While there are exceptions, many post-grunge groups do not explicitly refer to grunge bands as influences. Rather, they often cite as influences those bands that influenced the development of grunge itself, such as The Melvins and early hard rock acts such as Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. However those bands show less of a relation to these "influences", making them more of idols than the true influences they were for grunge bands of the early '90s.
The first huge "post grunge" albums were Sixteen Stone by British band Bush and Live's Throwing Copper. The albums are built mainly around hit singles and filler, a departure from the day's grunge artists Nirvana and Pearl Jam whose works was more album-oriented. Bands such as Collective Soul, Nukeateen, Silverchair and Candlebox were soon to follow.
By 1994 "post grunge", along with alternative rock in general, had overtaken grunge as the main rock format in America, while in Britain, Britpop (Britain's alternative rock scene) was becoming massively popular. However by the end of the millennium, with disappointing follow ups by most "post grunge" artists, only a few bands, like Creed, maintained continued commercial success. Many bands that survived had evolved, most notably Dave Grohl's post-Nirvana outfit, Foo Fighters, whose first two albums fit in with the rest of the "post grunge" pack.
Today there are a number of post '90s bands still thriving commercially in this genre, most notably Nickelback, Breaking Benjamin, Daughtry, Three Days Grace, Puddle of Mudd, Seether, and 3 Doors Down.
The Pretender
Foo Fighters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 I will never surrender?
I'm the voice inside your head
You refuse to hear
Yeah, 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?
The lyrics of "The Pretender" by the Foo Fighters is about challenging the norm and standing up against conformity. The lyrics "keep you in the dark, you know they all pretend" suggest that people are often kept in the dark about the real truths and important issues of the world. The imagery of "skeletons" and "secrets" being revealed reflects the idea that the truth needs to come out and people need to be held accountable for their actions. The chorus reinforces this message, with the singer questioning the listener's role in perpetuating the cycle of deception and conformity.
The lines "what if I say I'm not like the others?" and "what if I say I will never surrender?" reflect a sense of rebellion and individualism. The singer is asking the questions to encourage the listener to think for themselves and not fall into the trap of living their lives according to someone else's playbook. The repeated line "who are you?" asks the listener to reflect on their own identity and purpose.
Overall, the song is a call to action for people to challenge the status quo, think for themselves, and stand up against conformity and deception.
Line by Line Meaning
Keep you in the dark
They hide information from you
You know they all pretend
You know they are not sincere
And so it all began
This is how it started
Send in your skeletons
Reveal your hidden secrets
Sing as their bones go marching in, again
Others will criticize and condemn you for your secrets
The need you buried deep
The desires and wants you’ve hidden inside
The secrets that you keep are ever ready
Your hidden secrets are always there, available to be discovered
Are you ready?
Are you prepared to face what you’ve been hiding?
I'm finished making sense
I no longer want to live with this hypocrisy
Done pleading ignorance
I'm no longer pretending to be blind to the problem
That whole defense
The excuses and reasoning for not revealing the truth
Spinning infinity, boy
Being stuck in the same cycle forever
The wheel is spinning me
I’m trapped in this cycle I can’t escape
It's never-ending, never-ending
This problem just continues, without any hope of resolution
Same old story
This has happened before and it will happen again
What if I say I'm not like the others?
I’m not the same as the people hiding the truth
You're the pretender
You’re the one who is hiding the truth
What if I say I will never surrender?
I will never give up trying to reveal the truth
In time our soul untold
Our true selves remain hidden
I'm just another soul for sale, oh well
I’m just like everyone else, in terms of being dishonest
The page is out of print
The story is over and can’t be changed
We are not permanent
We are not meant to last forever
We're temporary, temporary
Our existence is fleeting
I'm the voice inside your head
I’m your conscience
You refuse to hear
You ignore my advice
Yeah, I'm the face that you have to face
I’m the reality you have to confront
Mirrored in your stare
Reflected in your gaze
I'm what's left, I'm what's right
I represent the choices you’ve made
I'm the enemy
I’m your obstacle
I'm the hand that will take you down
I’m the force that will make you suffer the consequences
Bring you to your knees
Make you face the truth and its consequences
So who are you?
Who are you really, deep down?
You're the pretender (who dares)
You’re the one hiding the truth, and I challenge you to face it
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Christopher A. Shiflett, David Eric Grohl, Nate Mendel, Taylor Hawkins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hullabaloo
Lyrics:
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
They 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 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
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?
I'm the voice inside your head
You refuse to hear
I'm the face that you have to face
Mirroring 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?
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 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)
You're the pretender (pretend)
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)
You're the pretender (pretend)
What if I say I will never surrender?
So who are you?
Yeah, who are you?
Yeah, who are you?
Sveinung Lunestad
[Intro]
Keep you in the dark, you know they all pretend
Keep you in the dark and so it all began
[Verse 1]
Send in your skeletons
Sing as their bones go marching in again
The need you buried deep
The secrets that you keep are at the 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
[Chorus]
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?
You might also like
[Verse 2]
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
[Chorus]
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 I will never surrender?
[Bridge]
I'm the voice inside your head
You refuse to hear
I'm the face that you have to face
Mirroring 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?
Keep you in the dark, you know they all pretend
[Chorus]
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 I will never surrender?
[Outro]
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)
You're the pretender (Pretend)
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)
You're the pretender (Pretend)
What if I say I will never surrender?
So who are you?
Yeah, who are you?
Yeah, who are you?
Israel de Viana
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
They 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 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
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?
I'm the voice inside your head
You refuse to hear
I'm the face that you have to face
Mirroring 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?
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 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)
You're the pretender (pretend)
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)
You're the pretender (pretend)
What if I say I will never surrender?
So who are you?
Yeah, who are you?
Yeah, who are you?
leokimvideo
RIP Taylor Hawkins, incredible loss and gone way too young
Doodah Man
Does anyone know how he died? Very Sad. Shocked.
Jack Spry
He was 50 when he died.
Doodah Man
@Jack Spry Some time today I guess.
DisNdat
So shocking. Was legit watching him in the movie the other day 😩
Gary
First time I have actually felt gut punched about someone I have never met. Listened to the Foos since day 1, I was 12.
B W
The intro will always give me goosebumps, Foo Fighters were my first favorite band as a kid. Still hold a special place for me.
Crissyman
Hallo
Phương Mai Vũ
yahhh omg I felt so happy that I was able to find a good band like this, it felt like I found my rhythm again💓
Dr. Mohd Fadzil Abdul Rahim
same