To me, this song is definitely about depression from a past lover with some possible Atheist undertones. The pain he's feeling is from the lover that scarred him, but his real problem is that he feels even more lonely knowing there is not even a God to which to turn. His life is compared to being stuck on a corner waiting for the light to come on, when the light never comes on, that's how he knows that we're all alone and God isn't there to help. He jokes around in the second verse saying that in religion, you hand over your heart to a false god who does nothing with it. He refers to Jesus' crucifiction and discredits is by saying nobody ever carried his load, as in the story of Jesus dying for our sins and pains in life. To him, there is either no God, or at least his frustrated with the turn God let his life take. He feels desolate, and he feels that he is the only one who sees the flaws in the illusion of God. That's my opinion, maybe some Freudian, subconcious thoughts just revealed themselves but I think this song could easily be about Atheism. But most likely, it's the story of a boy caught in a love triangle and having to sneak around and feeling lonely as predicted before me.

This song is an emotional and narrative representation of the modern, prosperous, famous lifestyle. As musicians, mgmt either experience or watched an experience or are at least aware of the way today's famed rock stars live. Time to Pretend both glorifies and demeans this lifestyle. While the introverse connotates excitement and freedom and fantastic living, the song closes with a nostalgic, retrospective look at childhood. I love the way this song demonstrates confusion between which path in life to take. On one hand, there's the pretentious, desirable journey resulting in ultimate lonliness and early death, and on the other is the mundane, spirit-sucking routine of the commuting, 9-5 worker. This song personifies decision-making, and short-lived joy in young adulthood. Tragically, though, it also gives a sad look into future deaths of rockstars, even using examples of choking on vomit from past musicians such Jimi Hendrix, Bon Scott, and Kieth Moon. It is genius, anthemic, and inspiring in the way that it makes you want to life your life as fun and as best as possible. All this can be said before even going into the musicianship, which is incredible and mind-blowing. The way this music makes you feel is indescribable. It puts you on cloud nine and makes you feel like a god before you even realize what they're singing about. Forgive me for rambling. I'm simply a big fan of this song who likes to give credit where credit is due is good music. It's rare these days that I find songwriting of this quality. Anyway, absolutely love this song, and from this, I have become and overnight fan of mgmt.