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The Pretenders — The Wait
Album: Pirate radio (box set)
Avg rating:
7.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 701









Released: 1980
Length: 3:07
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Said the wait child, magic child, work it on out now work it
The wait child, pinball child, pool hall child hurts
The wait child, pacing child, forth and back now hurts
The wait child, neon light, late night lights hurt
Oh gonna' hurt some child, child
Gonna' hurt some, whoa my baby
Said the wait child, bruised ball child, pride slapped child hurts
The wait child, crest-felled child, tear eyed child hurts
The wait child, bus-stop child, late come child hurts
The wait child, platform walk, idle talk hurts
Oh gonna' hurt some child, child
Gonna' hurt some, whoa my baby
I said child child staring into the street light
Messed up child, lonley boy tonight
Kick the wall, turn the street and back again
Oh boy you've been forgotten (repeat)
Said the wait child, pacing child, forth and back now hurts
The wait child, bus-stop child, late come child hurts
The wait child, pool-hall child, pin-table now hurts
The wait child, magic child, work it on out now work it
Oh gonna' hurt some child, child, child, child, child
Gonna' hurt some, whoa my baby
Comments (196)add comment
my fav pretenders song. but...is this the original version? sounds way different.
'9'  just for Chrissie's bad-assery; '10' for the original version and this isn't it.
This song is excellent (Great Christmas music!)!!!
Waking up to rock & roll here in Northern Colorado👍🎞
 Cynaera wrote:
Now, THIS is something you won't hear on ClearChannel!  I am so stoked - love this song... {#Dancingbanana_2} (My banana is dancing too slowly to keep up with the kinetic energy of early Pretenders...)



 
Woo-hooooo
this one fuckin' rocks man, awesome
This isn't the album version... Demo? Live?
 
Edit: Research (and listening to samples) indicates it's the original 45 version, produced by Nick Lowe and available on this box set. It has some horribly-mixed maracas but is still a smokin' hot track. 
 jocelynsart wrote:
she can barely sing, and whomever is playing the guitar, no idea what to say there :-( ick

 
instead of just replying I read your list of  10s and 9s instead and really I love that list and just have to say sorry, wish you heard what i heard with CH's voice. Trains... Ya eh
Worth noting how many good artists have come along in the present generation who own a great deal to Chrissie. It's like she sang herself right into their musical DNA. Thats what the best ones do.
she can barely sing, and whomever is playing the guitar, no idea what to say there :-( ick
A most excellent song from Pretenders. 
 Paul_Thomsen wrote:
Great song, but a little more Rockin than I expect RP to be...
 
Nothin wrong with rockin
Definitely a 10. 
Great song, but a little more Rockin than I expect RP to be...
i took a trial sail on the charles river many years ago with some friends, one of whom kept asking another passenger how long she was in town for, etc. i had no idea that passenger was chrissie hynde. and me with my camera in my lap. she is notorious for hating "paparazzi," so i think that if i'd snapped a few off she'd probably have told me to "f-k off!", which would have made my day. 
She's one of the best American rock and roll voices. 
 unclehud wrote:

Who cares?  She's saying it GREAT!

 


well said - you just inspired me to push this from 9 to 10.
Such a spectacular album, beginning to end . . .
 rdo wrote:
whadaheckzshesayin?
 
Who cares?  She's saying it GREAT!
{#Guitarist}

near perfect  meshing of guitars and vocals.  

soars . . . target sighted . . .target obliterated  
Thanks for playing some real rock-n-roll, I was in  a stare resembling light hypnosis from the previous half hour of soft, creamy, adolescent smooth-rock
 LPCity wrote:

Last year in college, I'm in my folks basement probably indulging a bit... A DJ from the radio station I'm listening to (DC101, WHFS, ?) comes into the studio and tell his audience that he's just returned from the GREATEST Rock-n-Roll concert he's ever seen.

He then proceeds to play Space Invaders, The Wait and several other ripping songs off this album.

It wasn't until the Learning To Crawl tour when I got to experience The Pretenders live.  Not the original line-up unfortunately but still one of the top shows I've ever seen.

 
Cool story.
I, too, was in my last year in college staying up late trying to finish projects due the next day. They played one side of this album on the local radio station and then had a call-in to win it. I called in and won the album. Had to drive out to the radio station the next day to pick up my album (vinyl, of course). Still have it, still play it.
Remember when broadcast radio made a difference? Thank you RP.
 johnjconn wrote:


As long as she starts in my bed, I don't really care where she ends up
 
nice!
 
do it, Bill!


treatment_bound wrote:
No offense to OK Go (this time, anyway), but I always hear the "It is time for you to stop all of your sobbing" in my head after this song ends, and am disappointed when it's not there.

