Pretend
nothingnowhere. Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I can be a burden, baby, I can be a psycho
They call me a mistake and roll me off like a typo
And life just keeps on hitting me, I swear that I'ma fight though
So hit me with your best shot, staring down the rifle
I been looking back, riding on my motorcycle
I remember nights when I was feeling suicidal
I was falling out, boy, dead on arrival
Couldn't see the signs, I was living in denial

I'm on the edge
You're in my head

Tell me you need me
Even when you don't
I don't know when this will end
Tell me you'll stay now
Even if you won't
Baby, we can play pretend, yeah

I guess that what I'm saying is
I'm scared of going back
I remember every struggle, every panic attack
You saw the life inside my eyes fade away over time
I couldn't pick up a guitar
I couldn't think of a rhyme
I needed something to believe in
Somewhere that I could hide
They told me I should start pretending
Always kept it inside
And I was hoping these emotions were a lack of serotonin
Never thought that my own brain could ever turn to an opponent

Tell me you need me
Even when you don't
I don't know when this will end
Tell me you'll stay now
Even if you won't
Baby, we can play pretend

Are you okay, tell me, are you okay?
Nothing to say now, waiting for the breakdown
Are you okay, tell me, are you okay?

Tell me you need me
Even if you don't
I don't know when this will end
Tell me you'll stay now
Even if you won't
Baby, we can play pretend

Are you okay, tell me, are you okay?
Nothing to say now, waiting for the breakdown




Are you okay, tell me, are you okay?
Baby, we can play pretend

Overall Meaning

In “pretend”, nothingnowhere. expresses his struggles with mental health issues and how he needs someone to be with him constantly. He admits that he can be a burden and that people often abandon him, comparing himself to a “typo”. Despite this, he is determined to keep fighting and stay alive. He reminisces about when he was in a dark place and feeling suicidal, and how he needed something to believe in and somewhere to hide. He was advised to pretend, and although he was hoping his emotions would improve, he struggled with his own brain turning into an opponent.


The chorus has a repeated request for reassurance and validation from someone else:


“Tell me you need me
Even when you don't
I don't know when this will end
Tell me you'll stay now
Even if you won't
Baby, we can play pretend, yeah”


He is scared of going back and reliving his previous struggles, and the memories still haunt him. He can’t always find inspiration and creativity, but he believes that pretending will help him to cope. In the bridge, he asks someone if they are okay, and there is a sense that he is projecting his own struggles onto them.


Overall, the song is a raw and emotional representation of mental health struggles, and the need for human connection and validation.


Line by Line Meaning

I can be a burden, baby, I can be a psycho
I acknowledge that I can be difficult to deal with at times and I may have irrational behavior.


They call me a mistake and roll me off like a typo
People have dismissed me and treated me as if I'm a worthless error that can be easily corrected or ignored.


And life just keeps on hitting me, I swear that I'ma fight though
Even though life continually throws challenges my way, I'm determined to keep going and fight through the adversity.


So hit me with your best shot, staring down the rifle
I'm prepared to face whatever comes my way, even if it feels like staring down the barrel of a gun.


I been looking back, riding on my motorcycle
I've been reflecting on my past while riding on my motorcycle as a means of escape and freedom.


I remember nights when I was feeling suicidal
I recall dark times when I felt like ending my own life.


I was falling out, boy, dead on arrival
I was losing my grip and felt like my life was over before it even began.


Couldn't see the signs, I was living in denial
I wasn't able to recognize the warning signs of my own emotional struggles and was in denial about my mental health.


I'm on the edge
I'm teetering on the brink of a breakdown or crisis.


You're in my head
You are constantly on my mind and I can't shake the feeling that I need you in my life.


Tell me you need me Even when you don't I don't know when this will end Tell me you'll stay now Even if you won't Baby, we can play pretend, yeah
I crave validation and reassurance from you that our relationship is stable, even if it's just pretend.


