About the song
There’s a certain charm in looking back at the music of the 1970s, especially when revisiting the catalog of the Bay City Rollers—a band that captured the hearts of a generation with their infectious energy, harmonies, and youthful spirit. Among their many tracks, “Let’s Pretend” stands out as a particularly tender and emotionally resonant piece. While the band is often remembered for their upbeat, tartan-clad pop-rock anthems like “Saturday Night”, this song reveals a softer, more reflective side of their artistry.
“Let’s Pretend” is a ballad that leans into the bittersweet territory of young love, nostalgia, and wishful thinking. It offers a narrative that’s instantly relatable—two people caught in a moment where pretending feels safer than confronting reality. The lyrics are simple yet emotionally potent, and it’s in that simplicity that the song finds its strength. This isn’t just about teenage romance; it’s about the universal longing to hold onto something fleeting, to momentarily escape the real world in favor of something more beautiful, even if it exists only in the imagination.
Vocally, the performance is earnest and heartfelt. The harmonies, always a strength of the Bay City Rollers, are especially effective here—layered gently to support a lead vocal that is both vulnerable and sincere. The instrumentation is modest, driven by gentle acoustic guitar and soft backing that allow the emotional core of the song to shine through. It’s not flashy, nor does it try to be. Instead, it resonates through emotional authenticity and melodic clarity.
For fans who grew up during the Rollers’ heyday, “Let’s Pretend” may stir memories of adolescent dreams and the kind of innocent, idealized love that often feels truer in memory than it ever did in the moment. But even for newer listeners, the song has aged gracefully. It speaks to the enduring human desire to protect fragile moments of connection from the harder edges of reality.
In a discography often characterized by its effervescence and teenage exuberance, “Let’s Pretend” is a tender pause—a soft sigh between the more anthemic numbers. It proves that the Bay City Rollers weren’t just about catchy hooks and teen idol appeal; they could also tap into something quieter and more introspective when they wanted to. And in doing so, they left behind a song that still speaks softly, but powerfully, across the decades.
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Lyrics
can’t sleep nights wishing you were here beside me
Can’t help feeling that’s the way it ought to be
You know we could run away but I couldn’t bear
To hear the things they’d say, oh noBaby let’s pretend that tonight we’ll live forever
If we close our eyes and believe it might come true
Baby let’s pretend we could always be together
But for now just let me spend the night with youSomehow, someday things are gonna be so different
Don’t cry, some way, I promise it’ll be all right
So now that we’re all alone
I couldn’t bear to leave or take you home, oh noBaby let’s pretend that tonight we’ll live forever
If we close our eyes and believe it might come true
Baby let’s pretend we could always be together
But for now just let me spend the night with youSo take me now, my love can’t wait
We’re almost there now darling, darling
Hold me, hold me, hold me