Make Believe
Nilsson Lyrics


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We could make believe I love you,
Only make believe that you love me.
Others find peace of mind in pretending,
Couldn't you? Couldn't I? Couldn't we
Make believe our lips are blending
In a phantom kiss, or two, or three?
Might as well make believe I love you,
For to tell the truth, I do.

Your pardon I pray, 'twas too much to say,
The words that betray my heart.
We only pretend, you do not offend,
In playing a lover's part.

We could make believe I love you,
Only make believe that you love me.
Others find peace of mind in pretending,
Couldn't you? Couldn't I? Couldn't we
Make believe our lips are blending
In a phantom kiss, or two, or three?




Might as well make believe I love you,
For to tell the truth, I do.

Overall Meaning

In the song "Make Believe", Nilsson explores the idea of pretending to love someone and the comfort it can bring. The lyrics suggest that while the love may not be genuine, the act of pretending is enough to make the individuals involved feel content. The opening line "We could make believe I love you, Only make believe that you love me" sets the tone for the song, as the idea of pretending to be in love is presented as a possibility for both individuals. The chorus emphasizes the idea of "making believe" and explores the possibility of a phantom kiss. The line "Might as well make believe I love you, For to tell the truth, I do" suggests that the line between pretending and reality may be blurred, and that the act of pretending can bring about genuine feelings of love.


The second verse addresses the potential awkwardness of pretending to be in love, stating "Your pardon I pray, 'twas too much to say, The words that betray my heart. We only pretend, you do not offend, In playing a lover's part." This suggests that the individuals involved are aware that their love is not genuine, but they choose to participate in the act of pretending anyways. The song ultimately poses the question of whether or not it is better to pretend to love someone, rather than being alone.


Line by Line Meaning

We could make believe I love you,
Let's pretend that I love you


Only make believe that you love me.
We will only pretend that you love me


Others find peace of mind in pretending,
People often feel comfortable pretending


Couldn't you? Couldn't I? Couldn't we
Why not both of us pretend together


Make believe our lips are blending
We will pretend that we are kissing


In a phantom kiss, or two, or three?
Let's pretend that we kiss each other, once, twice or thrice


Might as well make believe I love you,
It's better to pretend that I love you


For to tell the truth, I do.
The truth is, I actually love you


Your pardon I pray, 'twas too much to say,
I apologize for being too straightforward


The words that betray my heart.
I said too much that revealed my true feelings


We only pretend, you do not offend,
We're only pretending, you're not doing anything wrong


In playing a lover's part.
We're acting like we're in love




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAN JAY LERNER, FREDERICK LOEWE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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