 


 ScottFromWyoming wrote:
Farndon weren't no slouch, either.
 
may be my fav pretenders song ever.
Farndon weren't no slouch, either.
 misterbearbaby wrote:


Or, alternately, a couple reds and a bottle of Wild Irish Rose wine... That would work too!  - DEATH TO NEURONS!

Song has such a F*ING GREAT HOOK!
 
An incredibly GREAT hook.  One of the best.
whadaheckzshesayin?
 WayUpNorth wrote:
I need a cigarette and a shot of Jagermeister to go with that song! {#Devil_pimp}
 

Or, alternately, a couple reds and a bottle of Wild Irish Rose wine... That would work too!  - DEATH TO NEURONS!

Song has such a F*ING GREAT HOOK!
I need a cigarette and a shot of Jagermeister to go with that song! {#Devil_pimp}
Rocks!
 heliskimaster wrote:
She's a force of nature
 
no kidding. LOVE this.
Saw them at the Hammersmith Odeon in October 1980 while studying (...LOL...) in London.  Even though the music really rocked for that time, I really went to see Chrissy. 
I don't know why, but this just never sounded so good as it does now.  Been listening to it since it was new.  Our hometown girl.

8 to 10
She's a force of nature
 Tippster wrote:
My goodness I wanted Chrissy to end up in my bed in the 80's...
 

Can you wait until she's in her 80s?
My goodness I wanted Chrissy to end up in my bed in the 80's...
I don't know what the hell she's saying but...... Rock on Chrissie.. Awesome song
My sister returned from a trip to Denmark with a jacket like Chrissie is wearing on the album jacket, at about the same time this album came out. I was more jealous of that jacket than the fact she got to go to Denmark, I think.
of all the times I've seen these guys live THIS ONE always brings that evenings performance up a NOTCH... {#Dancingbanana_2}
 BKardon wrote:
Best band to come out of the New Wave era?  Maybe?
 
Fer sure!

Last year in college, I'm in my folks basement probably indulging a bit... A DJ from the radio station I'm listening to (DC101, WHFS, ?) comes into the studio and tell his audience that he's just returned from the GREATEST Rock-n-Roll concert he's ever seen.

He then proceeds to play Space Invaders, The Wait and several other ripping songs off this album.

It wasn't until the Learning To Crawl tour when I got to experience The Pretenders live.  Not the original line-up unfortunately but still one of the top shows I've ever seen.


That song ROCKS! -  Makes me wanna dig out all my old Pretenders albums.
Good Stuff!
AWESOME!

"Gonna hurt some... "
AS ALWAYS - GREAT!
WHOOOOO!!!!   HOOOO!!!!
Speed Rappin a'la Chris ! {#Smile}

Cool girlie !
Dig the bass way up in the mix.
Best band to come out of the New Wave era?  Maybe?
Gawd, I freakin' love this band!! This is primal R&R. Chrissie has such a wide range of emotion, from intimate and sensual, to angry and domineering. Oh, and Martin beatin' the skins! {#Drummer}  One of the few bands that I could listen to at any time and mood. But, it's too damn easy to get a speeding ticket when they're playing in the car. The worst is trying to remain calm at work. {#Bananasplit}
 WayUpNorth wrote:
Gettin' wild in the accounting office this afternoon ... 
 
Ha ha! Get to it accountants! *imagines the suits rocking out and breaking pencils and screwing up paper*
No offense to OK Go (this time, anyway), but I always hear the "It is time for you to stop all of your sobbing" in my head after this song ends, and am disappointed when it's not there.

Great Album!  Sure brings back memories.
Now, THIS is something you won't hear on ClearChannel!  I am so stoked - love this song... {#Dancingbanana_2} (My banana is dancing too slowly to keep up with the kinetic energy of early Pretenders...)


This just proves how much more we could enjoy The Pretenders had commercial radio not pummeled them into our skulls! Good rockin' stuff!{#Guitarist}

Gettin' wild in the accounting office this afternoon ... life is good! {#Cowboy} {#Dancingbanana_2}
 unclehud wrote:

Chrissie:  I love you.  Have your people call my people.


 
Not sure you want that Unc ... remember I was one of many who saw her do a round-house swing on some guy at Tootsie's .... knocked him flat too ...  but on the other hand, if she wants to have our babies .. yeah, OK, have your peeps call her peeps .. YO!


My fanny is a rockin'!!!!  Love it.

Chrissie:  I love you.  Have your people call my people.


this fucking RAWKS!!!
Get the fuck over it.

 bhallmark wrote:

Ayup.  Couldn't agree more.  Saw them post-Honeyman-Scott at Radio City in ... '84, maybe?.  They were awesome, but he was the shit, and I'm sorry I never got to see the original lineup.
 
