“Secrets,” initially inspired by Dolly Parton and Conway Twitty, finds Abel explaining that he can fully understand what’s going on in the girls mind. A preview of the song appeared on the “M A N I A” visuals, released on the 23rd of November 2016, two days before the official release.
The track was initially meant as a country song, but later changed by Doc McKinney, Cirkut and Sir Dylan to a new-wave/soul styled version, marking one of The Weeknd’s new artificial styles.
The song has Abel singing lower notes than his famous falsetto, which he is used to. As the song continues, Abel slowly changes to a somewhat of a Transatlantic accent.
The track noticeably samples two well known New Wave songs. The entire chorus is an interpolation of The Romantics' “Talking In Your Sleep,” while the backing track also relies heavily on a sample of Tears For Fears' “Pale Shelter.”
Lyrics of Secrets
Everybody here wants you
My love, my love
And I know that you want 'em too
My love, my love
I ask you what your heart desires
My love, my love
You tell me I'm the only one
My love, my love
It's a lie, a lie
I catch you every time
In your lust, your lust
Every time you close your eyes
I hear the secrets that you keep
When you're talkin' in your sleep
I hear the secrets that you keep, keep, keep
When you're talk, talkin', talkin'
I hear the secrets that you keep
When you're talkin' in your sleep
I hear the secrets that you keep, keep, keep
When you're talk, talkin', talkin'
You told me not to worry 'bout
Those guys, those guys
You told me that you left it all behind
Behind
It's a lie, a lie
I catch you every time
In your lust, your lust
Every time you close your eyes
I hear the secrets that you keep
When you're talkin' in your sleep
I hear the secrets that you keep, keep, keep
When you're talk, talkin', talkin'
I hear the secrets that you keep
When you're talkin' in your sleep
I hear the secrets that you keep, keep, keep
When you're talk, talkin', talkin'
Wipe the lust from your eyes
I see that you're not mine
I can see the lust in your eyes (wipe the)
You can't hide it (lust from your eyes)
You can't be the one (I)
I rely, we're divided (see that you're not mine)
I hear the secrets that you keep (the secrets that you keep)
When you're talkin' in your sleep (talkin' in your sleep)
I hear the secrets that you keep, keep, keep (the secrets that you keep)
When you're talk, talkin', talkin' (oh)
I hear the secrets that you keep (hey, the secrets that you keep)
When you're talkin' in your sleep (talkin' in your sleep)
I hear the secrets that you keep, keep, keep (the secrets that you keep)
When you're talk, talkin', talkin'