Song was economical with the truth (4)
I believe the answer is:
lied
I believe this is a double definition.
'song' is the first definition.
(type of German song)
'was economical with the truth' is the second definition.
(I've seen this before)
(Other definitions for lied that I've seen before include "Told untruths; song" , "German Romantic song" , "Song; fibbed" , "Spoke falsely" , "refused to admit it" .)