Daughter of a part-time secretary and a telephone company worker, Hynde graduated from Firestone High School, admitting "I was never too interested in high school. I mean, I never went to a dance, I never went out on a date, I never went steady. It became pretty awful for me. Except, of course, I could go see bands, and that was the kick. I used to go to Cleveland just to see any band. So I was in love a lot of the time, but mostly with guys in bands that I had never met. For me, knowing that Brian Jones was out there, and later that Iggy Pop was out there, made it kind of hard for me to get too interested in the guys that were around me. I had, uh, bigger things in mind."
Those "things" included Hynde's experimentation with hippie counterculture, psychotropic drugs, eastern mysticism, vegetarianism and of course, joining or starting a band. Soon enough, Hynde joined a band called Sat. Sun. Mat. (which included Mark Mothersbaugh from Devo) while attending Kent State University's Art School for three years. Hynde was on the campus during the infamous "Kent State shootings".
Hynde also developed an interest in NME when she wasn't waitressing or working various other jobs to support herself, eventually saving enough money for the move from Ohio to London in 1973. With her art background, Hynde landed a job in an architectural firm but left after eight months. It was then that Hynde met rock journalist Nick Kent and landed a writing position at NME. However, it was a short gig among many as Hynde soon found herself working at Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood's then-unknown clothing store, SEX, where Hynde was summarily fired for a fight with a customer in which Hynde was hit with a bell from the store. Hynde then made a fruitless attempt to start a band in France before her return to Cleveland in 1975.
Hardly discouraged, Hynde resurfaced in France in 1976 for another stab at forming a band. Finding her way to London in the midst of the punk movement, Hynde tried to start a group with Mick Jones from The Clash. After the band failed to take off, Malcolm McLaren placed her as a guitarist in Masters of the Backside. But Chrissie was booted just as the band became The Damned. By that time, Mick Jones had invited Hynde to join his band on their initial riotous tour of Britain. Chrissie's recollection of that period: "It was great, but my heart was breaking. I wanted to be in a band so bad. And to go to all the gigs, to see it so close up, to be living in it and not to have a band was devastating to me. When I left, I said, 'Thanks a lot for lettin' me come along,' and I went back and went weeping on the underground throughout London. All the people I knew in town, they were all in bands. And there I was, like the real loser, you know? Really the loser."
But Hynde's luck soon changed. A demo tape of hers found its way to Dave Hill, owner of the label Real Records. Hill stepped in to manage her career, and began by paying off the back rent owed on her rehearsal room in Covent Garden. Hill also advised Chrissie to take her time and get a band together. In the spring of 1978, Hynde met bassist Pete Farndon through a mutual friend at a bar in Portobello Road. The meeting led to her rehearsal room (described by Farndon as "the scummiest basement I'd ever been in in my life") where they started playing "Groove Me", by King Floyd, followed by two of Hynde's tunes: "Tequila" and "The Phone Call". Hynde and Farndon then hooked up with James Honeyman-Scott and Martin Chambers, put the name Pretenders on the group, -- inspired by the song "The Great Pretender" -- recorded a demo tape (including "Precious", "The Wait" and a Kinks' cover, "Stop Your Sobbing"), handed it to Hynde's friend Nick Lowe, produced a single ("Stop Your Sobbing/The Wait") and performed their first gigs ever in a club in Paris. The single was released in January 1979 and quickly hit the Top Thirty in UK. The band's precocious success was followed by their first gigs in Britain where the band earned wide critical acclaim. In the same spring (1978), The Pretenders recorded their eponymous first album and hit the charts in UK and US with the song "Brass In Pocket".
The Pretenders lineup would change over the years as a result of numerous deaths and internal conflicts. However, Hynde endured, a solid anchor who became the band's eventual leader although Chambers later returned. Her guitar of choice is a Fender Telecaster.
As the rare, successful female bandleader and style-setter in the early days of punk and new wave, Hynde's impact was pervasive & substantial. Her edginess, punk sensibilities (she gave Sid Vicious his trademark lock necklace), musical vision, lyrical candor & truthfulness in interviews earned the respect of fans, musicians and critics alike, inspiring multitudes of young women to follow. Among many collaborations, Hynde's recordings with UB40 (a cover version of "I Got You Babe") and Cheap Trick ("Walk Away") have also registered popular success.
