For Pretend

That man is an actor, sweetheart
He is not that mean in real life
He would never hurt his real wife
When the movie’s over, everyone
is alright
I know that it’s scary when you’re five
That woman’s an actor, sweetheart
She is only screaming for pretend
She will be okay in the end
Tears are years of practice
and the blood is a synthetic blend
I know it’s confusing when you’re ten
And I’m not a prevaricating junkie asshole
I’m just researching the part
Method all the way
Real commitment
And you have suffered for my art
(It’s hard to stop once you start)
I am an actor, sweetheart
I obey the needs of the scene
Every gesture’s for the screen
I play an addict trying hard
to stay clean
I think that you get it
You’re fifteen
But I’m not a prevaricating junkie asshole
I’m just researching the part
Method all the way
True conviction
And you have suffered for my art
(It’s hard to stop once you start)
I was an actor sweetheart
It was nothing we could build upon
And I think I stayed in too long
I let it consume me
And I know it was wrong
And I also know you got it
You’re gone
But I’m not a...
Method all the way
It’s my art
(It’s hard to stop
once you start)