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Jackson Browne The Pretender

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Uploaded by on Jun 17, 2007

Jackson first gives an explanation of the song. Taken from a video I taped at Christmas 1994. Programme title Words and Music. Subtitle American writers. Enjoy. I have.

Following a suggestion by RedKruzer I have added Jackson's wonderful lyrics.

I'm going to rent myself a house
In the shade of the freeway
I'm going to pack my lunch in the morning
And go to work each day
And when the evening rolls around
I'll go on home and lay my body down
And when the morning light comes streaming in
I'll get up and do it again
Amen
Say it again
Amen

I want to know what became of the changes
We waited for love to bring
Were they only the fitful dreams
Of some greater awakening
Ive been aware of the time going by
They say in the end its the wink of an eye
And when the morning light comes streaming in
You'll get up and do it again
Amen

Caught between the longing for love
And the struggle for the legal tender
Where the sirens sing and the church bells ring
And the junk man pounds his fender
Where the veterans dream of the fight
Fast asleep at the traffic light
And the children solemnly wait
For the ice cream vendor
Out into the cool of the evening
Strolls the pretender
He knows that all his hopes and dreams
Begin and end there

Ah the laughter of the lovers
As they run through the night
Leaving nothing for the others
But to choose off and fight
And tear at the world with all their might
While the ships bearing their dreams
Sail out of sight

I'm going to find myself a girl
Who can show me what laughter means
And well fill in the missing colors
In each others paint-by-number dreams
And then well put out dark glasses on
And well make love until our strength is gone
And when the morning light comes streaming in
Well get up and do it again
Get it up again

I'm going to be a happy idiot
And struggle for the legal tender
Where the ads take aim and lay their claim
To the heart and the soul of the spender
And believe in whatever may lie
In those things that money can buy
Thought true love could have been a contender
Are you there?
Say a prayer for the pretender
Who started out so young and strong
Only to surrender

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Top Comments

  • If this song doesn't touch you in some way, you have no soul!

  • may god bless and protect u for many more years, JB! your songs have seen me through many years of ups and downs...thank u! EVERY DAY IS A JACKSON BROWNE DAY!

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  • Wow, boy do I feel lucky just to be able to watch this. To hear JB discuss the origins of the song and get a little retrospective is just incredible Being a songwriter myself it's great to hear the thoughts of true masters, which Jackson is definitely earned that distinction. I'm probably rambling { a little Sauv Blanc will usually do that to a guy } but this is awesome. I love this song,love Jackson and miss the great songs/songwriters like him & the Eagles, JT, Gordon, etc... never again..

  • Great, outstanding, genius songwriter and musician. Few have come along since to come anywhere close to matching Jackson. Maybe only Dylan eclipsed him for the brilliance and timelessness of his lyrical output. Just an amazing artist for all times, especially if you really have ears that recognize and appreciate fantastic music.

  • I'm there.

  • One of those songs that the lyrics (words) you heard in your head before Jackson Browne sang it out loud and your soul woke up ! forever outstanding.

  • @izzysdad4209I i try to listen to this song every morning the lyrics are so true and hit close to home. I guess I do have a soul.

    .

  • I was listening to Sirius The Spectrum, this song blew my mind. Turning 50 and looking back -.

  • and the veterans dream of the fight, fast asleep at the traffic light

    as the children silently wait for the ice cream vendor

  • I have been listening to JB for 30 plus years. Simply one of the best!

  • @izzysdad42094 ditto kiddo uterlly brilliant tune!!!

  • one of the songs of my life

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