Lie Of The Land is the fifth studio album by English acoustic roots duo Show of Hands. Following the live band setting of the band's previous album, 1994's Beat about the Bush, the duo sought a simpler sound that featured just themselves, with the duo trying to capture their live sound, which included experimenting with DI units and making the maximum use of pick-ups and pre-amplifiers. The album was produced by Gerard O'Farrell, who by this point had become the band's manager, and recorded in July 1995 in Bredon, Gloucestershire.

It was released in 1995 by Isis Records, before being re-rereleased by the duo's own label Hands on Music re-released the album in 1996 after the original version went out of print. The album was a turning point for the band, featuring major press attention from magazines such as Mojo and Q, the latter naming it "folk album of the year". Oldies.com note that the album was "considered one of that year’s finest folk releases."

After folk musician Phil Beer left The Albion Band in late 1990, it allowed he and Steve Knightley to treat their project Show of Hands as a full-time musical collaboration. Show of Hands' work prior to Beer's departure from The Albion Band consisted of two albums, Show of Hands (1987) and Tall Ships (1990). The newly prioritised Show of Hands recorded Out for the Count at The Old Court in 1991, and released it on cassette that year, sold at the band's live performances. The duo briefly entered a hiatus as Show of Hands to allow to form the Anglo-Chilean band Alianza with Dave Townsend with three Chilean musicians, exploring world music. They released a self-titled album in 1992, becoming Knightley and Beer's first CD release. During the Alianza project, the duo recorded a performance from 8 June 1992 at Bridport's Bull Hotel, working with engineer Mike Trim and released it on The Road Goes on Forever in 1992 as Show of Hands Live, the duo's first CD, but by the time of its release, the band's previous three albums were out of print.

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