Refrain
Rusty Project Lyrics


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I’m not here to say only what you wanna hear from me
Take that smile off your face, don’t expect me to be your friend, I’m not your friend


You just simulate, and try to make us think you’re on our side


Should I try to be fake
Should I be just like you and pretend I’m blind or refrain?


I’m not here to pretend that I have a perfect life
Everything we are everything we do reflects what we’re made of deep inside


You just simulate, and try to make us think you’re on our side


Should I try to be fake
Should I be just like you and pretend I’m blind or refrain?


People never change, it’s unbelievable
You will never change, it’s unbelievable
We will never change, it’s unbelievable
We will never change, it’s unbelievable






Should I try to be fake
Should I be just like you and pretend I’m blind or refrain?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Rusty Project’s song Refrain carry a message of authenticity and staying true to oneself even in the face of pressure to conform. The opening lines, “I’m not here to say only what you wanna hear from me / Take that smile off your face, don’t expect me to be your friend, I’m not your friend” set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is asserting that they aren’t going to tell the listener what they want to hear or act like a friend just to please them. The concept of simulation also comes up, with the singer accusing the listener of trying to “simulate” being on their side. This could suggest that the listener isn’t being honest about their intentions.


The chorus poses a question to the singer, asking if they should “try to be fake” or “pretend [they’re] blind” in order to fit in with the listener. The singer seems to reject this idea, choosing instead to refrain from becoming what the listener wants them to be. The final lines of the song, “People never change, it’s unbelievable / You will never change, it’s unbelievable / We will never change, it’s unbelievable / We will never change, it’s unbelievable” further emphasize this idea that staying true to oneself is important, and that people are unlikely to change even when they are asked to.


Overall, Refrain is a song about the importance of authenticity and resisting the pressure to conform. The lyrics suggest that pretending to be someone you’re not in order to please others is ultimately unfulfilling, and that staying true to oneself is the key to happiness and success.


Line by Line Meaning

I’m not here to say only what you wanna hear from me
I am not going to tell you only what you want to hear from me.


Take that smile off your face, don’t expect me to be your friend, I’m not your friend
Remove the fake smile from your face and do not anticipate me to be your friend because I am not.


You just simulate, and try to make us think you’re on our side
You only pretend and attempt to convince us that you are loyal to our side.


Should I try to be fake
Am I supposed to counterfeit?


Should I be just like you and pretend I’m blind or refrain?
Should I follow your example and feign ignorance or abstain?


I’m not here to pretend that I have a perfect life
I am not present here to act like I have a perfect or flawless life.


Everything we are everything we do reflects what we’re made of deep inside
All our actions and demeanor indicate our true nature or personality.


People never change, it’s unbelievable
Individuals do not reform, it is incomprehensible or astounding.


You will never change, it’s unbelievable
You will never change, it is unbelievable or shocking.


We will never change, it’s unbelievable
We will never change, it is unbelievable or astonishing.


Should I try to be fake
Am I supposed to counterfeit?


Should I be just like you and pretend I’m blind or refrain?
Should I follow your example and feign ignorance or abstain?




Contributed by Mia O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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