Lyric discussion by Adamwest 

Cover art for Smiles and Pretense lyrics by American Head Charge

to me this song is about murder.....

you sit so till unmoving (dead person, fearful person) Begging to stay (pleading for life) it drips on my skins surface (Tears, blood, sweat) drowning me towards the problem (Makes him realise wat he did)

Smiles and pretenses - bring them all to watch the scandals tightening (betrayal) Smiles and pretenses - with their frozen eyes my knuckles whitening (they see him, get scared, he expresses his anger by clenching fists)

Trust! That it's all a distraction! Trust! That your fucking...nothing! (They decieved him an made him believe he was something and shattered that belief)

Fighting the urge to hold my breath - like a locust scraping dig in the trees (he's holding his breath, digging the pit for the victim) I can hear the gun-shots in the background - suffocation breathes the words of these shadows (The people chase him shooting at him, he's still holding his breath in the shadows)

Smiles and pretenses - bring them all to see where this force I brought them (They forced him to do this) Smiles and pretenses - we're not any of it we have all forgotten (They're not the problem they just foget about him)

Trust! That it's all a distraction! Trust! So you remain in line (obvious) Open! Up! Your! Blessed wings! (The victim had a holier-than-thou attitude) Wrap them all around all of your...things!! (only look after wat u want) Keep yourself in the company of...kings!! (u think ur better because of ur friends) It's their hands that bleed from the....strings!! (They're the ones who caused this for u)