Past members included Peggy Wang (vocals, keyboards), Alex Naidus (bass), and Kurt Feldman (drums, programming). Feldman currently works as an engineer and producer at Winter Station Studios and leads the synthpop group Ice Choir and the sophisti-pop group Roman a Clef, which also features current Pains member Jen Goma.
On November 4, [yearended]2019[/yearended] they announced they were breaking up.
Contender
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Look what you've done
What do you have now?
Things that never come
Another year in a dead room
Is it time to come down?
Another crowded scene
But you never were
You never were a contender
A contender
I heard your same old tune
Singing city sins like you were the first one
Gave up books for film
Gave up film for time
Now that you've got none
At the back of a crowded scene
You saw the boys in white sing "I'm a pretender"
At the back of a crowded scene
You saw the boys in white sing "I'm a pretender"
But you never were
You never were a contender
A contender
You never were a contender
You never were a contender
The lyrics of The Pains of Being Pure At Heart's song Contender depict a sense of disappointment and loss of direction. The song is directed towards someone who once had potential, but ultimately failed to live up to it. The lyrics “Another year in a dead room, is it time to come down?” suggest that the person the song is directed towards is stuck in a rut and unsure of how to move forward. Similarly, the lines “Gave up books for film, gave up film for time, now that you’ve got none” imply that the person once had interests and aspirations, but has lost sight of them.
The chorus of the song emphasizes this lost potential with the repeated line “But you never were a contender,” implying that the person was never truly passionate or dedicated enough to achieve their dreams. The reference to “the boys in white” singing “I’m a pretender” signifies that the person never truly belonged or fit in with a specific group or scene, and was simply going through the motions.
Overall, the lyrics of Contender are both poignant and relatable for anyone who has experienced similar feelings of disappointment or disillusionment.
Line by Line Meaning
Look what you've done
Reflecting on the consequences of past actions
Look what you've done
Emphasizing the gravity of the previous line
What do you have now?
Questioning the value of current possessions
Things that never come
Regretting missed opportunities
Another year in a dead room
Feeling trapped in a stagnant environment
Is it time to come down?
Contemplating a change of course
Another crowded scene
Describing a typical social situation
You saw the boys in white sing "I'm a pretender"
Observing others who project a phony persona
But you never were
Conveying a sense of authenticity
You never were a contender
Acknowledging a lack of success or recognition
A contender
Repeating the concept for emphasis
I heard your same old tune
Recognizing a pattern of behavior or conversation
Singing city sins like you were the first one
Expressing a disdain for cliched or unoriginal ideas
Gave up books for film
Trading one interest for another
Gave up film for time
Prioritizing other aspects of life over hobbies or passions
Now that you've got none
Suggesting a sense of emptiness or regret
At the back of a crowded scene
Revisiting a previous memory
You saw the boys in white sing "I'm a pretender"
Recalling a specific observation
But you never were
Reiterating the idea of authenticity
You never were a contender
Bringing closure to the central theme of the song
You never were a contender
Repeating the closing statement for importance
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KIP BERMAN, KURT FELDMAN, ALEXANDER ARTHUR NAIDUS, PEGGY WANG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind