Brady began performing as a hotel piano player in Donegal at the age of sixteen and graduated to being guitarist, during the 1960s, in two rhythm and blues bands: Rockhouse and the Cult. There followed a stint with the Johnstons as a guitarist and singer that ended in 1974, and a shorter one with Planxty that saw Brady touring extensively but recording no albums. In 1976, Brady recorded an album with Andy Irvine that he now regards as his best. Welcome Here Kind Stranger, released in 1978 was the summation of his interest in Irish music and was followed in 1981 by the appropriately named Hard Station, Brady's engagement with commercial rock.
Brady went on to record several other albums and collaborated with Bonnie Raitt and Richard Thompson. In 2006 he collaborated with Cara Dillon on the track "The Streets of Derry" from her album "After the Morning". He has also worked with Fiachra Trench.
The Great Pretender
Paul Brady Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's been there a hundred times before,
Looking for some pretty high class fool to play with
Back in his place when he pours out the wine
And the crystal snowflakes stand in line -
She won't ever find a faster way to heaven.
You can find him any night
Standing in the upstage light,
Watch him move in perfect time
Memorizing all his lines
Roll up! Roll up! see the Great Pretender
Dinner party, table for two -
Video turns to midnight blue,
He says "do you like to do it this way?"
Black satin sheets edged in guilt,
Whispered lies underneath the quilt -
He'll do anything a woman wants,
''cause he's built for pleasure
You can find him etc
All night, all night
We last, all night
The Paul Brady song "The Great Pretender" is a look into the life of a womanizer who spends his nights in downtown discos, searching for women to play with. He's been there before, but that doesn't stop him from trying to find someone new. When he finally does bring a woman back to his place, he impresses her with wine and crystal snowflakes standing in line. She won't ever find a faster way to heaven, but what she doesn't know is that he's just a great pretender.
The chorus of the song finds him standing in the upstage light, waiting for an easy act to follow. He moves in perfect time and memorizes all his lines, being nothing more than a showman. The second verse paints a scene of a dinner party, table for two, where the man seduces a woman asking her if she likes it this way. The black satin sheets edged in guilt and whispered lies underneath the quilt make him believe that he'll do anything a woman wants, simply because he's built for pleasure.
The song is an indictment of the superficiality of certain aspects of the dating scene, revealing how some men are only interested in using seduction as a way to get what they want without any genuine interest in women. They are just pretending to be someone they are not, and thus they earn the title of the great pretender.
Line by Line Meaning
Downtown disco, out on the floor,
He frequents nightclubs often and is currently dancing there.
He's been there a hundred times before,
He is well-acquainted with this activity and place.
Looking for some pretty high class fool to play with
He is seeking a wealthy and gullible person to manipulate.
Back in his place when he pours out the wine
After they leave the nightclub, he invites her to his home but keeps her inebriated.
And the crystal snowflakes stand in line -
The cocaine is neatly arranged in a row on a mirror.
She won't ever find a faster way to heaven.
He promises her an escape from reality and towards euphoria through drugs.
You can find him any night
He is always at the nightclub, ready to seduce his next prey.
Standing in the upstage light,
He wants to be noticed and adored by others by standing in the spotlight.
Waiting for some easy act to follow -
He's waiting for someone vulnerable or naive to easily manipulate.
Watch him move in perfect time
He is a skilled and rehearsed performer in his deceitful acts.
Memorizing all his lines
He has perfected his methods to woo and swindle his victims.
Roll up! Roll up! see the Great Pretender
He is proudly announcing himself, as he wants to be worshipped for his deceptive ways.
Dinner party, table for two -
He's inviting his victim for a meal at his home.
Video turns to midnight blue,
He puts on a video that is explicit and seductive.
He says 'do you like to do it this way?'
He is trying to coerce his victim into having sex in this manner.
Black satin sheets edged in guilt,
The sheets represent the immorality and regret of his actions.
Whispered lies underneath the quilt -
He is only telling her what she wants to hear, which is false.
He'll do anything a woman wants,
He is willing to cater to his victim's needs, as long as it serves his agenda.
''cause he's built for pleasure
He is very skilled and experienced in sexual acts, but it's only for his benefit.
All night, all night
He wants the encounter to last all night.
We last, all night
He boasts of his prowess in bed, insinuating that he can keep up with anyone all night long.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: PAUL BRADY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind