During the early 2000s the band rose to prominence in the US Pacific Northwest punk / new wave scene with a combination of energetic live shows and extremely well received singles. The band drew their influence from early British punk bands like The Undertones, The Jam, The Boys and The Buzzcocks, as well as pop acts like Nick Lowe. The Exploding Hearts lead a revival of 70s power pop and new wave in the Seattle / Portland area along with bands like The Briefs and The Epoxies on the then-Seattle based Dirtnap Records.
On July 20th, 2003 the band was in an automotive accident which claimed the lives of three members. Their touring van flipped over on Interstate 5 just north of Eugene, Oregon while en route from San Francisco to Portland. Jeremy Gage (age 21) and Adam Cox (age 23) were thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, Matthew Fitzgerald (age 20), died at a hospital. Terry Six and band manager Rachelle Ramos both survived with minor injuries.
No attempts were made to carry on the band name after the accident, yet the band's music continued to gain popularity as word of mouth spread on the internet. Sole surviving member Terry Six went on to form The Nice Boys who are quite unlike the punk vibe of his former band and take on more of a 70s glam sensibility. In his current band, Six is the lead singer as well as the lead guitar player.
I'm a Pretender
The Exploding Hearts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Need somebody help me shatter my heart
I'm a pretender at the game of love
Need somebody help me shatter my foolish heart
21 and it ain't no fun
My life's going by but it's just begun
I'm searchin' and searchin' and i'm lookin' around
Ain't gonna cry cuz there's no one to be found
I'm a pretender at the game of love
Need somebody help me shatter my heart
I'm a pretender at the game of love
Need somebody help me shatter my foolish heart
Took ya down to the avenue
Weather was cool, so i bought you some food
But i got so nervous when you asked me to come home
Went in my house and spent the night all alone
I'm a pretender at the game of love
Need somebody help me shatter my heart
I'm a pretender at the game of love
Need somebody help me shatter my foolish heart
I know, when you're a pretender
Your mind's wild from the start
Just gimme one chance baby
Help me shadow my heart
Gimme one chance baby,
Help me shatter my heart
Just won't cry cuz my life's goin' by
I'll find someone before the day i die
Gimme a chance and show me what to do
Couple a minutes i'll be doin' it with you
I'm a pretender at the game of love
Need somebody help me shatter my heart
I'm a pretender at the game of love
Need somebody help me shatter my foolish heart
I'm a pretender (x6)
Stand up pretender
I'm a pretender at the game of love
I'm a pretender at the game of love
I'm a pretender at the game of love
I'm a pretender
The Exploding Hearts’ song “I’m a Pretender” is a nostalgic and bittersweet tale of a young man struggling to find love. The singer seems to be inexperienced in relationships, expressing his need for help in “shattering” his heart. The repeated line “I’m a pretender at the game of love” highlights the man’s insecurity and fear of being exposed as a pretender or someone who is only pretending to know how to navigate the world of romance.
The lyrics suggest a certain amount of urgency and desperation in the singer’s search for love. He is 21 years old, still young but feeling as though his life is “going by” and he has yet to find someone. The mention of buying a girl food and spending the night alone, after getting nervous when she invited him back to her place, highlights his feelings of inadequacy and awkwardness.
Overall, the song does not have a particularly happy tone, with its focus on the singer’s struggles and his plea for help. The upbeat music, however, creates an interesting contrast with the darker themes of the lyrics, suggesting a certain resilience and hopefulness on the singer’s part.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a pretender at the game of love
I don't really know how to love and I am pretending to be good at it
Need somebody help me shatter my heart
I want someone to help me break down my emotional barriers and experience true love
21 and it ain't no fun
Being young is not as enjoyable as it seems
My life's going by but it's just begun
Although I am still young, my life is moving quickly and time is passing by
I'm searchin' and searchin' and i'm lookin' around
I am actively seeking love and companionship
Ain't gonna cry cuz there's no one to be found
I am not going to cry because I haven't found someone to love yet
Took ya down to the avenue
I took you to a nice place
Weather was cool, so i bought you some food
The weather was nice so I treated you to some food
But i got so nervous when you asked me to come home
I felt anxious when you invited me to your home
Went in my house and spent the night all alone
I didn't go to your house because I was too scared
I know, when you're a pretender
I am aware that pretending to be good at love is not the real thing
Your mind's wild from the start
Imagining a romantic relationship makes your mind race with excitement
Just gimme one chance baby
All I need is one opportunity to show my true self and experience love
Help me shadow my heart
Assist me in getting over my emotional blockage and allowing myself to fully experience love
Just won't cry cuz my life's goin' by
I am not going to cry because I am running out of time to find true love
I'll find someone before the day i die
I am confident that I will find a suitable romantic partner before I pass away
Gimme a chance and show me what to do
Give me the opportunity to learn how to love and teach me the ways of romance
Couple a minutes i'll be doin' it with you
With some guidance, I will be able to participate in a romantic relationship
I'm a pretender (x6)
I am pretending to be good at love
Stand up pretender
Acknowledge that you are pretending and attempt to improve yourself
Contributed by Camilla K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.