My Pretending Days Are Over
The Dells Lyrics


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My pretending days are over
Gonna leave the acting
To the stars in Hollywood

My pretending days are over
Gonna leave acting
To the stars in Hollywood
Oh, yeah, yeah

I should receive the Academy Award
For every girl I fooled
In this old town

I played my tricks on them
Told them they looked so sweet
When I knew all the time
Not a one did I want to keep

My pretending days are over
I'm gonna leave the acting
To the stars in Hollywood

My pretending days are over
I'm gonna leave the acting
To the stars in Hollywood

I used to masquerade
From one girl to another
But since I met you
I can't go any further

(Just one kiss) just one kiss
(From your sweet lips)
From your sweet lips
Brought me down, down
Down from my knees

My pretending days are over
And I'm glad I found
A girl just like you

My pretending days are over
And make mention
Else somebody see the truth

You made me find myself
I don't pretend no more
I stopped acting like someone
On a late, late TV show

(You, you, you, you)
You, you helped me find myself
(Girl, you helped me)
(Yes, you helped me to find myself)

And just because of you
(You, you, you, you)
I don't have to act like someone else
(I don't have to act like somebody else)

My pretending days are over
I'm gonna leave the acting
To the stars in Hollywood

My, my pretending days are over
I'm gonna leave the acting
To the stars in Hollywood

My pretending days are over




I'm gonna leave the acting
To the stars in Hollywood...

Overall Meaning

The song "My Pretending Days Are Over" by The Dells is about a man who has grown tired of pretending to be someone he's not in order to impress women. He acknowledges that he has deceived many women in the past by telling them things they want to hear in order to maintain relationships he didn't truly want. He is now willing to leave acting and pretending to the stars in Hollywood, realizing that he no longer needs to pretend to be someone else because he has found a girl whom he truly cherishes. It is said that he no longer has to wear a mask and pretend to be someone he is not because his lovely partner accepts him for who he is. He is grateful that he has stopped pretending and has found himself.


The lyrics of the song appear to be about dawning maturity but with a hint of sarcasm as well. The song's lyrics imply that society is constantly attempting to appear and behave in a certain way in order to gain approval, particularly from women. The singer recognizes this, and as a result, has resolved to be more honest and upfront with the women in his life. It appears that this may be because of the girl he has met, who has shown him that it is possible to be true to oneself.


Line by Line Meaning

My pretending days are over
The time has come for me to stop pretending to be someone I'm not.


Gonna leave the acting
I'm going to stop playing games and putting on an act for people.


To the stars in Hollywood
I'll leave acting to those who are meant for it and can handle it, like the stars in Hollywood.


I should receive the Academy Award
I've fooled so many girls in this town that I should receive the top prize for acting.


For every girl I fooled
I've deceived and played games with multiple girls in the past.


In this old town
This specific town where we live and interact with each other.


I played my tricks on them
I've manipulated and lied to them for my own personal gain.


Told them they looked so sweet
I would tell them sweet lies and compliment them to get what I wanted.


When I knew all the time
Even though I knew deep down I didn't really want them.


Not a one did I want to keep
I wasn't interested in any of these girls for a real relationship.


Oh, yeah, yeah
An expression of agreement or confirmation.


I used to masquerade
I would pretend to be someone else and put on different masks depending on who I was with.


From one girl to another
I would go from one girl to the next without any real commitment or connection.


But since I met you
Everything changed since I met this one special person.


I can't go any further
I can't continue to play games and pretend because of my feelings for this person.


(Just one kiss) just one kiss
A single kiss from the person I'm with had a profound effect on me.


(From your sweet lips)
The kiss was sweet and came from the person I'm with.


Brought me down, down
The kiss made me feel different and lowered my defenses.


Down from my knees
An expression of being emotionally touched and impacted.


And I'm glad I found
I'm happy and grateful to have found the person I'm with now.


A girl just like you
A person who is kind, genuine, and caring like you.


And make mention
Let me bring up and acknowledge something important.


Else somebody see the truth
So no one else will find out that I've been pretending and fooling people all along.


You made me find myself
Being with the person I'm with helped me discover who I really am.


I don't pretend no more
I no longer put on a false persona or act differently than who I really am.


I stopped acting like someone
I quit pretending to be someone I wasn't and acting like someone else for the sake of attention.


On a late, late TV show
Similar to a TV drama or show where characters may put on performances or act in certain ways for the camera.


(You, you, you, you)
Referring to the person I'm with and how they have affected me.


Girl, you helped me
The person I'm with has had a significant impact on my life and helped me find myself.


(Yes, you helped me to find myself)
Expressing gratitude to the person I'm with for helping me become a better person.


And just because of you
My transformation, growth, and change are because of my relationship with this person.


I don't have to act like someone else
I don't feel the need to pretend or be someone else because of the love and acceptance I receive from this person.


(I don't have to act like somebody else)
Reiterating that I'm not going to be fake and act differently from who I really am anymore.


My, my pretending days are over
I'm done with pretending and being someone I'm not in all aspects of my life.


And make mention
Emphasizing and acknowledging this point again.


Else somebody see the truth
I don't want my true self to be discovered or exposed.


I'm gonna leave the acting
I'm done pretending and acting for anyone's sake.


To the stars in Hollywood...
Leaving acting and performing to the professionals and famous people in Hollywood.




Contributed by Riley E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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