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The Pretenders — Middle Of The Road
Album: The Singles
Avg rating:
7.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2613









Released: 1981
Length: 4:10
Plays (last 30 days): 3
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In the middle of the road,
Is trying to find me.
I'm standing in the middle of life with my pains behind me.
But, I got a smile
For everyone I meet.
Long as you don't try dragging my bay,
Or dropping a bomb on the street.
Come on baby,
Get in the road.
Come on now,
In the middle of the road, yeah.
In the middle of the road,
You see the darnest things.
Like fat cats driving around in jeeps through the city,
Wearing big diamond rings and silk suits.
Past corrugated tin shacks holed up with kids and
Man I don't mean a Hampstead nursery.
But when you own a big chunk of the bloody third world,
The babies just come with the scenery.
Come on baby,
Get in the road.
Come on now,
In the middle of the road, yeah.
One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six.
In the middle of the road,
Is my private cul de sac.
I can't get from the cab to the curb,
Without some little jerk on my back,
Don't harass me kid,
Can't you tell I'm going home, I'm tired as hell,
I'm not the cat I used to be,
I've got a kid, I'm thirty-three baby.
Get in the road.
Come on now,
In the middle of the road.
Comments (329)add comment
YEEEEEEEAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!
Posted 4 weeks ago by salupi    [ Reply ]
Official lyrics are PAST behind me, but I had always thought it was PANTS, which is funnier and more emotionally true. But it's her song, and that's her lyric. thepretenders.com
Posted 2 months ago by Brooklyn_Carey    [ Reply ]
"Standing in the middle of life with my pants behind me."
Posted 2 months ago by zenhead    [ Reply ]
Killer classic!  Love that growl/purr!
Posted 4 months ago by MilesW    [ Reply ]
Goosepimples. 10.  Amen.
Posted 4 months ago by DaidyBoy    [ Reply ]
Nice restaurant she owned there (Akron) - on my visit you could order a pint of latte .... a little much to guzzle but generous though 
Posted 4 months ago by arserocket    [ Reply ]
I love This band and This girl from Akron, OH. 
Posted 5 months ago by cassanjp    [ Reply ]
 jelgator wrote:
 jvalatka wrote:

It's actually "I"m standing in the middle of life with my plants behind me".  Not many people realize she used to be a horticulturalist before going full-time in music.
;) ;)


 I thought it was 'pants.'

 

Posted 5 months ago by dougalbumski    [ Reply ]
I want to give this an 11!!!!
Posted 5 months ago by drwhy    [ Reply ]
Where’s “brrr! nyow!”?
Posted 8 months ago by meatmike    [ Reply ]
 jvalatka wrote:

It's actually "I"m standing in the middle of life with my plants behind me".  Not many people realize she used to be a horticulturalist before going full-time in music.
;) ;)


 

Posted 8 months ago by jelgator    [ Reply ]
 olivertwist wrote:

 {#Lol} She does pronounce it as "pants" rather than "pains."
 

See I always heard it as "my plans behind me..."  Live and learn and RP!  
Posted 8 months ago by SpencerAR    [ Reply ]
I hear it as "with my plans behind me" which fits as a lament of times past better than "pains". With the "I'm tired as hell, I'm not the cat I used to be, I've got a kid, I'm thirty three" later, it doesn't really sound like someone who would feel their pains are behind them.
Posted 9 months ago by gdignard    [ Reply ]
 ziggytrix wrote:
I'm standing in the middle of life with my pants behind me.
 
That's what I always thought she said!

Posted 10 months ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
 jkamm14 wrote:

I always thought it was "past" but now all I can hear is "pants"!
 
It's actually "I"m standing in the middle of life with my plants behind me".  Not many people realize she used to be a horticulturalist before going full-time in music.
;) ;)

Posted 11 months ago by jvalatka    [ Reply ]
One of my favorite Pretenders tracks. 
Posted 1 year ago by SpencerAR    [ Reply ]
 olivertwist wrote:

 {#Lol} She does pronounce it as "pants" rather than "pains."
 
Hell, I thought it was "parents" for the longest time... 
Posted 1 year ago by Jonathon    [ Reply ]
Gotta love Chrissy! Chick rock. After hearing and skipping Lucinda Williams this got me going!
Posted 1 year ago by Jolouis    [ Reply ]
Having been a fan of Chrissie and the Pretenders through all their incarnations, this album was a heluva reaffirmation of her kickassitude when it came out!
Posted 1 year ago by kremfresch    [ Reply ]
 1wolfy wrote:
{#Yes} Essbee wrote:
This song was GREAT the first 726,382,193 times I heard it.
 


 Still good, you've just crossed the road I guess.

Posted 1 year ago by kremfresch    [ Reply ]
 ziggytrix wrote:
I'm standing in the middle of life with my pants behind me.
 
Words I try to live by 
Posted 1 year ago by The_Enemy    [ Reply ]
 olivertwist wrote:

 {#Lol} She does pronounce it as "pants" rather than "pains."
 
