's no place that i could be without you
honestly

Track listing

All tracks are written by Billy Corgan, except where noted.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Honestly"		3:47
2.	"The Number of the Beast"	Steve Harris	4:18

Australia and UK bonus tracks

No.	Title	Length
3.	"Freedom Ain't What It Used to Be"	4:05

European VHS promo

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Honestly"	3:44

Release history

Released	Label	Catalog ID	Format	Country	External sites
February 3, 2003	Reprise • Martha's Music	9362 42609-2	CD	Australia	Discogs	MusicBrainz	[1][2]
February 24, 2003	Reprise • Martha's Music	9362 42609-2 • W600CD	CD	UK		MusicBrainz	[1][2]
February 24, 2003	Reprise • Martha's Music	W600 • 5439 16671 7	7" vinyl	UK & US	Discogs	MusicBrainz	[2]
2003	Reprise		VHS	UK & Europe	Discogs		[3]

More releases: Discogs • MusicBrainz

Chart performance

Chart (2003)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)	26
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)	17
Germany (OGC)	86
Ireland (IRMA)	42
Italy (FIMI)	18
Netherlands (Single Top 100)	92
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)	35
UK Singles (OCC)	28
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)	3
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)	7
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)	21

Additional personnel

• Linda Strawberry – vocal editing, vocal production, additional vocals, piano (vocals and piano only on the B-sides)

Availability

Title	Type
Mary Star of the Sea	Studio
Honestly	Single

Tour stats

• Total plays: 82 plays (81 full, 1 tease), 8 acoustic, 2 artists
• First performance: Zwan 2002-11-26 at Park West Chicago, Chicago, IL, US
• Last performance: Billy Corgan 2019-06-24 at Le Trianon (theatre), Paris, FR