Talk Of The Town
Pretenders Lyrics
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One thing leads to another I know
Was a time wanted you for mine
Nobody knew
You arrived like a day
And passed like a cloud
I made a wish, I said it out loud
Out loud in a crowd
It was the talk of the town
It's not my place to know what you feel
I'd like to know but why should I?
Who were you then, who are you now?
Common laborer by night, by day highbrow
Back in my room I wonder, then I
Sit on the bed, look at the sky
Up in the sky
Clouds rearrange
Like the talk of the town
Maybe tomorrow, maybe someday
Maybe tomorrow, maybe someday
You've changed your place in this world
You've changed your place in this world
Oh but it's hard to live by the rules
I never could and still never do
The rules and such never bothered you
You call the shots and they follow
I watch you still from a distance then go
Back to my room, you never know
I want you, I want you but now
Who's the talk of the town?
Maybe tomorrow, maybe someday
Maybe tomorrow, maybe someday
You've changed your place in this world
You've changed your place in this world
The Pretenders' song "Talk of the Town" is a melancholic ballad about unrequited love and longing. The song is narrated by someone who is smitten with a person, who was briefly in their life but has moved on and has become the talk of the town. The singer is frustrated and consumed with thoughts of this person, but is unable to express their feelings or find closure.
The first verse talks about how wanting something can be a drag and how it can lead to other things. The singer reveals that they used to want the person they're singing about, and nobody knew about it until the person arrived in their life and just as quickly left. The singer made a wish; perhaps they declared their love for the person out loud. But the wish fell on deaf ears, and it became the talk of the town, where everyone knew of their unrequited love.
The chorus repeats "Maybe tomorrow, maybe someday, you've changed your place in this world" over and over. The singer acknowledges that the person they desired has moved on and is different now. The last verse describes how the person has always lived life on their own rules without caring about the consequences. The song ends with the singer wondering who is the new talk of the town, replacing the person they cannot stop thinking about.
Line by Line Meaning
Such a drag to want something sometime
It's frustrating to have a desire that may not be fulfilled immediately.
One thing leads to another I know
There are consequences to every action or decision.
Was a time wanted you for mine
There was a moment when I wished that you were mine.
Nobody knew
This was kept a secret and nobody had any idea.
You arrived like a day
You appeared suddenly, like a day that dawned.
And passed like a cloud
Your presence was fleeting, like a passing cloud.
I made a wish, I said it out loud
I vocalized my desire.
Out loud in a crowd
I expressed my wish openly, in front of many people.
Everybody heard
Everyone present at that moment was aware of my wish.
It was the talk of the town
My desire for you became the topic of conversation in the community.
It's not my place to know what you feel
It's not my right to inquire about your emotions.
I'd like to know but why should I?
I have a curiosity about your feelings but I don't see the need to pry.
Who were you then, who are you now?
I wonder about your past and present self.
Common laborer by night, by day highbrow
You have different personas for different times of day - a worker at night and a sophisticated person during the day.
Back in my room I wonder, then I
I retreat to my room to ponder and reflect.
Sit on the bed, look at the sky
I sit on my bed and gaze at the sky.
Up in the sky
The sky above me.
Clouds rearrange
The clouds in the sky move and alter their formation.
Like the talk of the town
Similar to how my feelings for you are a topic of discussion in the community.
Maybe tomorrow, maybe someday
There is a possibility that something could change in the future.
You've changed your place in this world
You have shifted into a different position or status in society.
You call the shots and they follow
You have the power and others follow your lead.
I watch you still from a distance then go
I still observe you from afar, but then I leave.
Back to my room, you never know
I return to my room, and you are unaware of my emotions.
I want you, I want you but now
I still feel desire for you.
Who's the talk of the town?
Who or what is the current topic of conversation in the community?
You've changed your place in this world
You have moved into a different position or status in society.
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRISTINE HYNDE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jeffreybarkin3177
CHRISSY is and SHOULD be referred to as "Legendary" for her #Songwriting and contributions to establishing #Women in #Rock, and I don't think this could EVER be Overstated....
Any Thoughts?
CHRISSY always SEEMS prepared to Challenge convention and Directly Confront our global issues, often with Real #sensitivity and #Conviction.
Thank You CHRISSY for such INCREDIBLE Work!!!!!
#rockmatters #rocknroll #legend #rockwomen #leadership
@chevy2003ism
"Talk Of The Town"
Such a drag to want something sometime
One thing leads to another I know
Was a time wanted you for mine
Nobody knew
You arrived like a day
And passed like a cloud
I made a wish, I said it out loud
Out loud in a crowd
Everybody heard
'twas the talk of the town
It's not my place to know what you feel
I'd like to know but why should i?
Who were you then, who are you now?
Common labourer by night, by day highbrow
Back in my room I wonder, then i
Sit on the bed, look at the sky
Up in the sky
Clouds rearrange
Like the talk of the town
Maybe tomorrow, maybe someday
Maybe tomorrow, maybe someday
You've changed your place in this world
You've changed your place in this world
Oh but it's hard to live by the rules
I never could and still never do
The rules and such never bothered you
You call the shots and they follow
I watch you still from a distance then go
Back to my room, you never know
I want you, I want you but now
Who's the talk of the town?
@lyndraski4152
Just an American girl here from 1981. I was so blown away by this band and Chrissie Hynde. I thought she broke all stereotypes of what a woman should be in rockand I admired her so much for that. So many good songs, such a good band, they still amaze me today.
@Storytime2023x
She broke the glass ceiling. 😂
@lyndraski4152
Well. I didn't to blab on, but I will. The Pretenders came to the University of Virginia in 1981. Not a lot of people attended the concert; UVa was still stuck in early '60's music, due to its largely preppy population at the time. But you can damn straight I was there. The next day, my phone rings. A sorority sister, who was a student leader on grounds and knew I was a Pretenders freak, said "hey, you wanna drive the Pretenders to the airport?" Mind you, I had never driven on a highway yet in my life. I wasn't going to let THAT stop me. When I got to the hotel. Chrissie was standing on the curb, just glaring at me (I was wearing a ruffled blouse and long blonde curled hair - I wasn't a Hells Kitchen NYC punk girl.) The original bassist and guitarist got in the car the school gave me, and I was awestruck the whole way. I don't know how I got there. I hate to say, but it's funny now; they smelled so bad - no shower obviously for a few days, a lot of drinking and smoking, and after playing Charlottesville, I think they just wanted to get the hell out of there ASAP. I'll never forget it though. Chrissie - it was an honor, and I wish the guys were still alive. A couple of years later, everyone was talking about what a "genius" and a "feminist" Madonna was, and she was, in her own pop tart way, but Chrissie was the real deal: she left OH for London and formed and led the band, she wrote the songs, she could really play and didn't give a f*ck what the white male status quo in rock thought. And she didn't have to dress and dance suggestively to sell her music and herself.
@kevinkeane335
Didn't care if her mascara ran. She just laid it all on the line and was all about the music. If you want to be a rock star, be a rock star. If you want to be a model, don't pretend (no pun intended) to be a rock star. That is why she is respected in the music world...👍😉
@randywilson944
Tom Petty sang about you 🇺🇸 👩
@timothyslaughter476
Bad ass!!!
@AnthonyRosas
Peak Pretenders for me and I love all there songs. Chrissy's lush vibrato, the band tight af and this song showcases everyone's musical prowess.
@john-do1cw
Chrissie's voice is like a lullaby.
It makes this grown man's heart melt.
@NormAppleton
Her voice clicks so well with Honeyman-Scott. Not that Chrissie isn't great on guitar.
It's just sad
@user-to9jo2oq2f
this is so good