The Great Pretender
Freddie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pretending I'm doing well (ooh ooh)
My need is such I pretend too much
I'm lonely but no one can tell
Oh yes I'm the great pretender (ooh ooh)
Adrift in a world of my own (ooh ooh)
I play the game but to my real shame
Too real is this feeling of make believe
Too real when I feel what my heart can't conceal
Ooh ooh yes I'm the great pretender (ooh ooh)
Just laughing and gay like a clown (ooh ooh)
I seem to be what I'm not (you see)
I'm wearing my heart like a crown
Pretending that you're still around
Yeah ooh hoo
Too real when I feel what my heart can't conceal
Oh yes I'm the great pretender
Just laughing and gay like a clown (ooh ooh)
I seem to be what I'm not you see
I'm wearing my heart like a crown
Pretending that you're
Pretending that you're still around
In “The Great Pretender," Freddie Mercury sings about his struggle with pretending to be happy after a breakup. The lyrics reflect a sense of loneliness and isolation, as he continues to try to mask his true feelings from others. He acknowledges that he pretends too much, and although he is playing the game, he is only fooling himself. Even though he is laughing and appearing carefree like a clown, he is struggling to cope with the reality of the situation. The lyrics “Too real is this feeling of make-believe, Too real when I feel what my heart can't conceal” describe the difficulty of coping with the facade of appearing as though everything is okay while feeling heartbroken inside.
Mercury’s performance of the song reflects his emotional state at the time. His delivery is both powerful and emotional, with his vocals and cadence changing as he reflects the lyrics' depth. The song conveys a message of emotional pain and the difficulty of adjusting to the loss of love. It is a masterful expression of the struggle individuals face when attempting to appear happy while dealing with immense emotional pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh yes I'm the great pretender (ooh ooh)
I constantly pretend to be someone I'm not
Pretending I'm doing well (ooh ooh)
I try to hide my loneliness and lack of fulfillment by pretending everything is going great
My need is such I pretend too much
My need for acceptance and love makes me pretend more than I should
I'm lonely but no one can tell
Despite my efforts to pretend, I am still deeply lonely
Adrift in a world of my own (ooh ooh)
I feel lost and disconnected from the world around me
I play the game but to my real shame
Despite my pretending, I am still ashamed of who I really am inside
You've left me to dream all alone
Your absence has left me feeling isolated and unsupported
Too real is this feeling of make believe
I am too aware of the difference between my fabricated outer persona and my actual self
Too real when I feel what my heart can't conceal
My true feelings are difficult to mask, even when I try my hardest to pretend otherwise
Just laughing and gay like a clown (ooh ooh)
I put on a happy face in public, even though I am struggling internally
I seem to be what I'm not (you see)
My outward appearance is a distortion of who I truly am on the inside
I'm wearing my heart like a crown
My emotions are on full display, despite my attempts to hide them
Pretending that you're still around
I pretend that I still have the love and support of someone who has left me
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Buck Ram
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chilli.i0
"Are you here for Freddie or the anime?"
Me: "Yes"
@mihaelabolocan5793
same lol
@r6sgaming40
What is this anime?
@mihaelabolocan5793
@@r6sgaming40 Great Pretender on Netflix
@BobbinRobbin777
nice lol.
@Selkie7
One thing lead to another tbh
@kellytaylor1894
"Pretending you're still around"
That is what we're all doing. 😔
@plutao_pt
he is still arounf...in our hearts
@Der1Einzige
What made me sad he knew he got Aids after the week when this record released back in 1987/Apr.
@iampewdiepie2645
HaMaDa well diagnosed, but I know what u mean