The perfect pop song - great walking bassline, jangling guitars, beautifully crafted twangy solo and Chrissie Hynde’s wonderful vibrato-laden voice.
The subject is very odd for a pop song: the record of an intimate and emotional exchange between a mother and daughter. Apparently Chrissie Hynde once explained that it is about a prostitute talking to her only child, who has just found out her mum’s ‘profession‘. But, as with all good songs, you don’t really need to know that - the lyrics are left open and it’s broad enough for the listener to put their own meaning into it. I find it a very human and heartfelt song which, unusually, explores a difficult area of relationship that arises with a child - normally it would be with a lover.
Looking at the video of Chrissie Hynde now I’d forgotten what charisma she has – one of the original rock chicks who, unlike Blondie’s Debbie Harry, never quite got as much recognition as she deserved.
Desert Island Discs
1 - Midnight At The Oasis
'Heaven’s Holding
a Half Moon’
2 - Drive-In Saturday
‘Jung the Foreman
Prayed at Work...’
3 - Virginia Plain
Make Me a Deal,
and Make it Straight!’
4 - Au Fond du Temple Saint
‘At the Back of
the Holy Temple’
5 - Kid
‘Angry Tears Are Too Dear,
You Won’t Let Them Go’
6 - Burning Down The House
‘Watch Out! You Might
Get What You’re After'
7 - Riders on the Storm
‘There’s a Killer on the Road’
8 - Across the Universe
'Words are Flowing Out
Like Endless Rain
into a Paper Cup'