This very secret you’re trying to conceal/
Is the very same one you’re dying to reveal.

Ron Sexsmith’s “Secret Heart” is a timeless song about our reticence to share our feelings of affection with others. Of course there is always a paralyzing fear of rejection, but what about the opposite force within you? The force that is dying to share your feelings with the one you love?

Is that not more important than preserving a sense of pride or seeming tough? Or a sense or remaining mysterious? Sexsmith argues it is not worth it. There is nothing to be afraid of—tell her, or him.

“Secret Heart” was released in the mid-90s, but you’d never know it. It has the feel of a song straight out of the 60s or 70s. There were a couple other great 90s songs that sounded really out of place, namely, “I’ll Stand By You”. Both sound like classic songs that could have been written and recorded in any prior decade.

“Secret Heart’s sound is minimalistic-just a lone electric guitar. It is close to the folk-rock tradition in that it relies on its story and simple sound to deliver the emotion, rather than large orchestration or complex melodies. Sexsmith’s vocal is restrained. It is difficult to deliver emotion with restrained vocals, it is easy to deliver emotion while you’re wailing into the mic (That’s why we see it so often).

This is a great concept for a song, and I am surprised it is not written about more often. The only other song that jumps to mind with the same theme is Hey Jude. The difference is, here Sexsmith is trying to psyche himself up, whereas in Hey Jude, McCartney is looking at a young Julian Lennon and thinking of advice for him.

Secret Heart Lyrics

Secret heart
What are you made of?
What are you so afraid of?
Could it be three simple words,
Or the fear of being overheard?
What’s wrong?
Let her in on your secret, heart.

Secret heart,
Why so mysterious?
Why so sacred, why so serious?
Maybe you’re just acting tough,
Maybe you’re just not man enough.
What’s wrong?
Let her in on your secret, heart.

This very secret you’re trying to conceal,
Is the very same one you’re dying to reveal.
Go tell her how you feel!

Secret heart,
Come out and share it.
This loneliness, few can bear it.
Could it have something to do with
Admitting that you just can’t go through it alone?
Let her in on your secret.
What’s wrong, oh?
Let her in on your secret heart,
Your secret heart.

written by Ron Sexsmith