Pretender

by Jackson Browne
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Lyrics

I’m gon na (G)rent my self came a house

in the shade of the (C)free way.

Gon na (G)pack my lunch in the morn ing

and go to (D)work er’s er each day.

en (C)ing?

And when the (G)eve ning rolls time a round,

I’ll go on (G)home the end, and lay my bod y (C)down.

And when the (G)morn ing light comes stream ing (D)in, I’ll get up and do it a (C)gain.

(Am7)A (G)men.

Say it a gain.

(G)A (Am7)men.

I want to (G)know what be came of the es we wait ed for (C)love to

Were they (G)on ly the ful the dreams ors

of some each (D)great er’s paint a wak ber (C)dreams.

I’ve been a (G)ware of the time go ing

They say make (G)in the end, it’s the wink of an (C)eye.

And when the (G)morn ing light comes stream ing (D)in, you’ll get up and do it a (C)gain.

(Am7)A (G)men.

Say it a gain.

(G)A

(Am7)men.

I want to (G)men.

Caught be tween the (D)long ing for love and the (C)strug gle for the le gal ten der,

where the (C)si rens sing and the church bells ring and the (Em)junk man pounds his fend er,

where the (C)vet er ans

dream of the (G)fight,

fast a sleep at the traf fic light,

and the (A9)chil dren sol emn ly (A9)wait for the ice cream (D)ven dor,

(D)out in to the (C)cool of the eve ning

strolls the pre tend er.

He knows that (C)all his hopes and dreams

be gin and (G)end there.

Ah, the laugh Ah, of the lov ers as they through the night,

leav ing noth ing leav ing noth ing but to off and (Em)fight,

and tear at the (G)world with all their might

while the ships

bear ing their dreams sail out of sight.

I’m gon na

Get it up a gain.

I’m gon na be a (D)hap py id i ot and (D)strug gle for the le gal ten der,

where the (C)ads take aim and lay their claim to the (Em)heart and the soul of the spend er, and be lieve in what ev er may (G)lie

in those things

that mon ey can buy.

Thought true (A9)love

(A9)could have been a con tend er.

Are you (C)there?

Say a (D)prayer for the pre tend er

who start ed (C)out so young and strong on ly to sur ren der.

Say a prayer

for the pre tend er.

Are you there

for the pre tend er?

Say a prayer

for the pre tend er.

Are you there

for the pre tend er?

Pretender — Easy Piano Notes for Beginners

5 people have learned this song

Learn "Pretender" on piano with easy notes — perfect for absolute beginners. Large color-coded note names show exactly which keys to press. No music reading required. Key of G, 100 BPM.

Tip: Use the speed control to practice at 70% tempo first. Focus on tricky chord transitions before attempting the full arrangement.

About “Pretender

Can I play "Pretender" without reading sheet music?
Yes — Easy Notes mode prints the letter name (C, D, E…) directly on each note in big color-coded labels, so you can match colors to your keyboard without any traditional notation. The whole arrangement of "Pretender" is playable in minutes, even for first-time players.
What key is "Pretender" by Jackson Browne played in?
Pretender is arranged in the key of G on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Pretender"?
The arrangement plays at 100 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Pretender" easy to play on piano?
This is a medium-difficulty arrangement. Most players can learn it within a few practice sessions using the speed control.
Can I download sheet music for "Pretender"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Pretender"?
"Pretender" was originally performed by Jackson Browne. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "Pretender"?
This arrangement uses 8 chords: A9, Am7, B7, C, D, D#dim7, Em, G.
What other songs by Jackson Browne can I play here?
Try "FOUNTAIN OF SORROW", "DOCTOR, MY EYES". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Can a complete beginner play "Pretender"?
Absolutely! The Beginner mode shows large color-coded notes with letter names (C, D, E...). Just match the colors to your keyboard — no music reading needed. "Pretender" is simplified for beginners.
Do I need to read music to play "Pretender"?
No! Our Beginner mode replaces traditional notation with color-coded letter names. Each note shows exactly which key to press. You can start playing "Pretender" in minutes, even if you've never touched a piano before.

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