Lyrics

By Chrissie Hynde

We are all of us in the gutter / Some of us are looking at the stars

Both as leader of rock icons The Pretenders and her storied solo career, Chrissie Hynde is a one-off. Born in Akron, Ohio, she moved to London in 1973, first working as a journalist at the NME before moving on to work at Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood's infamous Kings Road clothing shop, Sex. Following a narrowly-avoided marriage to Sid Vicious in order to obtain a work permit, Chrissie formed the band in 1978 and the rest is history.

Selected and arranged by Hynde herself, and featuring a new introduction by the author, the book collects her greatest lyrics. Characterised by her signature punk-rock attitude and tender romanticism, Pretenders songs, such as 'Brass In Pocket' and 'Don't Get Me Wrong' are expert examples of social commentary through pop music, exploring themes of relationships and resilience, often drawing from Chrissie's personal experiences.

Gitty, authentic and complex, these are the words of a master songwriter in all of their uncompromising glory.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0571405738
• ISBN13: 9780571405732
• Release Date: June 2027
• Publisher: Faber & Faber
• Length: 288 Pages