Tom Odell

Can't Pretend

3 Meanings

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Can't Pretend Lyrics

Love, I have wounds,
Only you can mend,
You can mend,

[Oh, oh, oh]

I guess that's love,
I can't pretend,
I can't pretend,

[Oh, oh, oh]]

Feel, my skin is rough,
But, it can be cleansed,
It can be cleansed,

[Oh, oh, oh]

My arms are tough,
But they can be bent,
They can be bent,
And I wanna fight,
But I can't contend,

I guess that's love,
I can't pretend,
I can't pretend,

[Oh, oh, oh]
[Oh, oh, oh]

Oh feel our bodies grow,
And our souls they blend,
Yeah love I hope you know,
How much my heart depends,

But I guess that's love,
I can't pretend,
I can't pretend,

[Oh, oh, oh]

I guess that's love,
I can't pretend,
I can't pretend,

[Oh, oh, oh]

Oh feel our bodies grow,
And our souls they blend,
Yeah love I hope you know,
How much my heart depends,

I guess that's love,
I can't pretend,
I can't pretend,

[Oh, oh, oh]

I guess that's love,
I can't pretend,
I can't pretend.

[Oh, oh, oh]

Submitted by

whitey112 On Jan 27, 2013

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3 Meanings

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by v8pluver

10y ago

Well, the song seems like it's about a person who has fallen in love with someone but they don't want to admit it. They try to hide, but ultimately it end up showing or they can't handle hiding it anymore (hence repetition of "i can't pretend"). They know they need love, that it's hard to live without it but for some reason they're reluctant to show it or welcome it. They try to be strong, saying they've got "tough arms" and "rough skin", but it's all to no avail. Love breaks through their defenses. They can't deny the connection they have with the person they have feelings for: "Oh feel our bodies grow and our souls they blend". And even though they try to fight those feelings, this person still hopes they reach the one they love: "Yeah love I hope you know how much my heart depends".

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by RIrang

11y ago

I think the meaning of the song is being "weak" because he/she is in love so much. And he/she can't fight the feeling. The lines.. "And I wanna fight, But I can't contend"..

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by frangolupo 11y ago

A website is providing the German translation "Ich kann nicht so tun als ob", which means: "I can't pretend that it is [love]". I presume that this is a wrong interpretation. On the contrary, I am quite certain it means "I can't pretend that it is NOT [love]", meaning "I cannot but admit that I am in love even though I would like to fight that feeling".

by nowherearchit

11y ago

sometimes you are the first one denying your heart. if you believe it....nothing would stop you.

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