Formed in 1978 in London, the original band Hynde, lead and rhythm guitarist James Honeyman-Scott (died 1982), bassist Pete Farndon (died 1983), and drummer Martin Chambers. Save for Hynde, a native of Akron, Ohio, the original band members were all from the U.K. This band was fractured by the drug-related deaths of Honeyman-Scott and Farndon. Since then, numerous subsequent personnel changes have taken place over the years, with Hynde as the sole constant.
With Hynde at the helm, the band experienced a critical resurgence with a trio of albums released between the mid-90s and early 00s that explored a more mature side of the band’s classic sound.
In 2008, the Pretenders' album Break Up the Concrete was released through Shangri-La Music. It was the band's first Top 40 album in the US in 22 years.
In September 2012, as part of the entertainment line-up for the 2012 Singapore Grand Prix, the Pretenders re-grouped with Hynde and Chambers from the original line-up, along with Nick Wilkinson, James Walbourne and Eric Heywood.
I Remember You
The Pretenders Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I remember the first time we met
I may be a sentimental fool
Forever in your debt
For something I cannot forget
I remember you
I remember the first time we spoke
Got in my ear when I'd just begun
To wonder if springtime was through
I remember you
How do we change so easily?
You'll always be a part of me
I thought you'd never go
It shows you what I know
I remember the first time we slept
What a surprise to wake up to
Someone I hardly knew
From a sleep to a dream come true
I remember you
The Pretenders' I Remember You is a poignant ballad that explores the themes of memory, sentimentality, and the fleeting nature of relationships. At its core, the song is a tribute to a past lover, with the singer expressing her affection and gratitude for what the two of them shared.
The first verse sets the emotional tone for the song, with the singer recounting the first time she met this person and how significant that moment was to her. She acknowledges that she may be a "sentimental fool" but that she cannot forget the impact this person had on her life. The second verse highlights the intimacy that developed between them, with the singer remembering the first time they spoke and how the sound of the person's voice affected her. This verse also hints at the impermanence of love, with the singer wondering if "springtime was through."
The chorus shifts the focus to the present, with the singer questioning how people can change so easily and expressing her ongoing attachment to this person. The final verse is perhaps the most poignant, describing the first time they slept together and how much of a surprise it was. Despite not knowing this person well, it is through this physical intimacy that the singer feels like her dream has come true.
Overall, I Remember You is a beautifully written and moving song that captures the bittersweet nature of remembering past relationships. It speaks to the power of memory and the way in which past experiences and emotions can stay with us long after the people themselves are gone.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember you
I have not forgotten you and still remember who you are.
I remember the first time we met
I recall the exact moment when we first crossed paths.
I may be a sentimental fool
I may come across as irrational and foolishly attached to you.
Forever in your debt
I owe you something that can never be repaid.
For something I cannot forget
There is no way I will be able to get this memory out of my mind.
I remember the first time we spoke
I can replay our first conversation over and over in my head.
The sound of your voice like a lover's tongue
Your voice has a sensual quality to it, like the way a lover would speak.
Got in my ear when I'd just begun
I hadn't even started to fall for you yet, but your voice drew me in.
To wonder if springtime was through
I was questioning if love had passed me by until I spoke to you.
How do we change so easily?
I'm curious why feelings and relationships can change so quickly.
You'll always be a part of me
You will forever hold a special place in my heart and memories.
I thought you'd never go
I believed that you would always be around.
It shows you what I know
Now I see that I was mistaken.
I remember the first time we slept
I reminisce about the night we first shared a bed.
What a surprise to wake up to
I was pleasantly shocked to find myself waking up next to you.
Someone I hardly knew
It felt like I had just met you, yet I felt so comfortable with you close by.
From a sleep to a dream come true
Going from sleeping to waking up next to you was surreal and felt like a dream come true.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CHRISTINE HYNDE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tommy Wells
on Get Out of London
I don't think this song will do for a studio album.
It's because of the producer, George Acogny. He's the song producer of the movie.