The Great Pretender
Queen · Platinum Collection 1-3 [2001]
Pretending I'm doing well (ooh ooh ooh)
My need is such
I pretend too much
I'm lonely but no-one can tell
Oh yes I'm the great pretender (ooh ooh ooh)
Adrift in a world of my own (ooh ooh ooh)
I play the game
But to my real shame
You've left me to dream all alone
Too real is this feeling of make (make believe) believe
Too real when I feel what my heart can't conceal
Oh oh, yes I'm the great pretender (ooh ooh ooh)
Just laughing and gay like a clown (ooh ooh ooh)
I seem to be what I'm not you see (ooh you see)
I'm wearing my heart like a clown
Pretend that you're still around
Yeah-eah, wooh hoo
Too real (real) when I feel (feel) what my heart can't conceal
Oh yes I'm the great pretender
Just laughing and gay like a clown (ooh ooh ooh)
I seem to be what I'm not you see
I'm wearing my heart like a clown
Pretend that you're
Pretend that you're still around
The Great Pretender
Queen's 1973 track 'The Great Pretender' stands as a towering achievement in progressive rock, blending complex time signatures with a soaring, anthemic chorus. Originally featured on the album 'A Night at the Opera', the song explores themes of political hypocrisy and the illusion of authority, delivered with Freddie Mercury's distinctive vocal prowess and Brian May's intricate guitar work. Its structure, which shifts between a driving rock section and a dramatic ballad, exemplifies the band's ability to weave diverse musical elements into a cohesive narrative. The composition has since become a staple of live performances, demonstrating its enduring power to captivate audiences across generations while cementing Queen's legacy as pioneers of the genre.