"The Trick" is the eighth track on AJR's fourth album, OK ORCHESTRA. It centers around the idea of only putting forth the best and most desirable aspects of oneself in order to impress others. It's also a way to hide from the truer, darker parts of one's identity.
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
I've got a dog, and my dog can dance
Just not in public, and not with my friends
I got a girl and she's 28
Now I'm the coolest guy
In all of eighth grade
I know a kid that you've never met
His dad is a rockstar, we smoked in his van
I know a trick
Do you wanna see?
I can be anything that I pretend to be
[Chorus]
We'll get out of this
We'll get out of this too
I'm not proud of this
But I'm not proud of the truth
And if you run from me
Then I'll use my trick on you
The truth is that I'm screwed
[Verse 2]
I went to France and danced in the rain
And told you all about it on our first date
My dad doesn't lie, so you can't meet my dad
'Cause you fell in love with the me that went to France
[Chorus]
We'll get out of this
We'll get out of this too
I'm not proud of this
But I'm not proud of the truth
And if you run from me
Then I'll use my trick on you
The truth is that we're screwed
[Outro]
We'll get out of this
'Cause I love you, I do
We'll get out of this
'Cause I love you, it's true
But if you're doubting this
If you're doubting that I do
Multiple fans have claimed to hear a backwards message in this song that says "There is no way out". However, whether this is true at all has not been confirmed nor denied.