I guess that what I'm saying is I'm scared of going back I remember every struggle, every panic attack You saw the life inside my eyes fade away over time I couldn't pick up a guitar I couldn't think of a rhyme I needed something to believe in Somewhere that I could hide They told me I should start pretending Always kept it inside And I was hoping these emotions were a lack of serotonin Never thought that my own brain could ever turn to an opponent
I'm afraid of reverting back to a dark period in my life where I suffered from anxiety attacks and lost my passion for music. You were witness to me losing a part of myself and I needed a coping mechanism that I could use to protect myself. I was advised to start pretending and suppressing my emotions, and hoped that they were just a result of a chemical imbalance in my brain. It didn't occur to me that my mind could be my own worst enemy.


Are you okay, tell me, are you okay? Nothing to say now, waiting for the breakdown Are you okay, tell me, are you okay?
I'm concerned about your well-being and want to know if you're alright. I'm anticipating a potential emotional breakdown from you due to my own issues.


Baby, we can play pretend
Let's pretend that everything is okay between us, even if it's not entirely true.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Spirit Music Group
Written by: Aaron Gillespie, Joseph Edward Mulherin, Zachary Cervini

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Iggy G

[Verse 1]
Yeah, I can be a burden, baby, I can be a psycho
They called me a mistake and wrote me off like a typo
And life just keeps on hitting me, I swear that I'ma fight though
So hit me with your best shot, staring down the rifle
I been looking back, riding on my motorcycle
I remember nights when I was feeling suicidal
I was falling out, boy, dead on arrival
Couldn't see the signs, I was living in denial, yeah

[Pre-Chorus]
I'm on the edge
You're in my head, so

[Chorus]
Tell me you need me
Even when you don't
I don't know when this will end (This will end, this will end)
Tell me you'll stay now
Even if you won't
Baby, we can play pretend (Play pretend, play pretend)

[Verse 2]
I guess that what I'm saying is
I'm scared of going back
I remember every struggle, every panic attack
You saw the life inside my eyes fade away over time
I couldn't pick up a guitar
I couldn't think of a rhyme
I needed something to believe in
Somewhere that I could hide
They told me I should stop pretending
Always kept it inside
And I was hoping these emotions were a lack of serotonin
Never thought that my own brain could ever turn to an opponent
[Chorus]
Tell me you need me
Even when you don't
I don't know when this will end (This will end, this will end)
Tell me you'll stay now
Even if you won't
Baby, we can play pretend (Play pretend, play pretend)

[Bridge]
Play pretend, pretend, pretend, pretend
Pretend, pretend, pretend, pretend
Are you okay, tell me, are you okay?
Nothing to say now, waiting for the breakdown
Are you okay, tell me, are you okay?

[Chorus]
Tell me you need me
Even when you don't
I don't know when this will end (This will end, this will end)
Tell me you'll stay now
Even if you won't
Baby, we can play pretend (Play pretend, play pretend)

[Outro]
Are you okay, tell me, are you okay?
Nothing to say now, waiting for the breakdown
Are you okay, tell me, are you okay?
Baby, we can play pretend



All comments from YouTube:

Perish

Honestly Nothing, Nowhere gives me life like your music is everything I need to hear when I need it...

Preston McKinney

Facts💯💯

At Your Finest

Asfffff

Kara Lantz

AND I ALWAYS NEED IT!! T___T

walter

you have 2 comments in a row starting with honestly

Bagged Water®

@walter honestly though

1 More Replies...

Liyah Watts

I still haven't found a bad song dude, THIS IS SO GOOD.

Jêpê ™

exactly

ADre

ikr

Joshua Urteaga

Made a long journey from suffering 7 years of anxiety and depression and finally free of it all. Nothing,nowhere,s music seriously helped because it was the first music I found that I could connect to with how I felt at the time. Genuine artist with real music you could connect to, super proud of how far you've come 👌

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