[Verse 1]

I've never been much at making believe

Don't have any tricks hidden up my sleeve

If life is a comedy, where's all the laughter?

'Cause here on the stage, I'm a bad actor

I don't know what you want me to know

So I'll take the small parts in our family show

Tell me which hero you want me to play

How should I feel and what do I say?

[Chorus]

Pretending to care, pretending to cry

You say I'll be there and I say I'll try

Secondhand feelings are always a factor

In my starring role as a bad actor

[Verse 2]

Please let me know what you want me to see

And where do you want me to be?

In this old mirror, I'm just a reflection

But I might be brilliant, if you'd give direction

I have a problem of knowing what's real

All my emotions, I borrow and steal

Faking my way through every day

And trying to act like it's better that way

[Chorus]

Pretending to care, pretending to cry

You say I'll be there and I say I'll try

Secondhand feelings are always a factor

In my starring role as a bad actor