[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