I did!  First Avenue, Mpls., April 1980.  Four bucks to get in...wish I still had my ticket stub to prove it.

If you happen to pop in the DVD disc from the Pretenders box set, there are several clips from right around this era.  It sure was fun to take a trip back in time to see again what I can vaguely remember.

this is some serious R&R...a 10 because the whole album rocks...her voice, her back up (2 dead), yeah, perfect.{#Dancingbanana_2}
I had to upgrade my 8 rating to a 9...what the F...was I thinking?
Child
Bill, thanks for the b-t-b with "Space Invader". That was fun!

EDIT: And then her "baby daddy" afterwards!! (On 10/08/10, "The Wait" followed by The Kinks "I'm Not Like Everybody Else" live) ROFL! Thanks again!{#Clap}

Go Chrissie! They used to put on quite a show.

 mrbox wrote:

:-)    Can't remember if they're back-to-back on the album... Um, Bill?

 
Indeed they are. As someone else posted " btb with Space Invaders like god intended" Ha!

Chrissie's band rocks!
Damn... this was (is) such a great album! {#Bananajam}
 iscoot4peace wrote:
Yeah baby!  This is a chick who can rockit hard!.  Listen to that opening and tell me Pearl Jam hasn't recycled this groove at least six times.!  Not that there is anything wrong with that! 
 
Thanx for the insight ;)

Chrissie! 
Saw them in the late eighties.  Iggy Pop opened.  Chrissie had a huge knee brace on.  I think she had been hit by a car earlier in the tour.
PS: It's 30 freakin' years old....
 ScottFromWyoming wrote:
understatement. This is one of the best songs in the history of planet earth.
 
The Pretenders were hitting on all 8 cylinders when they recorded this album. 

Normally a two-hour drive, this cassette got me to the beach in under 90 minutes.


Wow, two in a row from the same artist.  That's pretty rare around here.


Rockalicious.

And a great segue to boot.
Saw these guys at the Troubadour in LA right after this album came out.  OMG...{#Eek} - so classic...

 copymonkey wrote:
James Honeyman-Scott was all that and a bag o' chips
 
Ayup.  Couldn't agree more.  Saw them post-Honeyman-Scott at Radio City in ... '84, maybe?.  They were awesome, but he was the shit, and I'm sorry I never got to see the original lineup.
Yeah, this whole album pretty much knocks you on your ass.  Awesome, awesome.
Yeah baby!  This is a chick who can rockit hard!.  Listen to that opening and tell me Pearl Jam hasn't recycled this groove at least six times.!  Not that there is anything wrong with that! 
annoying
I lived & loved Mystery Achievement for so long, I forgot about side one. Dang!
Yes!    {#Guitarist}
 treatment_bound wrote:
Wow!  A Pretenders "mini-set".  Can you throw in "Precious" & make it a trifecta?
 
Throw in "Porcelain" and really whap 'em upside the head.


You know, I have always loved the energy and mania of this song, but never could figure out what the song was about. Thanks for posting these, because now I know why I never figured it out. Back to plan A - enjoy energy and mania.

 Papernapkin wrote:
Said the wait child magic child work it on out now work it
The wait child pinball child pool hall child hurts
The wait child pacing child forth back now hurts
The wait child neon light late night lights hurt

Oh gonna hurt some child child
Gonna hurt some whoa my baby

Said the wait child bruised ball child pride slapped child hurts
The wait child crest felled child tear eyed child hurts
The wait child bus stop child late come child hurts
The wait child platform walk idle talk hurts
Oh gonna hurt some child child
Gonna hurt some whoa my baby

I said child, child staring into the streetlight
Messed up child lonely boy tonight
Kick the wall turn the street and back again
Oh boy youve been forgotten
(repeat)

I said the wait child pacing child forth and back now hurts
The wait child bus stop child late come child hurts
The wait child pool hall child pin table now hurts
The wait child magic child work it on out now work it
Oh gonna hurt some, child, child, child, child, child
Gonna hurt some whoa my baby
 


 Stefen wrote:
Back to back Pretenders; that's unusual.
 
:-)    Can't remember if they're back-to-back on the album... Um, Bill?

