Gonna rent myself a house
In the shade of the freeway
I’m gonna pack my lunch in the morning
And go to work each day
And when the evening rolls around
I’ll go on home and lay my body down
And when the morning light comes streaming in
I’ll get up and do it again
Amen

I want to know what became of the changes
We waited for love to bring
Were they only the fitful dreams
Of some greater awakening?
I’ve been aware of the time going by
They say in the end, it’s the wink of an eye
And when the morning light comes streaming in
You’ll get up and do it again
Amen

Caught between the longing for love
And the struggle for the legal tender
Where the sirens sing and the church bells ring
And the junk man pounds his fender
Where the veterans dream of the fight
Fast asleep at the traffic light
And the children solemnly wait
For the ice cream vendor
Out into the cool of the evening
Strolls the Pretender
He knows that all his hopes and dreams
Begin and end there

I’m going to find myself a boy
Who can show me what laughter means
And we’ll fill in the missing colors
In each other’s paint-by-number dreams
And then we’ll put our dark glasses on
And we’ll make love until our strength is gone
And when the morning light comes streaming in
We’ll get up and do it again
Do it up again

I’m going to be a happy idiot
And struggle for the legal tender
Where the ads take aim and lay their claim
To the heart and the soul of the spender
And believe in whatever may lie
In those things that money can buy
Though true love could have been a contender
Are you there?
Say a prayer for the Pretender
Who started out so young and strong
Only to surrender

Ah the laughter of the lovers
As they run through the night
(Ah the laughter, ah the laughter)
Leaving nothing for the others
But to choose off and fight
And tear at the world with all their might
While the ships bearing their dreams
Sail out of sight

Say a prayer
Say a prayer
For the pretender
Ah the lover as they run through the night
Say a prayer
For the pretender
For the pretender
Say a prayer prayer
Say a prayer
For the pretender
For the pretender
Say a prayer
For the pretender

I’m gonna rent myself a house
In the shade of the freeway
I’m gonna pack my lunch in the morning
And go to work each day
And when the evening rolls around
I’ll go on home and lay my body down
And when the morning light comes streaming in
I’ll get up and do it again
Amen

(Originally by Jackson Browne)

I saw you out
And I’d be lying if I said that you still looked good
Cuz you don’t look good
I dodged a bullet there
That could have been me on your arm right where she stood
Right where she stood
Well, I don’t miss you and I don’t wish you would call
And I’ve been happy since the day we hit the wall

Cuz I don’t have to wait around for you
And I don’t have to change the way I am
I don’t have to cry myself to sleep
And I don’t have to hope you like my friends
Oh, I don’t have to cover up the bruises
Cause Baby, you’re a liar and a user
And you’re still a loser

You won’t believe
How much I’ve grown up since the days of me and you
Have you grown up too?
I used to be
Such a puppet and the strings were in your hands
Things have changed since then
You’ll be glad to know I sold your ring for extra cash
I’m glad to know some things were never meant to last

Cause I don’t have to wait around for you
And I don’t have to change the way I am
I don’t have to cry myself to sleep
And I don’t have to hope you like my friends
Oh, I don’t have to cover up the bruises
Cause baby, you’re a liar and a user
You’re such a loser

Cause you haven’t changed after all these years
And I’m glad to know that I didn’t throw my life away
Couldn’t be more yesterday

Cause I don’t have to wait around for you
And I’m not gonna change the way I am
Well, I don’t ever cry myself to sleep
Cause I never have to see your face again

No, I don’t have to wait around for you
And I’m not gonna change the way I am
Well, I don’t have to cry myself to sleep
Cause I never have to be with you again
And baby it was really good to see you
Cause you’re still a loser
You’re still a loser
You’re still a loser