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.
Tequila
The Pretenders Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't want to feel ya I don't want to feel sad tonight
You make me suffer and you just don't know
Estoy barrochos down in New Mexico
I want to remember but I try to forget
That scene in the car park that I still regret
Just like before, times I've even lost track
Miles, baby, hundreds of highways and truck stops I've used
Cars, baby, hundreds of cars have passed and refused
I stood on the shoulder with tears in my eyes
I drank tequila and watched the game in the bar
I don' t care who loses, I don't know who the teams are
We had our time, but the bell's finally tolled
My Ohio winter was finally too cold
The Pretenders’ “Tequila” is a song that deals with the aftermath of a relationship that has gone awry. In the opening lines, Chrissie Hynde sings about drinking tequila because she cannot be with the person she still desires. She is acknowledging her inability to move on from her lover, but also acknowledges that this person is the source of her misery. The lyrics reveal that her lover had caused her to suffer in ways that they do not understand, yet she is still unable to walk away.
The second verse reflects on a scene she still regrets, which took place in a car park. Hynde has lost track of the number of times she has tried to move on from this person, but the memories of the past keep pulling her back. The third verse describes her journey trying to escape from her lover, but also reflects the futility of her efforts. She has travelled miles down ‘hundreds of highways and truck stops’, trying to flee, but each move leads her to realize that she can’t outrun her feelings. The final verse speaks of the inevitability of the end of the relationship, the ‘bell’ having finally tolled. Chrissy renounces any further interest in their well-being, allowing her own personal winter to take precedence over her previous warmth.
In summary, “Tequila” is about the emotional struggles of letting go of someone who has caused pain and suffering. It is an honest depiction of how we can get trapped in a situation that seems impossible to get out of, even when we know that it’s not good for us.
Line by Line Meaning
I drank tequila 'cause I can't have your lips tonight
I turned to alcohol because I can't be intimate with you tonight
I don't want to feel ya I don't want to feel sad tonight
I don't want to feel any emotions towards you tonight, especially sadness
You make me suffer and you just don't know
You cause me to experience pain, but you are unaware of it
Estoy barrochos down in New Mexico
I'm drunk and lost in New Mexico
I want to remember but I try to forget
I want to recall a memory with you but at the same time, I try to erase it from my mind
That scene in the car park that I still regret
I still feel remorse about that moment we had in the car park
Just like before, times I've even lost track
It's not the first time and I've lost count of how many times it's happened
I ran away crawling 'cause I fall every time I look back
I fled on my hands and knees because I trip up every time I look back at our past
Miles, baby, hundreds of highways and truck stops I've used
I've traveled for miles on endless highways and stopped at countless truck stops
Cars, baby, hundreds of cars have passed and refused
Numerous vehicles have driven past me and refused to offer assistance
I stood on the shoulder with tears in my eyes
I stood on the side of the road with tears streaming down my face
I drank tequila and watched the game in the bar
To distract myself, I drank tequila and watched a televised game in a bar
I don' t care who loses, I don't know who the teams are
I have no investment in the game or teams and remain indifferent to who wins or loses
We had our time, but the bell's finally tolled
We had our moment together, but it's now come to an end
My Ohio winter was finally too cold
I couldn't endure the harshness of the Ohio winter anymore
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
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.