The Pretender

I want to know what became of the changes
We waited for love to bring
They say in the end it's the wink of an eye
And go to work each day
For the pretender?

I'm going to be a happy idiot
Amen
He knows that all his hopes and dreams
For the pretender?
You'll get up and do it again
And the children solemnly wait
Are you there
We'll get up and do it again
While the ships bearing their dreams sail out of sight
Only to surrender
And the struggle for the legal tender
Are you there?
Fast asleep at the traffic light
Though true love could have been a contender

Say a prayer for the pretender
Who started out so young and strong
Caught between the longing for love
Amen
Leaving nothing but to choose off and fight
Of some greater awakening?
Ah, the laughter as they run through the night
I've been aware of the time going by

In each other's paint by number dreams
For the icecream vendor
Are you there
I'll go on home and lay my body down
Strolls the pretender
Say it again
And we'll fill in the missing colors
And the junk man pounds his fender
Who can show me what laughter means
And when the morning light comes streaming in
I'll get up and do it again
In those things that money can buy
Where the sirens sing and the Church bells ring
And when the morning light comes streaming in
And tear at the world with all their might
Where the ads take aim and lay their claim
And when the morning light comes streaming in
Are you there
Amen
And struggle for the legal tender
And we'll make love until our strength is gone

Where the veterans dream of the fight

Begin and end there
And believe in whatever may lie
Get it up again
To the heart and the soul of the spender
Say a prayer for the pretender
Were they only the fitful dreams
And then we'll put our dark glasses on
Going to pack my lunch in the morning
Say a prayer for the pretender
And when the evening rolls around
I'm going to find myself a girl
Out into the cool of the evening