This might be my favorite Pretenders song. Never seen that intro before, though. That’s great! Honeyman-Scott said that his solo is an homage to his three favorite guitarists, but I can’t remember which parts are who.
I do feel a tad guilty knowing now that Chrissie Hynde is addressing her sexual assault by a biker gang. One of her assailants apparently said, “Shut up or you’re going to make some plastic surgeon rich,” which of course made it into the song. (In her book, she says it was totally her fault and she sort of knew what she was getting into. But still.) The audio on this version is shit, so here’s the 2006 remaster …
The mid-twenty joys
Around a heart that’s black and blue
Tattooed love boys
I tore my knees up getting to you
‘Cause I needed
To find out what the thing was for
Been reading
Man, the time came to explore
I went apewire
‘Cause I thought
Like I’d like it
Little tease
But I didn’t mean it
But you mess with the goods, doll
Honey, you gotta pay
Yeah
A good time
Was guaranteed for one and all
The tattoos
Target practice in the hall
While waiting
For their number to get called out
I, I, I, I found out what the wait was about
I was a good time
Yeah, I got pretty good
At changing tires
Upstairs, bro
I shot my mouth off and you showed me what that hole was for
Now I see you
All impressed and half undressed
You got paint stick
All over the scars and lumps and bumps
Tattooed love boys
Have got you where I used to lay
Well, ha ha and too bad
But you know what they say
“Stop snivellin’
You’re gonna make some plastic surgeon a rich man”
Oh, but the prestige and the glory
Another human interest story
You are that
