Playing Pretend

She cried, “I thought you loved me!”
As she melted in the rain
But love was never something
To be thought about again

Taken as a token
Captured like a prize
A winner for the moment
‘Til another caught his eyes

“Am I more than a machine,
A prop to hold your hand?
A postman for your progeny,
Was I ever more than that?”

“My darling there’s no difference
‘Tween the loving and game
‘Cause everyone and everything’s
A way to make my name.”

“Can’t you tell that I’ve been playing pretend?
Another mask to try to find my success
All I know is you’re a means to an end
And I’ll use you ‘til the day that I die.”

He cried, “How could this happen?”
As the steel ripped his back
But it was only habit
To let another bear attacks

He followed like a shadow
And groveled at his feet
But so much for being loyal
When you’re on a one-way street

“Am I more than just your shield,
The man to take the fall?
Would you say that I’m a friend
Or just a flunky that you call?”

“My brother, there’s no difference
‘Tween a friendship and game
‘Cause everyone and everything’s
A way to make my name.”

“Can’t you tell that I’ve been playing pretend?
Another mask to try to find my success
All I know is you’re a means to an end
And I’ll use you ‘til the day that I die.
I’ll use you ‘til the day that I die.”

(Inner monologue)
“There’s no one here beside me now
None to save me once the ship goes down
Taken hostage by the blood I drew
Fearing I could be forgotten so soon
Fearing I could be forgotten so soon”

“Can’t you tell that I’ve been playing pretend?
Another mask to try to hide my distress
All I know is you’re a means to an end
And I’ll use you ‘til the day that I die.
I’ll use you ‘til the day that I die.”

(Anguished, to no one in particular)
“Can’t you tell that I’ve been playing pretend?
Another mask to try to hide my distress
No one’s round to let me use them again
As I slowly start to rot from inside
Slowly start to rot from inside
Slowly start to rot from inside…”