The Germs disbanded following Crash's suicide on December 7, 1980. Their music was influential to many later punk rock acts. Pat Smear went on to greater fame performing with Nirvana and the Foo Fighters.
In 2005, actor Shane West was cast to play Crash in the Germs biographical film What We Do Is Secret (named after a song by the Germs). He performed with Smear, Doom, and Bolles at a production party for the film, after which the Germs reformed with West as singer. The new lineup of the band has performed a number of tours in the United States, including performances on the 2006 and 2008 Warped Tours.
On January 16, 2019, bassist Lorna Doom (born as Teresa Ryan) passed away.
Let’s Pretend
The Germs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That thing in your bed's
just another whore
That tear in your eyes not a tear at all
For that girl that you touch
you could never fall
That stream in your mind it's a tearin' sty
[Chorus:]
Let's pretend you're cool
Let's pretend suspicious
Let's pretend you're fools
Your leather is tight but you wear it full
'Gether is right but you gotta be cool
You cut your wrists
but you don't feel the pain
You change your mind
but you still feel the same
To dream ain't your kind just another lie...
[Chorus]
Sell us a story that we can believe
Spend your dollars on pills for relief
Love is a future that you still can't see
Standing answers to questions are free
Scream in your boredom life's just to die
[Chorus]
Dive in problems just like stealin' a fix
Is your life to live or is it for kicks
Kick dirt in the faces of angry dream men
Stand on your chairs and spell
don't let me in
Son't stand in the light
cuz you know
you can't cry
[Chorus]
[Chorus]
The song “Let’s Pretend” by The Germs paints a nihilistic picture of the desperate and aimless youth culture in Los Angeles during the late 1970s. The opening lines, “Out on the streets what ya lookin' for/ That thing in your bed's just another whore,” suggest that the singer is engaging in empty sexual encounters as a form of escapism. The tear in his eye is not a sign of emotion but rather a self-inflicted wound he feels no pain from. He is indifferent to life and love, as evidenced by the line, “To dream ain't your kind just another lie,” suggesting that he has given up on hope altogether.
The chorus of the song, “Let's pretend you're vicious/ Let's pretend you're cool/ Let's pretend suspicious/ Let's pretend you're fools,” highlights the need for the youth culture to put on a façade of invincibility and coolness despite their inner turmoil and lack of direction. They are selling a story that they themselves can hardly believe in, spending their money on drugs and other forms of escapism to numb the pain they feel inside.
The song closes with the line, “Don't stand in the light cuz you know you can't cry,” signifying that these young people have lost touch with their emotions and are living in a world of the superficial. “Let’s Pretend” is a powerful critique of the nihilistic and self-destructive youth culture that emerged in Los Angeles during the late 1970s.
Line by Line Meaning
Out on the streets what ya lookin' for
What is it that you're searching for while wandering the street?
That thing in your bed's just another whore
The partner you sleep with is someone you don't care about.
That tear in your eyes not a tear at all
You appear sad, but it's not genuine, just a façade.
For that girl that you touch you could never fall
You engage in physical contact with women but can never feel emotionally attached.
That stream in your mind it's a tearin' sty
Your thoughts are chaotic and distressing.
Let's pretend you're vicious
Let's imagine you're cruel and aggressive.
Let's pretend you're cool
Let's imagine you're detached and unaffected.
Let's pretend suspicious
Let's imagine you're skeptical and untrusting.
Let's pretend you're fools
Let's imagine you're foolish and unintelligent.
Your leather is tight but you wear it full
Your leather clothing is snug but you wear it with pride.
'Gether is right but you gotta be cool
Being together with someone is good, but you need to stay detached and unemotional.
You cut your wrists but you don't feel the pain
You engage in self-harm, but it does not provide you with the emotional release that you seek.
You change your mind but you still feel the same
You alter your opinion, but you are still emotionally stagnant and unfulfilled.
To dream ain't your kind just another lie...
You do not believe in dreaming, considering it a falsehood.
Sell us a story that we can believe
Tell us a narrative that we can accept and give us hope.
Spend your dollars on pills for relief
You use money to purchase drugs to feel better.
Love is a future that you still can't see
You do not believe in a future where you can be happy in love.
Standing answers to questions are free
You can find solutions to your problems without paying anyone for the answers.
Scream in your boredom life's just to die
You feel that life is meaningless and existence is mundane.
Dive in problems just like stealin' a fix
You immerse yourself in difficulties, similar to seeking a quick fix from drugs.
Is your life to live or is it for kicks
Do you live your life to enjoy it or just for entertainment?
Kick dirt in the faces of angry dream men
You mock and insult people who have aspirations, but you are envious of them.
Stand on your chairs and spell don't let me in
You avoid vulnerability and keep emotional barriers that keep others at a distance.
Son't stand in the light cuz you know you can't cry
You avoid exposing yourself to emotional situations that can make you shed tears.
Let's pretend you're vicious
Let's imagine you're cruel and aggressive.
Let's pretend you're cool
Let's imagine you're detached and unaffected.
Let's pretend suspicious
Let's imagine you're skeptical and untrusting.
Let's pretend you're fools
Let's imagine you're foolish and unintelligent.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: DARBY CRASH, PAT SMEAR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@manuelkong10
THE best LA PUNK band
these shows were insane
@dylancoffeemusic
Do tell more please
@Mitchie_Dagger
The drums are fucking inane good. Totally different than most generic beats with lots of switch ups ON TIME. the drums are good dude.
@jahblessin3996
Darby was a legend !
@biomechanical22
and Still IS.
@biomechanical22
@NWAZ flatEarther Yeah , sounds great i wish i was there with you , anyway if you want you can hear my special fan collectio playlist unique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57DJ7dNTwlo&list=PL4y3xR96vl9Q1y6VnOLjGHtLUvprMPd3L
@mcbillygoat2413
This cut is magical.
@l.salisbury1253
Check out the (very) early version of this song on the "Germicide" live tape (1977). It's "let's pretend" lyrics over "our way" melody.
@8ozz287
very interesting, thank you
@TDEL88
Damn i been youtubing germs songs and now i want beer.or whiskey.or both.