The Drums were formed in late 2006. Relocating to New York, The Drums added former Elkland guitarist Adam Kessler on second guitar and NYC born drummer Connor Hanwick (formerly of lo-fi teen pop duo Cape of No Hope) to the line up and set up a month long residency at a small club on the lower east side of Manhattan. They released their debut single Let's Go Surfing on on 15 September 2009, which the Let's Go Surfing Songfacts reports was inspired by Barack Obama's victory in the 2008 presidential election.
In September 2010, guitarist Adam Kessler left the band, Followed by Connor Hanwick in 2012 and Jacob Graham in 2016.
Jonny Pierce is the only remaining member.
2) The Drums is an American experimental band from San Francisco featuring John Dwyer (of Coachwhips, Pink & Brown, Thee Oh Sees) on drums and Anthony Petrovic (Ezee Tiger, Gay Barbarians) on drums.
I Can’t Pretend
The Drums Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you know it will end
And if you've got a friend
You better leave with him
When everyone wants to dance, I can't stand up
I know that I need love,
But I can't pretend, I can't pretend
One day the moon will set for the last time
Maybe we'll become part of a mountain
We've always learned these things
You know I'm not crying
But you know I'm not trying to care
It's too hard to begin
When you know it will end
And if you've got a friend
You better leave with him
When everyone wants to dance, I can't stand up
I know that I need love
But I can't pretend, I can't pretend
I can't pretend
Remember when you first touched my hand
We sparkled inside at the same time
And now it doesn't even matter
It's too hard to begin
When you know it will end
And if you've got a friend
You better leave with him
When everyone wants to dance, I can't stand up
I know that I need love
But I can't pretend, I can't pretend
I can't pretend
I see us high, high on a mountain
I see us die, dying in a mountain
It's too hard to begin
When you know it will end
I see us high, high on a mountain
I see us die, dying in a mountain
The lyrics to The Drums's song I Can't Pretend explore the complexities of relationships and the inevitability of their eventual end. The first verse sets up the theme, with the singer acknowledging that it's difficult to start something when you know it's going to end. He advises the listener to "leave with a friend" as a way of avoiding the pain that comes with the end of a relationship.
The chorus expresses the singer's struggle to connect with others: "When everyone wants to dance, I can't stand up. I know I need love, but I can't pretend." He recognizes that he needs love, but he can't force himself to pretend or feign an emotional connection when there isn't one.
The second verse continues the motif of the transience of human existence. The singer contemplates the idea that one day the moon will set for the last time, and that maybe we will become part of a mountain. The final lines of the song repeat the central idea of the opening verse - that beginnings are hard when endings are inevitable. The repeated refrain of "I see us high, high on a mountain, I see us die, dying in a mountain" emphasizes the transient nature of our time on Earth, and the sense of futility that can come with it.
Overall, the lyrics to I Can't Pretend are characterized by a sense of melancholy and resignation, as the singer comes to terms with the impermanence of relationships and of life itself.
Line by Line Meaning
It's too hard to begin
Starting something is difficult
When you know it will end
When you know it has a finite conclusion
And if you've got a friend
Having someone to support you
You better leave with him
Don't face the challenge alone, take someone with you
When everyone wants to dance, I can't stand up
Unable to join the crowd or act like everyone else
I know that I need love,
Love is an essential need
But I can't pretend, I can't pretend
Unable to fake it or put on a false front
One day the moon will set for the last time
Everything has an end
Maybe we'll become part of a mountain
We may become something else after we die
We've always learned these things
These are things we've always known
You know I'm not crying
I'm not showing my emotions through tears
But you know I'm not trying to care
I'm struggling to show concern or interest
Remember when you first touched my hand
Memories of past happy moments
We sparkled inside at the same time
We were happy and excited together
And now it doesn't even matter
The past is irrelevant to the present
I see us high, high on a mountain
Imagining a peaceful and beautiful place
I see us die, dying in a mountain
Facing the end in that peaceful and beautiful place
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JACOB GRAHAM, JOHNNY ARIES, JONATHAN ANDREW PIERCE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Gospel90
So glad they chose this as a single, there are so many gems on the album but this one is well deserved!
@julietfraser
this song is amazing, got a really great dark side to it. I love the new vibes and the video is just amazing, great cinematography
@ximenan6327
Agreed
@ivansorola1997
"It's too hard to begin when you know it will end"
@patriciomc9119
This is a song where you understand all its simple, perfect lyrics but you still want to know what they're really singing about
@chocolateangel4512
Theres a guy who I had a crush on. I wanted to talk to him but didn't know what about. I saw the shirt he was wearing with the bands name on it and looked them up. After a few songs I found that I liked how it sounded. When I heard this song it instantly became my favorite. I talked to the guy the next day about the band. I dont see him anymore but I'm glad I found this song. Its amazing.
@pandawillishelthostage2985
This is so sweet!
@nerdslikeus6690
Cool story, bro 🤣🤣
@nana-booboostickyourheadin4169
Gey
@johnnycage5481
Fail