Meaning of "Pretense" by Knuckle Puck

The lyrics of "Pretense" delve into the complexities of a relationship where one person feels undervalued and unacknowledged. The speaker takes the blame placed upon them by the other person and internalizes it, choosing to hide their pain instead of allowing it to show. They contrast this with the other person, who seems to find solace and escape from their problems on "tops of trees," oblivious to the speaker's struggles. The speaker questions the fairness of being made to feel guilty for not sticking around when the other person never did the same for them. The use of the broken flashlight symbolizes how the other person left the speaker in the dark and without guidance. The concluding lines emphasize the speaker's decision to break free from the toxic relationship, asserting their own identity and individuality. By stating that they will find "a face to call [their] own," the speaker rejects the mask or persona that the other person wore throughout the relationship, which had become the only reality the speaker knew. They no longer want to be associated with the pretense and façade the other person embodied. The lyrics highlight the importance of self-worth and the need to break free from relationships that perpetuate a cycle of unreciprocated love and emotional neglect.