The Pretender

Foo Fighters

About The 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:
2007
4:31
1,304 
#4

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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

Genre Classification
"The Pretender" is classified under the genres of hard rock, alternative rock, and post-grunge.
Album Information
The song is a part of the Foo Fighters' sixth studio album, "Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace," which was released in 2007.
Chart Performance
"The Pretender" became a chart-topper. It reached number one on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks in the USA, holding that position for a record 18 weeks.
Grammy Awards
The song earned the band two Grammy nominations in 2008. It was nominated for Best Hard Rock Performance and Best Rock Song, winning the former.
Musical Style
Sonically, "The Pretender" is known for its blend of quiet, slow-paced verses which explode into loud, energetic choruses.
Song Duration
"The Pretender" is the longest track on the album with a duration of 4 minutes and 29 seconds.
Inspiration
While the meaning of "The Pretender" is open to interpretation, Dave Grohl (the band's frontman) has stated that it's about the feeling of being exploited and belittled.
Live Performance
"The Pretender" quickly became a staple of Foo Fighters' live performances and is still frequently featured in their setlists.
Music Video
The music video for "The Pretender" was directed by Sam Brown and features the band performing inside a box while being attacked by riot police.
Global Success
Aside from its success in the US, "The Pretender" also achieved significant chart success globally. It reached top ten positions in several countries, including Canada, Australia, and the UK.

Discuss the The Pretender Lyrics with the community:

1 Comment
  • Robin Wahlberg
    Robin Wahlberg
    There needs to be a correction to the first line of the second verse. It is : In time, or so I'm told, I just another soull for sale, oh well.
    LikeReply7 years ago

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The Pretender

448.6M
1.9M     65,753

Top Hot 100 Songs 2007

Billboard #37


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The Pretender [CD 2]

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