Analysis of 'The Pretender' Lyrics

Lyric analysis for the song 'The Pretender':


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

 The verse above sugests that there is is some sort of secret or plot that has been hidden, as the line "Keep you in the dark" suggests, the line "You know they all pretend" suggests that everyone know about this secret and is 'pretending' not to know anything about it, but then the lyric shanges to "And so it all began" suggesting that there is a narrative (story) and it will get explained, or it may be implying that the 'secret is out' and creating a different narrative

Send in your skeletons
Sing as their bones go marching in again
They need you buried deep
The secrets that you keep are ever ready
Are you ready?

"Send in your skeletons"  may suggest that people may follow what they read or hear over than find out the 'truth'
and form an opinion. The line "They need you buried deep" may suggest that the 'truth'  needs to be buried, or that someone who wants the truth won't get it. "The secrets that you keep are ever ready" may suggest that everyone's secrets are always ready to be discovered, and the lines "are you ready?" suggest that the truth or the secret is about to be exposed
 
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

The lines "I'm finished making sense, Done pleading ignorance, Boy the wheel is spinning me, Its never ending, Same old story" may suggest that the narrative is about to change from a 'relaxed' tone to a reasonably 'aggressive' tone with a 'given up' attitude.

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 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?

The repeated chorus may suggest an aggressive taunt to whoever is in 'control' (at this point in the music video, a single riot officer enters the shot as a from of opposition, this could be the 'control').

In time or so I'm told
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

The line "I'm just another soul for sale, oh well" maysugest that the vocalist is 'just' another person that will sell out their beleifs, followed with "oh well" may suggest that they don't care. the line "Same old story" is repeated, again this may be used to increase the 'rebelious' tone of the song. 
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 I will never surrender?

The repeated chorus may suggest an aggressive taunt to whoever is in 'control' (at this point in the music video, a group of riot officers line up this could be the 'control').

I'm the voice inside your head you refuse to hear
I'm the face that you have to face, mirrorin' your stare
I'm what's left, I'm what's right, I'm the enemy
I'm the hand that'll take you down, bring you to your knees
So who are you? Yeah, who are you?
Yeah, who are you? Yeah, who are you?

This verse seems to be the 'I'm taking a stand' point in the song. The lyrics "I'm the face that you have to face, mirrorin' your stare" suggest the conflict between society/ form of control and the band, this line may also suggest how the two sides are now of equal power. The lines "I'm what's left, I'm what's right, I'm the enemy" may suggest that the control (riot officers) are surrounded by the band/group. The lines "I'm the hand that'll take you down, bring you to your knees" may suggest that the group are about to take an even more aggressive stance whilst threatening the form of control with their defeat.


Keep you in the dark, you know they all pretend

At this point in the song the tone goes from aggressive to soft, followed then by an impact point which then raises the tone back up to an aggressive manner.
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?

At this point in the music video there is a impact point used, which then 'defeats' the opposition, by repelling the control group.

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 you're 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
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
What if I say I will never surrender?



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

The final line to to song, are used quite aggressivly to an extent that they demand an answer instead or just simply asking "who are you?". At this point in the music video a member of the band smashes his guitar on the floor (this meets a 'rock' media convention).