Where did the saying, "I'm not gonna lie" come from?

[darkscout36]

I don't remember when exactly I started saying it, i just know I did. And I noticed a lot of people say it a lot as well. There's even a facebook group on people who say it a lot. So where did it come from exactly?

[snakeman11426]

Bill Clinton?

[rosie45]

It comes from people who are really lying.

[open4one]

I can't say I've heard that said often enough to call it a saying, even though it's more of a catch-phrase than a saying.

What I can tell you is that it's one of the things that put me on guard when I hear it, along with a few others....

"You know I'm good for it" usually means "You'll never see me again".

A story that begins "No s***, this really happened" means "I heard this story and have no clue how true it is, but at any rate, I wasn't actually there".

And when someone says "I'm not gonna lie", I would presume that they already did when they said that.

[hbarrass]

I believe you are thinking of George Washington who, according to legend confessed to killing his father's cherry tree.

From the legend by Parson Weems:

"George," said his father, "do you know who killed that beautiful little cherry tree yonder in the garden?"

This was a tough question; and George staggered under it for a moment: but quickly recovered himself: and looking at his father, with the sweet face of youth brightened with the inexpressible charm of all-conquering truth, he bravely cried out, "I can't tell a lie, Pa; you know I can't tell a lie. I did cut it with my hatchet."

"Run to my arms, you dearest boy," cried his father in transports, "run to my arms; glad am I, George, that you killed my tree; for you have paid me for it a thousand fold."