Back to back Pretenders; that's unusual.
Said the wait child magic child work it on out now work it
The wait child pinball child pool hall child hurts
The wait child pacing child forth back now hurts
The wait child neon light late night lights hurt

Oh gonna hurt some child child
Gonna hurt some whoa my baby

Said the wait child bruised ball child pride slapped child hurts
The wait child crest felled child tear eyed child hurts
The wait child bus stop child late come child hurts
The wait child platform walk idle talk hurts
Oh gonna hurt some child child
Gonna hurt some whoa my baby

I said child, child staring into the streetlight
Messed up child lonely boy tonight
Kick the wall turn the street and back again
Oh boy youve been forgotten
(repeat)

I said the wait child pacing child forth and back now hurts
The wait child bus stop child late come child hurts
The wait child pool hall child pin table now hurts
The wait child magic child work it on out now work it
Oh gonna hurt some, child, child, child, child, child
Gonna hurt some whoa my baby
Smokin' hot.
 christofish wrote:
She always sounded ot me like a grandma singing rock and roll....with that warbly grandma voice.   
 

You know, I've never much cared for her voice either, but the band is so good on this track I can overlook it.
I remember my vinyl LP said on the sleeve:  "This album has a longer running time than most average LP's therefore to achieve maximum effect PLAY THIS ALBUM LOUD."   Words to live by.
This album was a huge part of my 1980 soundtrack. And the ONLY way to play it just like this! ...with "Space Invader"{#Bananajam} preceding this track!

 CoolbeaN wrote:
Wow..judging by the other comments I am the odd man out here, but I thought that was absolutely horrible. Very annoying.
 
I guess you had to be there.  I think this song kicks ass!  To each his own.

She always sounded ot me like a grandma singing rock and roll....with that warbly grandma voice.   
Memories of my first apartment in Redondo Beach...played this LP up loud often.
 peter_james_bond wrote:
Chrissy and the band in over-drive, I hope you had your seat belt on! What a wild ride!  
  {#Motor} {#Dancingbanana_2} My favorite Pretenders song! {#Bananajam}{#Drummer} {#Dancingbanana}


10
This is SOOOOO good (song and album).  The whole band just plain kicked.
Love it when she clears her throat at the beginning. I don't think I could say that about anyone else clearing their throat.


In many ways, one of my favorite albums - ever. On one of the few cool free-form radio stations in Detroit (WABX) at the time this album arrived, the DJ liked it so much he played over and over in its entirety at least 3 times...
Chrissy and the band in over-drive, I hope you had your seat belt on! What a wild ride!  
 CoolbeaN wrote:
Wow..judging by the other comments I am the odd man out here, but I thought that was absolutely horrible. Very annoying.
 
understatement. This is one of the best songs in the history of planet earth.

This is how it's done, ladies and gentlemen.
Wow..judging by the other comments I am the odd man out here, but I thought that was absolutely horrible. Very annoying.
YES!!!!

Only on RP!

Thanks, Bill.

Flippin' 'eck: this has just gone from an 8 to 9, in this blown-away little brain.
(wuddencha just like to meet this chick?)
Have always always loved this song from the day I heard it in a sweaty punk club. 
Still have not a clue what she is singing.
 Tim_in_N_FL wrote:

Absolutely...awesome to hear 2 tunes in a row from this recording.  Sweet!{#Bananasplit}
 
Some song just have that, don't they...

Other example: Kate Bush -> Moving + The Saxophone Song.

I caught a snippet of a TV interview with Chrissie Hynde. She said she despises singing "Brass in Pocket" but obliges since so many people like it - didn't hear why.  I wish I had been able to see the whole interview. She seems quite interesting.

Come on back to Nashville Chris, Tootsie's is still a drunken brawl at midnight.  Well last night it was.


Experiencing cognitive dissonance....2 songs same band back-to-back.......
{#Drummer}{#Bananajam}{#Dancingbanana_2}
 coding_to_music wrote:
love this after Space Invader — fricken rocks !

 
Absolutely...awesome to hear 2 tunes in a row from this recording.  Sweet!{#Bananasplit}
love this so much...........{#Dancingbanana}{#Bananajam}
Wow!  A Pretenders "mini-set".  Can you throw in "Precious" & make it a trifecta?
love this after Space Invader — fricken rocks !

 dingusbother wrote:

One of my ATFS since - oh around 1982 - when I first heard it!    (Ouch.)   


 
Don't feel like the Lone Ranger, bub. I have been a fan since the first time I heard "Brass In Pocket", all those years ago. Keep it rockin'! {#Wave}
"Up the Neck" is the best song from this album but didn't get radio play...and I see it's not in RP's catalogue. Someone add it!

 Pharlap wrote:
Toad's Place in new haven. winter of 1979-80. Wow were they tight.
  

  That had to be one for the ages.  By the way Toad's is still there carrying on.
I will never understand the popularity of The Pretenders.
I think the Pretenders are really overplayd on RP at the moment.  It's only been two seconds since the last Pretenders track.  I think they should be deleted from the rotation!

{#Smile}


OK, now how cool is Bill playing this btb with Space Invaders like god intended. {#Mrgreen}