Pretender

Foo Fighters

About Pretender

"The Pretender" is a song by the American alternative rock band Foo Fighters. It was the first single from the group's 2007 album Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace. It is one of Foo Fighters' most successful songs; peaking at number 37 on the US Billboard Hot 100 (making it their third top 40 single), only "Learn to Fly" and "Best of You" beat its position on the Billboard Hot 100.


Year:
2008
40 
#1

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Keep you in the dark
You know they all pretend
Keep you in the dark
And so it all began

Send in your skeletons
Sing as their bones go marching in, again
The need you buried deep
The secrets that you keep are ever ready
Are you ready?
I'm finished making sense
Done pleading ignorance
That whole defense

Spinning infinity, boy
The wheel is spinning me
It's never-ending, never-ending
Same old story

What if I say I'm not like the others?
What if I say I'm not just another one of your plays?
You're the pretender
What if I say I will never surrender?
What if I say I'm not like the others?
What if I say I'm not just another one of your plays?
You're the pretender
What if I say that I'll never surrender?

In time our soul untold
I'm just another soul for sale, oh well
The page is out of print
We are not permanent
We're temporary, temporary
Same old story

What if I say I'm not like the others?
What if I say I'm not just another one of your plays?
You're the pretender
What if I say that I'll never surrender?
What if I say I'm not like the others?
What if I say I'm not just another one of your plays?
You're the pretender
What if I say that I'll never surrender?

I'm the voice inside your head
You refuse to hear
I'm the face that you have to face
Mirrored in your stare
I'm what's left, I'm what's right
I'm the enemy
I'm the hand that will take you down
Bring you to your knees

So who are you?
Yeah, who are you?
Yeah, who are you?
Yeah, who are you?

Keep you in the dark
You know they all pretend

What if I say I'm not like the others?
What if I say I'm not just another one of your plays?
You're the pretender
What if I say I will never surrender?
What if I say I'm not like the others?
What if I say I'm not just another one of your plays?
You're the pretender
What if I say that I'll never surrender?

What if I say I'm not like the others?
(Keep you in the dark)
What if I say I'm not just another one of your plays?
(You know they all pretend)
You're the pretender
(Who dares)
What if I say I will never surrender?

What if I say I'm not like the others?
(Keep you in the dark)
What if I say I'm not just another one of your plays?
(You know they all pretend)
You're the pretender
(Who dares)
What if I say I will never surrender?

So who are you?
Yeah, who are you?
Yeah, who are you?

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Foo Fighters

The Foo Fighters are an American rock band, formed in Seattle in 1994. It was founded by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the death of Kurt Cobain and the resulting dissolution of his previous band. The group got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War II, which were known collectively as foo fighters. Prior to the release of Foo Fighters' 1995 debut album Foo Fighters, which featured Grohl as the only official member, Grohl recruited bassist Nate Mendel and drummer William Goldsmith, both formerly of Sunny Day Real Estate, as well as fellow Nirvana touring bandmate Pat Smear as guitarist to complete the lineup. The band began with performances in Portland, Ore… more »

22 fans

Written by: Christopher A. Shiflett, David Eric Grohl, Nate Mendel, Taylor Hawkins

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Album Release
"Pretender" is a single from the Foo Fighters' album "Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace". This album was their sixth studio album and was released in 2007.
Billboard Rankings
The song peaked at No. 1 on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart, proving its popularity amongst fans and music critics alike.
Nominations
"Pretender" was nominated for two Grammy Awards, one for Best Hard Rock Performance and another for Record of the Year. It won in the Best Hard Rock Performance category in 2008.
Inspiration Behind Lyrics
Lead vocalist, Dave Grohl, has been quoted stating that the song was written during a tough period in his life. It's about the inner struggle to maintain your identity and not pretend to be something you're not.
Music Video
The music video for "Pretender" features the members of the band performing in a soundstage, enclosed by a colossal white screen. As the music intensifies, the screen gets progressively dented until it finally shatters, symbolizing breaking down barriers.
Song Meaning
The overall sentiment of the song is about resisting conformist society pressures, standing up for oneself, and not pretending to be someone else.
Impact
The song remains one of Foo Fighters' most successful tracks and a concert staple, still played regularly at their live shows.
Chart Success
Not only was it successful domestically, but "Pretender" was also a smash hit around the world, reaching top positions on charts in countries like Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Belgium.
Writing Credits
Like most Foo Fighters songs, "Pretender" was written by frontman Dave Grohl, along with band members Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel and Chris Shiflett.
Influence
The song's strong, rebellious theme has made it a choice selection for sports events and soundtracks for shows and video games, amplifying its cultural influence beyond the music charts.

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    "Pretender Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/25496091/Foo+Fighters/Pretender>.

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