Let's Pretend

Tindersticks' song 'Let's Pretend' delves into the complex emotions of love, denial, and the human tendency to avoid confronting painful truths. The lyrics suggest a relationship where both parties are aware of underlying issues but choose to ignore them to maintain a semblance of peace. The opening lines, 'Let's not make it into a big thing / Let's not get lost in this,' set the tone for a narrative where the characters are consciously avoiding the gravity of their situation. This avoidance is a coping mechanism, a way to keep the relationship afloat without addressing the deeper emotional currents that threaten to pull them under.

The song's chorus, 'Let's pretend it's not / It doesn't mean a thing,' further emphasizes this theme of denial. The characters are engaging in a mutual pretense, convincing themselves that their issues are insignificant. This is a common human behavior, especially in relationships where the fear of loss or confrontation can be overwhelming. The lyrics, 'It's always thought about for weeks / Not every time your lips meet mine, I think of her,' reveal the internal conflict and the lingering presence of another person in the narrator's mind. This line poignantly captures the struggle of trying to move on while still being haunted by past memories.

The final lines, 'But when her hands reach out, I think of you,' add another layer of complexity. Here, the narrator admits to a duality of emotions, where the touch of one person triggers thoughts of another. This suggests a deep-seated emotional entanglement that is difficult to escape. Tindersticks, known for their melancholic and introspective style, use this song to explore the intricacies of human relationships, the pain of unspoken truths, and the fragile balance between reality and pretense.