Chrissie Hynde had a daughter Natalie Ray in 1983 with Ray Davies of The Kinks. A cover version of the Davies song "Stop Your Sobbing" had been an early hit for the Pretenders, although Hynde met Davies several years later -- a meeting which bloomed into a long-term relationship. She then married musician Jim Kerr of the band Simple Minds in 1984, and had a daughter Yasmin with him in 1985. They divorced in 1990. She married artist Lucho Brieva in 1997 and lived with him in London until they separated in 2002.
Hynde did a duet with INXS on their album Full Moon, Dirty Hearts in 1993. Hynde appears on the title track of the album.
Hynde sang the vocals on the Moodswings album Moodfood for track #9, "State of Independence Part II" which was played during the closing credits on the soundtrack of Single White Female.
Chrissie Hynde has been in the news in recent years as a high-profile animal rights activist. She is a supporter of PETA [1]
Hynde recorded a duet with Frank Sinatra on Sinatra's 1994 album Duets II. They performed the song "Luck Be a Lady".
In 1995 Hynde made an acting appearance on the US television comedy Friends.
In 1999 Hynde played guitar and sang vocals with Sheryl Crow on the song "If It Makes You Happy" during a concert in Central Park.
Hynde is mentioned prominently in the lyrics of the Terence Trent D'Arby song "Penelope Please."
In 2004 Hynde moved to São Paulo, Brazil for a couple of months in order to play with Brazilian musician Moreno Veloso in an informal tour that lasted until December 2004. She bought a flat in the Copan Building in Sao Paulo's downtown.
In 2005, Hynde collaborated with Incubus on a song called "Neither Of Us Can See". The song is on the soundtrack album for Stealth.
Hynde also recorded a song called "Cry (If You Don´t Mind)" with the Spanish band Jarabe de Palo for their album "Un metro cuadrado - 1m²".
Likewise in 2005, Hynde dueted with Ringo Starr on a song entitled "Don't Hang Up" which can be heard on Starr's most recent album Choose Love.
She was also the vocalist on Tube & Berger's 2004 #1 Dance Top 40 track "Straight Ahead". The track gave Hynde her first US #1 track on the Billboard charts.
She supplied the voice for the clouded leopard in the movie Rugrats Go Wild (2003) in which she sang a duet with Bruce Willis
Dark Sunglasses
Chrissie Hynde Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One you think that you deserve.
Nothing you should lack, now reverting back the time,
Never mind you lost your nerve.
Yeah you had a go at sleeping in the van
But you couldn't let it go too far.
Now you got a pension plan
And your name's on the insurance
A kind of glamour
You can lend yourself
Like dark sunglasses
And you'll remember
How good it tasted
Inside the ruling classes
Wasted, behind your dark sunglasses
She's got a ball gown for charities and such,
Like a debutante from days gone by.
Shavin', wearin' a tie, isn't sacrificing much,
You lucky guy, you can still get high.
But, yes sir, no sir, someday we'll be there,
You only have to please that lady.
Think anything you like, but be careful what you say,
For another warm night, another dry day.
A kind of glamour
You can lend yourself
Like dark sunglasses
And you'll remember
How good it tasted
The ruling classes wasted
Behind your dark sunglasses
I'm not towing the line
You'll be fine
I'm not towing the line
A kind of glamour
You can lend yourself
Like dark sunglasses
And you'll remember
How good it tasted
The ruling classes
A kind of glamour
You can lend yourself
Like dark sunglasses
And you'll remember
How good it tasted
Inside the ruling classes
Wasted, behind your dark sunglasses
Wasted, behind your dark sunglasses
The lyrics to Chrissie Hynde's song, "Dark Sunglasses," convey a sense of rebellion against societal norms and expectations of conforming to a certain way of life. The opening lines suggest a desire for a different kind of life, one that the singer feels they deserve, and a refusal to accept a mundane existence. While the singer may have attempted to live a simpler life, it seems their ambitions have changed as they now have a "pension plan" and "insurance" and can "drive another woman's car." The song suggests that there is a certain kind of "glamour" associated with living a life of luxury and privilege, like "dark sunglasses" that one can wear to lend themselves this glamour.
