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
Let's pretend you're vicious
Let's pretend you're cool
Let's pretend you're fools
Your leather is tight but you wear it full
Together 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
Let's pretend you're vicious
Let's pretend you're cool
Let's pretend suspicious, yea yea
Let's pretend you're fools
Sell us a story that we can believe
Spend your dollars on pills for relief
Love is a future that you just can't see
Standing answers to questions are free
Scream in your boredom life's just to die
Let's pretend you're vicious
Let's pretend you're cool
Let's pretend suspicious, yea yea
Let's pretend you're fools
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
Don't stand in the light cuz you know you can't cry
Let's pretend you're vicious
Let's pretend you're cool
Let's pretend suspicious, yea yea
Let's pretend you're fools
The Germs' song "Let's Pretend" appears to address the theme of pretending or putting on a false face to cover up one's true feelings. The lyrics contain images of street life, prostitutes and tears, which symbolize emotional pain, vulnerability and desperation. The song suggests that life is difficult and that people often resort to lies, drugs, and other distractions to escape their problems. The lines "That tear in your eyes not a tear at all, For that girl that you touch you could never fall" illustrate how the singer sees through the facade of the person he is speaking to.
However, the song also seems to encourage and celebrate the idea of pretending. The chorus repeats "Let's pretend you're vicious, Let's pretend you're cool, Let's pretend suspicious, yea yea, Let's pretend you're fools." This may imply that putting up a front or acting tough is the best way to survive in a cruel world. The line "Sell us a story that we can believe" suggests that pretending can be a way of manipulating others and making them see what you want them to see.
Overall, the song can be interpreted in different ways, but it seems to deal with themes of deception, survival and the masks people wear to hide their true selves.
Line by Line Meaning
Out on the streets what ya lookin' for
What are you seeking while wandering around the streets?
That thing in your bed's just another whore
The person in your bed is just another prostitute.
That tear in your eyes not a tear at all
The thing in your eyes that seems like a tear is not really a tear.
For that girl that you touch you could never fall
Even though you can touch that girl, you can never really love her.
That stream in your mind it's a tearin' sty
The thoughts running in your mind are like a painful, inflamed sore.
Let's pretend you're vicious
Let's imagine for a moment that you are a cruel and heartless person.
Let's pretend you're cool
Let's imagine for a moment that you are a calm and collected person.
Let's pretend suspicious, yea yea
Let's imagine for a moment that you are a distrustful and skeptical person.
Let's pretend you're fools
Let's imagine for a moment that you are foolish and naive people.
Your leather is tight but you wear it full
Your leather clothing fits snugly, but you wear it with confidence.
Together is right but you gotta be cool
It's good to be together, but it's important to be calm and collected.
You cut your wrists but you don't feel the pain
You harm yourself, but you can't feel the pain because you're numb.
You change your mind but you still feel the same
You may change your opinion, but you still have the same feelings.
To dream ain't your kind just another lie
Dreaming isn't for you, it's just another lie.
Sell us a story that we can believe
Convince us to believe in a story that you tell us.
Spend your dollars on pills for relief
Use your money to buy pills that will ease your pain.
Love is a future that you just can't see
You are unable to see love as part of your future.
Standing answers to questions are free
Sometimes the solution to your problems is right in front of you, and it doesn't cost anything to understand it.
Scream in your boredom life's just to die
Shout out your frustration because you believe life just means dying.
Dive in problems just like stealin' a fix
You jump into problems the way you would steal drugs for a fix.
Is your life to live or is it for kicks
Are you living your life for your own sake or just for fun?
Kick dirt in the faces of angry dream men
Offend and ridicule people who have high aspirations and are dissatisfied with their current situation.
Stand on your chairs and spell don't let me in
Take a stand and declare that you won't let anyone else control you and get in your way.
Don't stand in the light cuz you know you can't cry
Don't expose yourself to the truth because you know it will make you cry.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Darby Crash, Georg Ruthenberg
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.