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  1. Tracks
  2. Madonna
  3. Pretender

TRACK

Madonna

Pretender

Release date: 12th November 1984

Spotify More on Madonna

About This Track

'Pretender' by Madonna is a 1984 pop song in which the singer addresses a charming but insincere man, repeating the line about him being “a pretender”. The chorus frames their everyday encounters and the sense of falling for someone who is performing, while the verse turns to the odd intimacy of being taken by the hand, wanting more than a fleeting fling. There is a conflicted mixture of fascination and regret, with attraction repeatedly undercut by the idea that the relationship is built on false feeling.

"Pretender" is a track by Madonna, released 12th November 1984. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 10 articles about Madonna.

About the Artist

Madonna

Madonna

Lyrics

Pretender

[Chorus]

He's a pretender, he knows just what to say

He's a pretender, yeah you meet him every day

He's a pretender, like the fish that got away

He's a pretender, why'd I fall in love

[Verse 1]

It was so strange the way he held my hand

I wanted more than just a one night stand

He had a way of making me believe

That he was mine and that he'd never leave

[Refrain]

I know that I should take my friends' advice

'Cause if it happened once, you know it happens twice

If there's a chance then I know I've got to try

I'll make him dance with me, I'll make him tell me why

[Hook]

He's a pretender

He's a pretender

[Bridge]

I'm not afraid to fall a hundred times

And I'll believe in all your silly lies

I'd like to think that I could change your mind

Don't say that I am blind, I know all about your kind

[Chorus]

He's a pretender, yeah you meet him every day

He's a pretender, like the fish that got away

He's a pretender, why'd I fall in love

[Verse 2]

I like the way he moved across the floor

And when he danced with me I knew he wanted more

But in the dark things happened much too fast

I should've stopped him then, I knew it wouldn't last

[Refrain]

I know that I should take my friends' advice

'Cause if it happened once, you know it happens twice

If there's a chance then I know I've got to try

I'll make him dance with me, I'll make him tell me why

[Bridge]

I'm not afraid to fall a hundred times

And I'll believe in all your silly lies

I'd like to think that I could change your mind

Don't say that I am blind

You lied, you lied, you lied, you lied

You lied, you lied, you lied, you lied

You lied, you lied, you lied, you lied

You lied, you lied

I know all about your kind

[Outro]

He's a pretender

He's a pretender

He's a pretender

He's a pretender, why'd I fall in love

He's a pretender, yeah, he knows just what to say

He's a pretender, yeah you meet him every day

He's a pretender, like the fish that got away

He's a pretender, don't know how he got that way

He's a pretender

He's a pretender

He's a pretender, like the fish that got away

He's a pretender, why'd I fall in love

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

Pretender

1984
Listen
Release year
1984

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    Credits

    Production & Engineering

    Writer
    Madonna, Stephen Bray
    Producer
    Nile Rodgers
    Vocals
    Madonna
    Background Vocals
    Curtis King, Frank Simms, George Simms
    Drum Programmer
    Jimmy Bralower
    Mastering Engineer
    Bob Ludwig
    Mixing Engineer
    Jason Corsaro
    Recording Engineer
    Nile Rodgers, Rob Eaton
    Synthesizer
    Rob Sabino
    READ MORE ABOUT MADONNAREAD MORE ABOUT MADONNAREAD MORE ABOUT MADONNAREAD MORE ABOUT MADONNA
    READ MORE ABOUT MADONNAREAD MORE ABOUT MADONNAREAD MORE ABOUT MADONNAREAD MORE ABOUT MADONNA
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