The phrase "the ruling classes" is repeated throughout the song, highlighting the divide between those who have access to wealth and privilege and those who do not. The line "wasted, behind your dark sunglasses" suggests that those living in luxury may not be fully appreciating what they have, while others long for the opportunity to feel this sense of glamour. The final lines, "I'm not towing the line, you'll be fine," suggest a defiant attitude toward societal expectations and the belief that one can live their life on their own terms.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby get your groove back, another kind of life,
Encouraging listeners to get a fresh start and a new perspective on life.
One you think that you deserve.
The new life should be one that is desired and deserving.
Nothing you should lack, now reverting back the time,
The new life should provide everything that is needed and should make one feel young again.
Never mind you lost your nerve.
Despite past failures and lack of confidence, it's never too late to make a change.
Yeah you had a go at sleeping in the van,
Referencing a past experience of roughing it and living in poverty.
But you couldn't let it go too far.
However, they weren't willing to let themselves sink any further into poverty and struggle.
Now you got a pension plan
Now in a more stable financial situation with a retirement plan.
And your name's on the insurance
Also have insurance, and likely other benefits, with their current job or situation.
And you can drive another woman's car.
Enjoying the perks that come with having a stable life, such as the ability to borrow or rent a car.
A kind of glamour
Describing a certain kind of attractiveness or charm.
You can lend yourself
Implies that one can put on a facade or image of oneself that is attractive or appealing.
Like dark sunglasses
A metaphor for this facade, as sunglasses can be worn to both protect one's eyes and to appear fashionable or cool.
And you'll remember
Suggests that there may be a longing for a time when things were more exciting or glamorous.
How good it tasted
The memories of this time are enjoyable and positive.
Inside the ruling classes
The glamour and allure being referenced is often associated with wealth, status, and power.
Wasted, behind your dark sunglasses
The nostalgic and idealized memories of this time may be misleading or empty in reality.
She's got a ball gown for charities and such,
Introducing an individual who is well-off and involved in charity events or other similar high-society activities.
Like a debutante from days gone by.
Drawing a comparison between this person and the young women who would debut into society during the Victorian era.
Shavin', wearin' a tie, isn't sacrificing much,
This person's life involves more formal attire and a stricter adherence to social norms, but this is not seen as a huge sacrifice.
You lucky guy, you can still get high.
Despite these changes to their life and image, they are still able to enjoy life and have fun as desired.
But, yes sir, no sir, someday we'll be there,
Acknowledging the need to obey authority and follow rules in order to work towards a better future.
You only have to please that lady.
Those who hold power and influence should be pleased and appeased in order to succeed.
Think anything you like, but be careful what you say,
Freedom of thought and opinion is allowed, but one must still be cautious about how they express themselves.
For another warm night, another dry day.
Working towards a future where one can have stability and comfort in their life.
I'm not towing the line
A refusal to simply follow social norms and expectations blindly.
You'll be fine
Despite this resistance, success is still possible.
A kind of glamour
Repeating the earlier theme of an attractive and alluring image.
You can lend yourself
Reiterating that this image can be worn like a costume or disguise.
Inside the ruling classes
Again referencing the wealthy and powerful elite.
Wasted, behind your dark sunglasses
Implying that the 'glamour' and facade being presented is ultimately pointless or meaningless.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: BJORN YTTLING, CHRISTINE HYNDE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
George
So I just saw her and her hired guns in concert tonight at the Royal Festival Hall. Let me tell you, she's not lost a step. Voice is incredible. She's in perfect form.
Sam xox
George i seen her in concert last month, I can agree, 5 years later, that she has not lost a step!
capnfabu
Five decades and counting. You rock Chrissy!
SuzanneM333
CHRISSIE HYNDE!!!! That beautiful voice still moves me! Thank You for Your New
Song! I can't wait for the album!!! Love You, Chrissie! You're the Best!!!
Chris Hardenbrook
Chrissie is Rock Diva No.1. Still sounds great! Keep 'em coming Ms Hynde. :-)
Rune Fløtre
Indeed :)
Barno Yuldasheva
П
Mark R
Always loved her with the Pretenders but WOW! this is SO good...welcome back Chrissie :)
Paul Gilroy
Love this song ❤
Daughter Of The Wolf22
I really liked this song coming back again to such a good song