Listen to Pretending to Read by Amelia Ray

Pretending to Read

Amelia Ray

Bossa Nova

1

Apple Music Note

OVERVIEW

LYRICS

Music Video

Amelia Ray - "Pretending to Read" (NPR Music Tiny Desk 2025 Contest Entry)

Watch Amelia Ray - "Pretending to Read" (NPR Music Tiny Desk 2025 Contest Entry) on YouTube

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Listen to Pretending to Read - Single by Amelia Ray

ALBUMPretending to Read - SingleAmelia Ray

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS

Amelia Ray

Lead Vocals

COMPOSITION & LYRICS

Amelia Ray

Songwriter

PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING

Amelia Ray

Mixing Engineer

Michael Romanowski

Michael Romanowski

Mastering Engineer

Kristin Sevaldsen

Kristin Sevaldsen

Mixing Engineer

Nicolas Pineiro

Nicolas Pineiro

Graphic Design

Danielle Goldsmith

Danielle Goldsmith

Recording Engineer

Lyrics

I’m pretending to read

I’m pretending to read on the train

I’m pretending to read on the train because I’d like

To be left all alone with my thoughts tonight

There’s a man who appears

There’s a man who appears to be in pain

There’s a man who appears to be in pain because he cries

And it’s all I can do to avert my eyes

Staring down the page

The creeping sounds serve to compound

The words all jumble into one big, sorry salad

There’s a woman who seems

There’s a woman who seems to be insane

There’s a woman who seems to be insane because she tries

To pick a fight with any and everybody passing by

Remnants of her rage waft by like

Smoke from that boy’s vape there in the

Back of the car

Tries to hide but he goes too far

And I keep returning to the same line again and again

Certain, the attraction

You’re my favourite distraction

Trying so to recreate

If I concentrate real hard, I can almost taste your lips

But between the man on the train who appears to be in pain

And the woman who seems to be insane

And the youngster who won’t stop sneaking tokes, I think “Is this a joke?”

I’m pretending to read

I’m pretending to read on the train

I’m pretending to read but, baby, all I really do is think about you

Written by: Amelia Ray

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