California Dreamin

Is the line in the second verse or so

And I pretend to pray

or

And I began to pray

I think it's the former, but why do many try to say it's the latter, and what is the significance, if any:

Many thanks

I always heard it as "begin" but National Public Radio says it's pretend.

Wow!

And it's "the preacher like the cold" in the next line...

So how to reconcile the begin+ to +began+, the +pretend+ to +pretended+ (if you decide it is pretend), and the +like+ to +liked...

It's like the whole past/present tense has been distorted and yet it all sounds so natural in the song. How powerful is that!:!

I always heard it as "pretend", but I'm not sure that's right, because the rest of that part is in the past tense.

Very clearly "pretend" in this performance.

I notice that some lyrics sites have "the preacher locked the door". I've also found "the preacher did succumb", and the "the preacher digs a call" - but referring to versions recorded by other artists, not the Mamas and Papas. I wonder if those artists misheard the original or deliberately changed the lyrics.

Some sites also note that "in the soundtrack version of this song, the words "I pretend to pray" have been changed to "I began to pray"", but I'm not sure what soundtrack this refers to.

Jose Feliciano version, with "the preacher digs a call".

...and what is the significance, if any?

(I'm assuming it is the issue of whether you use the church for your own benefit, or you are going to the church as a believer to gain benefit, or that you are simply believing, or that you are seeking haven in a land which will give you haven, but in any case, the Mamas and the Papas want/wanted to put forward the concept that any channel would be enough in order to get you there)- and the preacher ditto.

What?

He went into the church because it was warm.

Wow, I've been missing that subtext all my life ... I just thought, like Vinny, that it was warm in the church and maybe he pretended to pray to make it look like he had a reason to be there. And I thought maybe "pretend" rather than "pretended" because it fits the melody.

That's my answer too. It's simple. But he gives it away by saying "pretend to pray". To bring in the concept of "begin to pray" suggests either a religious reason, or real deception.

Gives what away?

...that he went into the church because it was warm...

That's right. Don't get confused.

I get more and more confused. Gives it away?

The singer/writer isn't trying to hide anything; he has no reason to try to hide anything. He was cold, he goes into a church because it's warm, he kneels and pretends to pray so that he'll look normal in the church, he wishes he were in California.

Ah, we in sunny Singapore can only dream of snow..........................

I always just thought he went into the church because he was cold! He pretended to pray so he could stay longer in the church. I was going to link to a youtube video but realised VinnyD had already linked the same version.

Potentially you could argue that the line The preacher liked the cold because it encouraged people to go in and pray. Which also could even explain why there is a debate between 'pretend' and 'begin'. For instance, did the person in the song actually pray? Went in because it was cold and ended up praying.

The song notes that "I'd be safe and warm, if I was in LA". The song starts with imagery of solitude and being alone and then in the church envokes the idea of both safety and warmth.

I''ve always been more curious about the line If I didn't tell her, I could leave today. Whereas much of the song is more straightforward it makes a listener wonder who "her" is. And what isn't being said to her.

But yeah, I think the person was just cold and homesick and went in to get warm.