Song Review: Back on the Chain Gang Song by The Pretenders
Back on the Chain Gang is a classic rock song by the British-American band The Pretenders, released in 1982.
It was written by lead singer Chrissie Hynde as a tribute to her former bandmate and lover, James Honeyman-Scott, who died of a drug overdose in 1982.
The song opens with a catchy guitar riff and Hynde’s distinctive vocals, which immediately grab the listener’s attention.
The lyrics are poignant and heartfelt, as Hynde sings about the pain of losing someone she loved and the struggle to move on:
“What hijacked my world that night
To a place in the past
We’ve been cast out of? Oh oh oh oh
Now we’re back in the fight”
The chorus is incredibly catchy, with Hynde belting out the lines “We’re back on the train, oh, back on the chain gang” over a driving beat and jangling guitars.
The song’s production is also noteworthy, with a great mix of electric and acoustic guitars, bass, drums, and keyboards.
Back on the Chain Gang is a standout track in The Pretenders’ catalog, and a testament to Hynde’s talent as a songwriter and vocalist.
Its emotional lyrics, catchy melody, and memorable chorus have made it a beloved classic rock song that still resonates with listeners today.
Back On The Chain Gang Lyrics
I found a picture of you, oh-oh
Well, it hijacked my world at night
To a place in the past we’ve been cast out of, oh-oh
Now we’re back in the fight
We’re back on the train, yeah
Oh, back on the chain gang
Circumstance beyond our control, oh-oh
The phone, the TV and the news of the world
Got in the house like a pigeon from hell, oh-oh
Threw sand in our eyes and descended like flies
Put us back on the train, yeah
Oh, back on the chain gang
The powers that be
That force us to live like we do
Bring me to my knees
When I see what they’ve done to you
Well, I’ll die as I stand here today
Knowing that deep in my heart
They’ll fall to ruin one day
For making us part
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I found a picture of you, oh-oh
Those were the happiest days of my life
Like a break in the battle was your part, oh-oh
In the wretched life of a lonely heart
Now I’m back on the train, yeah
Oh, back on the chain gang
Watch Back on the Chain Gang Song by The Pretenders
