No.5 「The Pretender」 ~Foo Fighters~

I'll introduce my favorite band, "Foo Fighters". "Foo Fighters" is an American rock band, formed in Seattle in 1994. The group name derives from the UFOs in the Second World War. The lead vocalist Dave Grohl, founded this rock band when his former band Nirvana, broke up. He was the drummer of Nirvana.

This time I'll introduse his famous song "The Pretender". The lyrics tell many stories. It can imagine a love storys or resisting authority. Dave Grohl said this when he was being interviewed. That means it has some political issue, but he didn't explain it clearly.

                                        「The Pretender」　~Foo Fighters~
Keep you in the dark
You know they all pretend
Keep you in the dark
And so it all began

事実を隠してやがる
ヤツらがみんなペテン師だってことは知ってるよな？
マズいことがバレないようにしてる
それがそもそもの事の起こりだ

Send in your skeletons
Sing as their bones go marching in... again
The need you buried deep
The secrets that you keep are ever ready
Are you ready?
I'm finished making sense
Done pleading ignorance
That whole defense

お前が隠してる，その秘密をさらけだせ
包み隠さず白状して，そこで本当のことを言え！もう一度な！
心の奥の渇きも
抱えてるその秘密も，もう隠しておけないところまできてんのに
お前ときたらどうなんだ？　覚悟は出来てんのか？
俺は，もう辻褄を合わせるのは止めたんだ
知らないふりをするのもうんざりだ
あんな御託を聞くのは真っ平ごめんなんだよ！

Spinning infinity, boy
The wheel is spinning me
It's never-ending, never-ending
Same old story

いつまで経っても何も変わらない
権力に翻弄され続けてるだけ
いくら待っても結論なんか出やしない
いいかげん聞き飽きた同じ話の繰り返しだぜ

[Chorus x2]
What if I say I'm not like the others?
What if I say I'm not just another one of your plays?
You're the pretender
What if I say I will never surrender?

けどもし俺がこう言ったらお前はどうすんだ
他の奴らと一緒にすんなって言ったら？
お前のやってる猿芝居の駒じゃねえって言ったら？
お前は臆病者だ　本当の自分を隠してる
けど俺は違うぜ　絶対負けねえって俺が言ったらどうすんだ？（繰り返し）

In time or so I'm told
I'm just another soul for sale... oh, well
The page is out of print
We are not permanent
We're temporary, temporary
Same old story

ヤツらはこう言うだろうよ
そんなこと言ってたって，他の奴らと違いやしない　俺もどうせ金で転ぶってな
ああ建国の理念はなくなったんだ
お前が後生大事に守ってるその建前だって永遠じゃねえ
いつかは消えていくんだ
今までだって何度もあったことだ　歴史の勉強すりゃわかんだろ？　

[Chorus x2]

I'm the voice inside your head
You refuse to hear
I'm the face that you have to face
Mirrored in your stare
I'm what's left, I'm what's right
I'm the enemy
I'm the hand that will take you down
Bring you to your knees

けどもし俺がこう言ったらお前はどうすんだ
他の奴らと一緒にすんなって言ったら？
お前のやってる猿芝居の駒じゃねえって言ったら？
お前は臆病者だ　本当の自分を隠してる
けど俺は違うぜ　絶対負けねえって俺が言ったらどうすんだ？（繰り返し）

So who are you?
Yeah, who are you?
Yeah, who are you?
Yeah, who are you?

Keep you in the dark
You know they all pretend

[Chorus x2]

[x2]
What if I say I'm not like the others?
(Keep you in the dark)
What if I say I'm not just another one of your plays?
(You know they all... pretend)
You're the pretender
What if I say I will never surrender?
So who are you?
Yeah, who are you?
Yeah, who are you?


















<Impression>
This song can be open to various interpretations. It may be about a romantic relationship or it maybe a protest to a higher authority. It can be said about your boss at your company, or the government or the establishment.
There are different interpretations in the lyrics. When Dave Grohl had an interview, he said the song is somehow political, but he doesn't explain the contents in detail. So it is difficult to judge how much truth there is in this interview. However, the music is very cool. This song gradually changes to up-tempo. I think it's worth a listen.

Many people have a high opinion of the songs,  "All My Life", "Best Of You", "Walk", and "Rope" and so on. Those songs livin up the atmosphere. You should listen to their songs　when you're having trouble at work. I hope you'll feel better.