Oh-oh, yes, I'm the great pretender.
(Ooo-ooo-oooo.)
Pretending that I'm doing well.
(Ooo-ooo-oooo.)
My need is such I pretend too much.
I'm lonely but no one can tell.
Oh-oh, yes, I'm the great pretender.
(Ooo-ooo-oooo.)
Adrift in a world of my own.
(Ooo-ooo-oooo.)
I've played the game but to my real shame,
You've left me to grieve all alone.
Too real is this feeling of make-believe.
(Ooo-ooo-oooo.)
Too real when I feel what my heart can't conceal.
(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh...)
Yes! I'm the great pretender.
(Ooo-ooo-oooo.)
Just laughin' and gay like a clown.
(Ooo-ooo-oooo.)
I seem to be what I'm not, you see,
I'm wearing my heart like a crown.
Pretending that you're still around.
(Ooo-ooo-oooo.)
Too real is this feeling of make-believe.
(Ooo-ooo-oooo.)
Too real when I feel what my heart can't conceal.
(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh...)
Yes! I'm the great pretender.
(Ooo-ooo-oooo.)
Just laughin' and gay like a clown.
(Ooo-ooo-oooo.)
I seem to be what I'm not, you see,
I'm wearing my heart like a crown.
Pretending that you're still around.
(Still around.)
[THE GREAT PRETENDER [1]
[Written by: Buck Ram [2]
Performed by: The Platters [3] -1956 [4]
Produced by: Buck Ram
Appears on: Platters-1956, Remember When?-1959, The New Golden Hits of the
Platters-1967, American Graffiti (Original Soundtrack)-1973*, The Great
Pretender-1974 & 1995, Red Sails in the Sunset-1976, Platterama-1982, Golden
Hits (Mercury-1986 & (Polygram)-1986, Greatest Hits-1991, MVP Vintage Soul,
Vol. 2-1998* [5] , 20th Century Masters-The Millennium Collection: The Best of
the Platters-1999, The Legends Collection, Vol. 1-2001, The Best of the
Platters-2008, et al. (*Compilation of various artists.)]
[1] "The Great Pretender," was the first song by an Afro-American act to
reach the top (#1) of the Pop (white) Charts in the U.S in November 1955. It
also went to the #1 spot on the U.S. R&B Charts and #5 in the U.K.]
[2] The Platters started out merely aping the R&B style of the day. Their
fortunes were changed due to Buck Ram who was their mentor, manager,
producer, songwriter, and vocal coach. Ram took what many would say were a
run-of-the-mill R&B doo wop vocal group and turned them into stars and one
of the most enduring and lucrative groups of all time.]
[3] Covered by: Brian Eno, The Band, Sam Cooke, Stan Freberg, Gatlin
Brothers, Freddy Mercury, Roy Orbison, Gene Pitney, The Righteous Brothers,
The Statler Brothers, The Stylistics, Bobby Vinton, et al.]
[4] The act went through many personnel changes, with the most successful
incarnation was: lead tenor Tony Williams, David Lynch (not to be confused
with the American film director of the same name), Paul Robi, Herb Reed, and
Zola Taylor. By the end of the '60s, the group had disbanded with various
members starting up their own version of the Platters. This bit of
franchising now extends into the present day, with an estimated 125
sanctioned versions of "The Original Platters" out on the oldies show
circuit. Despite the confusion, The Platters continued to record with the
following lineup: lead vocalist Sonny Turner, Nate Nelson (former lead voice
of The Flamingos), David Lynch, Herb Reed and Sandra Dawn.]
(Ooo-ooo-oooo.)
Pretending that I'm doing well.
(Ooo-ooo-oooo.)
My need is such I pretend too much.
I'm lonely but no one can tell.
Oh-oh, yes, I'm the great pretender.
(Ooo-ooo-oooo.)
Adrift in a world of my own.
(Ooo-ooo-oooo.)
I've played the game but to my real shame,
You've left me to grieve all alone.
Too real is this feeling of make-believe.
(Ooo-ooo-oooo.)
Too real when I feel what my heart can't conceal.
(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh...)
Yes! I'm the great pretender.
(Ooo-ooo-oooo.)
Just laughin' and gay like a clown.
(Ooo-ooo-oooo.)
I seem to be what I'm not, you see,
I'm wearing my heart like a crown.
Pretending that you're still around.
(Ooo-ooo-oooo.)
Too real is this feeling of make-believe.
(Ooo-ooo-oooo.)
Too real when I feel what my heart can't conceal.
(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh...)
Yes! I'm the great pretender.
(Ooo-ooo-oooo.)
Just laughin' and gay like a clown.
(Ooo-ooo-oooo.)
I seem to be what I'm not, you see,
I'm wearing my heart like a crown.
Pretending that you're still around.
(Still around.)
[THE GREAT PRETENDER [1]
[Written by: Buck Ram [2]
Performed by: The Platters [3] -1956 [4]
Produced by: Buck Ram
Appears on: Platters-1956, Remember When?-1959, The New Golden Hits of the
Platters-1967, American Graffiti (Original Soundtrack)-1973*, The Great
Pretender-1974 & 1995, Red Sails in the Sunset-1976, Platterama-1982, Golden
Hits (Mercury-1986 & (Polygram)-1986, Greatest Hits-1991, MVP Vintage Soul,
Vol. 2-1998* [5] , 20th Century Masters-The Millennium Collection: The Best of
the Platters-1999, The Legends Collection, Vol. 1-2001, The Best of the
Platters-2008, et al. (*Compilation of various artists.)]
[1] "The Great Pretender," was the first song by an Afro-American act to
reach the top (#1) of the Pop (white) Charts in the U.S in November 1955. It
also went to the #1 spot on the U.S. R&B Charts and #5 in the U.K.]
[2] The Platters started out merely aping the R&B style of the day. Their
fortunes were changed due to Buck Ram who was their mentor, manager,
producer, songwriter, and vocal coach. Ram took what many would say were a
run-of-the-mill R&B doo wop vocal group and turned them into stars and one
of the most enduring and lucrative groups of all time.]
[3] Covered by: Brian Eno, The Band, Sam Cooke, Stan Freberg, Gatlin
Brothers, Freddy Mercury, Roy Orbison, Gene Pitney, The Righteous Brothers,
The Statler Brothers, The Stylistics, Bobby Vinton, et al.]
[4] The act went through many personnel changes, with the most successful
incarnation was: lead tenor Tony Williams, David Lynch (not to be confused
with the American film director of the same name), Paul Robi, Herb Reed, and
Zola Taylor. By the end of the '60s, the group had disbanded with various
members starting up their own version of the Platters. This bit of
franchising now extends into the present day, with an estimated 125
sanctioned versions of "The Original Platters" out on the oldies show
circuit. Despite the confusion, The Platters continued to record with the
following lineup: lead vocalist Sonny Turner, Nate Nelson (former lead voice
of The Flamingos), David Lynch, Herb Reed and Sandra Dawn.]