The Pretender - Jackson Browne: Song Lyrics, Music Videos & Concerts

The Pretender

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Rock

The Pretender was released on November 1, 1976 by Elektra Asylum as a part of the album The Pretender

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Song Details

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Past 7 Days

03:55 - 04:00

The Pretender was discovered most frequently at around 3 minutes and 55 seconds into the song during the past week

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OVERVIEW

LYRICS

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS

Jackson Browne

Lead Vocals

Fred Tackett

Acoustic Guitar

Jeff Porcaro

Drums

David Crosby

Harmony Vocals

Graham Nash

Harmony Vocals

Craig Doerge

Piano

Bob Glaub

Bass Guitar

David Campbell

String Conductor

COMPOSITION & LYRICS

Jackson Browne

Songwriter

David Campbell

String Arranger

PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING

Mark Howlett

Additional Engineer

Greg Ladanyi

Mixing Engineer

Jon Landau

Producer

John Haeny

Recording Engineer

Paul Black

Assistant Recording Engineer

Lyrics

[Verse 1]

I'm going to rent myself a house

In the shade of the freeway

Gonna pack my lunch in the morning

And go to work each day

And when the evening rolls around

I'll go on home and lay my body down

And when the morning light comes streaming in

I'll get up and do it again

Amen

Say it again

Amen

[Verse 2]

I want to know what became of the changes

We waited for love to bring

Were they only the fitful dreams

Of some greater awakening?

I've been aware of the time going by

They say in the end, it's the wink of an eye

And when the morning light comes streaming in

You'll get up and do it again

Amen

[Chorus]

Caught between the longing for love

And the struggle for the legal tender

Where the sirens sing and the church bells ring

And the junk man pounds his fender

Where the veterans dream of the fight

Fast asleep at the traffic light

And the children solemnly wait

For the ice cream vendor

Out into the cool of the evening

Strolls the Pretender

He knows that all his hopes and dreams

Begin and end there

[Bridge]

Ah, the laughter of the lovers

As they run through the night

Leaving nothing for the others

But to choose off and fight

And tear at the world with all their might

While the ships bearing their dreams

Sail out of sight

[Verse 3]

I'm gonna find myself a girl

Who can show me what laughter means

And we'll fill in the missing colors

In each other's paint by number dreams

And then we'll put our dark glasses on

And we'll make love until our strength is gone

And when the morning light comes streaming in

We'll get up and do it again

Get it up again

[Chorus]

I'm gonna be a happy idiot

And struggle for the legal tender

Where the ads take aim and lay their claim

To the heart and the soul of the spender

And believe in whatever may lie

In those things that money can buy

Thought true love could have been a contender

Are you there?

Say a prayer for the Pretender

Who started out so young and strong

Only to surrender

[Outro]

Say a prayer for the Pretender

Are you there for the Pretender?

Say a prayer for the Pretender

Are you there for the Pretender?

Are you prepared for the Pretender?

Written by: Jackson Browne

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