Playing Pretend

Anna Graceman

What if we took down our walls?
We're too afraid of what people will think
What if we were who we are?
Without the lights, the headlines and the bling

Putting on a show
For everybody that we know
And for everybody that we don't

Playing pretend
Life's just a game
Nobody wins
I'm not okay
Painting a smile
To entertain
I want what's real
Not the charade
Done playing pretend
Done playing pretend

What if we did what we want?
Let's just forget about what they might say
We can prove everyone wrong
If we stop posing like we're on display

Putting on a show
For everybody that we know
And for everybody that we don't

Playing pretend
Life's just a game
Nobody wins
I'm not okay
Painting a smile
To entertain
I want what's real
Not the charade
Done playing pretend
Done playing pretend

Take off the mask
Let's strip it down
Show you the me
I've finally found
Way underneath
This grand facade
Nowhere perfect
But at least I'm not...

Playing pretend, no no
Playing pretend, no no

Playing pretend
Life's just a game
Nobody wins
I'm not okay
Painting a smile
To entertain
I want what's real
Not the charade
Done playing pretend
Done playing pretend
Done playing pretend
Done playing pretend