01 Time To Pretend by MGMT Lyrics Meaning – Peeling Back the Layers of a Modern Existential Anthem
Lyrics
Let’s make some music make some money find some models for wives
I’ll move to Paris, shoot some heroin and fuck with the stars
You man the island and the cocaine and the elegant cars
This is our decision to live fast and die young.
We’ve got the vision, now let’s have some fun.
Yeah it’s overwhelming, but what else can we do?
Get jobs in offices and wake up for the morning commute?
Forget about our mothers and our friends
We were fated to pretend.
I’ll miss the playgrounds and the animals and digging up worms
I’ll miss the comfort of my mother and the weight of the world
I’ll miss my sister, miss my father, miss my dog and my home
Yeah I’ll miss the boredom and the freedom and the time spent alone
But there is really nothing, nothing we can do
Love must be forgotten. life can always start up anew
The models will have children, we’ll get a divorce,
We’ll find some more models, everything must run its course
We’ll choke on our vomit and that will be the end
We were fated to pretend
Yeah yeah yeah
MGMT’s ‘Time To Pretend’ burst onto the scene as a psychedelic anthem that encapsulates the dreams and disillusionments of the millennial generation. The sparkling synths and infectious melody belie a depth of lyrical introspection that has kept the song resonant and relevant since its release in 2007.
As we delve into the lyrical intricacies of ‘Time To Pretend,’ we uncover a narrative of hedonism, escapism, and the sobering returns to reality. The track, which began as a college dorm creation, unfurls a tapestry of wild ambitions and a satirical glance at the rock-and-roll lifestyle, ultimately pointing towards a more profound reflection on life’s transient nature.
The Grand Illusion of Rock Stardom
At first glance, ‘Time to Pretend’ is a fantastical exploration of the archetypal rock star life. Lyrics dripping with sarcasm describe the allure of making music, amassing wealth, marrying supermodels, and indulging in recreational drug use. But beyond the surface lies a critique of the hedonistic treadmill and the ephemeral nature of fame.
MGMT throws us into a whirlwind parody of aspiration, where dreams collide with an almost juvenile braggadocio. But the band members, Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden, lace these so-called dreams with a sense of irony that punctuates the whole track, hinting at the emptiness that often accompanies a life lived in the pursuit of excess.
Nostalgia and the Lingering Echoes of Innocence
Despite its pulsing beat and euphoric highs, ‘Time To Pretend’ carries a wistful melancholy for simpler times. The lyrics ‘I’ll miss the playgrounds and the animals and digging up worms’ evoke a longing for the innocence of youth, before the seduction of fame and fortune.
This verse strips away the facade to reveal a deep-seated nostalgia and an understanding of what will be forfeited in the quest for this idealized adult life. Growing up – with its responsibilities, compromises, and expected social roles – contrasts sharply with a cherished past of boundless imagination.
The Cynical Reality Behind the Glittering Lifestyle
As ‘Time To Pretend’ builds to a climax, the idyllic vision of the rockstar life seems increasingly hollow. The line ‘we’ll choke on our vomit and that will be the end’ is a jarring reminder of the potential self-destructive outcome that has claimed the lives of too many artists.
By including this line, MGMT isn’t just telling a story; they’re participating in a long-standing conversation about the darkness that shadows the music industry. It doesn’t just speak of physical demise but also represents the metaphorical death of authenticity and real connection.
Embracing the Absurd: The Hidden Meaning of the Song
Beneath the shiny veneer and catchy hooks of ‘Time To Pretend,’ MGMT channels the philosophies of existentialism and absurdism. ‘Nothing we can do’ might seem like surrender, but it’s more accurately an acceptance of the unpredictability and inherent meaninglessness of life’s script.
The acknowledgement that ‘we were fated to pretend’ suggests a pre-ordained role or a script society expects one to follow, highlighting our collective participation in perpetuating an illusion. The song thereby becomes a critique of conformism and a call to embrace our own subjective realities.
Memorable Lines that Echo Through Generations
‘Forget about our mothers and our friends’ is a line that strikes a chord, poking at the sacrifices one is expected to make on the altar of success and adulthood. This detachment from roots and relationships serves as a stark commentary on the individualistic tendencies of modern society.
‘We were fated to pretend’ resonates as a chilling refrain that encapsulates the song’s essence. It’s a modern-day mantra, a poignant reminder of the masks we wear and the stage we’re on, questioning whether any of it holds genuine value when stripped down to the core.
