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  1. Tracks
  2. Van Morrison
  3. What’s It Gonna Take?
  4. Pretending
Pretending by Van Morrison

SINGLE

Van Morrison

Pretending

Release date: 19th May 2022

From What’s It Gonna Take?
Track 15
6:47
BluesMusic
Spotify Apple Music More on Van Morrison

About This Track

"Pretending" is a single by Van Morrison, from the album What’s It Gonna Take?, released 19th May 2022. The track is 6:47 long. It's filed under Blues. Full lyrics are available below.

About the Artist

Van Morrison

Van Morrison

Lyrics

Pretending

Pretending my life is not in ruins
Pretending I'm not depressed
Pretending I left it all behind
Pretending most of the time

Just pretending
Just pretending

Pretending when I'm on a stage
Pretending when I get off
Pretending that it's not real
Pretending when it's my joke

Just pretending
Just pretending

Pretending makes the world go round
People love it when we wear a mask
Whoa, sometimes makes my head spin
When I feel I'm not up to the task

Pretending everything makes sense
Pretending I'm someone else
Pretending I'm in the present tense
I'm really miles away in a trance

I'm pretending
I'm pretending

Pretending that everything is fair
I'm looking up in the air
Rolling my eyes once again
Pretending you've got nothing to gain

I'm pretending
Just pretending

Pretending that you're on my side
Pretending everything is open wide
Pretending you're not just along for the ride
Pretending it can't be tonight

Just pretending
Just pretending

Pretending we're on the same page
Pretending I'm some kinda sage
Pretending you get the same wage
Pretending folk music is all the rage

I'm just pretending
Just pretending
Just pretending
Just pretending
Just pretending

Pretending be alright in the end
Pretending everyone is my friend
Pretending there's hope around the bend
Pretending that you're not outta your head

I'm pretending
Pretending

Pretending I'm sleeping at night
Pretending when I turn out the light
Pretending that girl is outta sight
Trying with all of my might

But I'm still pretending
Still pretending
Still pretending
Still pretending

Pretending makes the world go round
People love it when you wear that mask
Whoa, sometimes can make your head spin
When you feel like you're not up to the task
'Cause you're pretending

Pretending I'm not alone (I'm not alone)
Pretending I'm on the way home (on the way home)
Pretending I'm listening to you (listening to you)
Pretending that you're pretending too (pretending too)

Just pretending
Just pretending
Just pretending
Just pretending
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From What’s It Gonna Take?

6:472022Single
Listen
Album
What’s It Gonna Take?
What’s It Gonna Take?
Van Morrison
20th May 2022
Track number
15
Release year
2022
  1. 1Dangerous
    7:40
  2. 2What's It Gonna Take?
    3:23
  3. 3Fighting Back is the New Normal
    3:36
  4. 4Fodder for the Masses

More from Van Morrison

Albums & EPs

Somebody Tried To Sell Me A Bridge
Somebody Tried To Sell Me A Bridge
2026
Remembering Now
Remembering Now
2025
Beyond Words (Instrumental)
Beyond Words (Instrumental)
2024
New Arrangements And Duets
New Arrangements And Duets
2024
Live at Orangefield
Live at Orangefield
2024
Live At Orangefield: Be Just And Fear Not
2024

Explore

More tracks by Van Morrison

  1. (Go To The) High Place In Your MindSomebody Tried To Sell Me A Bridge
  2. (Go To The) High Place In Your Mind [feat. John Allair]Somebody Tried To Sell Me A Bridge
    3:54
  3. Ain't That A ShameSomebody Tried To Sell Me A Bridge
  4. Ain’t That A ShameSomebody Tried To Sell Me A Bridge
    3:27
  5. Ain’t That a Trip
  6. Back To Writing Love SongsRemembering Now
    3:57
  7. Betty And DupreeSomebody Tried To Sell Me A Bridge
  8. Betty And Dupree (feat. Taj Mahal)Somebody Tried To Sell Me A Bridge
    4:59
  9. Can't Help MyselfSomebody Tried To Sell Me A Bridge
  10. Can’t Help Myself (feat. Taj Mahal)Somebody Tried To Sell Me A Bridge
    3:42

Showing 10 of 50

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  • 5Can't Go On This Way
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    4:05
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    5:09
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    5:20
  • 12I Ain’t No Celebrity
    4:41
  • 13Stage Name
    4:28
  • 14Fear and Self-Loathing in Las Vegas
    5:04
  • 15Pretending
    6:47
  • —What’s It Gonna Take?
  • —I Ain't No Celebrity
  • —Can’t Go On This Way
  • —Can't Go On This Way
    6:42

    • Credits

    Production & Engineering

    Writer
    Van Morrison
    Producer
    Van Morrison
    Bass
    Pete Hurley
    Drums
    Colin Griffin
    Vocals
    Van Morrison
    Background Vocals
    Crawford Bell, Jolene O’Hara
    Electric Guitar
    Van Morrison
    Hammond Organ
    Richard Dunn
    Mastering Engineer
    Tony Cousins
    Mixing Engineer
    Ben McAuley
    Percussion
    Alan “Sticky” Wicket, Colin Griffin
    Piano
    John McCullough
    Recording Engineer
    Ben McAuley
    Saxophone
    Paul O’Reilly
    Trumpet
    Mike Barkley
    READ MORE ABOUT VAN MORRISONREAD MORE ABOUT VAN MORRISONREAD MORE ABOUT VAN MORRISONREAD MORE ABOUT VAN MORRISON
    READ MORE ABOUT VAN MORRISONREAD MORE ABOUT VAN MORRISONREAD MORE ABOUT VAN MORRISONREAD MORE ABOUT VAN MORRISON
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    Features

    What does Fcukers’ ‘Homie Don’t Shake’ sample, and how does it connect to ‘Devils Cut’?

    Fcukers’ ‘Homie Don’t Shake’ uses a guitar sample from Beck’s 1996 single ‘Devils Haircut’, following the group’s earlier cover of the same song, ‘Devils Cut’.

    7 Oct 2026 • 8:15 am