I always thought it was "past" but now all I can hear is "pants"!
Posted 1 year ago by jkamm14    [ Reply ]
 superfido wrote:
I sure like this song a lot more now than I did when it was massively overplayed while I was in upper grade school.

{#Tongue}I'm not sure that's possible -- to overplay it I mean. But I guess i've never reached that point.  ;-)
 

Posted 1 year ago by rita_johnson    [ Reply ]
 Ihatethissong wrote:
For a long time I thought she sang, "I'm standing in the middle of life with my pants behind me."
 
And "Without some little jerk in my bath" 


Posted 1 year ago by markybx    [ Reply ]
More cat impressions Please!
Posted 1 year ago by markybx    [ Reply ]
 bc wrote:

Hm.  I always thought it was "past".
I'm not sure I trust this site's lyrics 100%.
 
I believe the lyric is actually "with my plans behind me".
Posted 1 year ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
 Ihatethissong wrote:
For a long time I thought she sang, "I'm standing in the middle of life with my pants behind me."
 
Hm.  I always thought it was "past".
I'm not sure I trust this site's lyrics 100%.
Posted 2 years ago by bc    [ Reply ]
 ziggytrix wrote:

 

Prrrr meOW!! Great

Posted 2 years ago by klaasstap    [ Reply ]
For a long time I thought she sang, "I'm standing in the middle of life with my pants behind me."
Posted 2 years ago by Ihatethissong    [ Reply ]
turn it up!
Posted 2 years ago by khardog145    [ Reply ]
 ckcotton wrote:
Soooooo tired of this

 
hear hear!
Posted 2 years ago by TheKing2    [ Reply ]
 ziggytrix wrote:
I'm standing in the middle of life with my pants behind me.
 
 {#Lol} She does pronounce it as "pants" rather than "pains."
Posted 2 years ago by olivertwist    [ Reply ]
I'm standing in the middle of life with my pants behind me.
Posted 2 years ago by ziggytrix    [ Reply ]
Love Chrissie!  And the Pretenders!!
Posted 2 years ago by (Banned)    [ Reply ]
Why did I give this a nine.  Silly boy.  10 at least.  My apologies.
Posted 2 years ago by DaidyBoy    [ Reply ]
And school of drumming, too.{#Drummer}
Posted 2 years ago by eveliko    [ Reply ]
Classic song from a classic album {#Bananajam}
Posted 2 years ago by olivertwist    [ Reply ]
There are reasons this still kicks ass after so long... Her delivery in this is priceless. The guitar is frenetic. The percussion is fluid. Rock!
Posted 3 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]

Posted 3 years ago by ziggytrix    [ Reply ]
I was so lucky and blessed to see them open for The Who in the spring of 1980; (the tour that was nearly derailed by tragedy in Ohio).
Posted 3 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
 gwyllwm wrote:
Yes, I would. Anywhere, any time.

 
Good to see that the PC police aren't around...{#High-five} 
Posted 3 years ago by rtrt    [ Reply ]
 markybx wrote:

Definitely

She rocks

 


Posted 3 years ago by Pjesnik    [ Reply ]
 ckcotton wrote:
Soooooo tired of this

 
That is some weak snark. 

Or... to quote the French, "Votre grossièreté est faible".
Posted 3 years ago by h8rhater    [ Reply ]
 ckcotton wrote:
Soooooo tired of this

 

Take a rest. You must be weary from typing such a long sooooooooooooooooooooooo, 
Posted 3 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
Soooooo tired of this
Posted 3 years ago by ckcotton    [ Reply ]
every time I hear the intro, I am tricked into thinking it is the intro to this song:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/LoF_a0-7xVQ
Posted 4 years ago by SuperWeh    [ Reply ]
Wicked !
Posted 4 years ago by ai63    [ Reply ]
Tomorrow night in Sac town!
Posted 4 years ago by Keef    [ Reply ]
 elutz wrote:
Chrissie {#Dance}{#Heartkiss}

 
She rocks
Posted 4 years ago by markybx    [ Reply ]
Chrissie {#Dance}{#Heartkiss}
Posted 4 years ago by elutz    [ Reply ]
 raenvald wrote:

What he said.

Just when I think I am ready to be tired of the first three Pretenders albums, and it just doesn't happen. Chrissie never disappoints!

 
Try some of the later ones. 

I heard Boots of Chinese Plastic on a rerun of Breaking Bad the other day.  Great tune off their last disc.  Also, RP is running a couple of tracks off of Chrissie's last album that are quite good. 

These folks have not run out of gas as time passes.
Posted 4 years ago by h8rhater    [ Reply ]
 ottovonb wrote:
Wow…after all these years…still…wow!
 

 
What he said.

Just when I think I am ready to be tired of the first three Pretenders albums, and it just doesn't happen. Chrissie never disappoints!
Posted 4 years ago by raenvald    [ Reply ]
Akron's finest!!
Posted 4 years ago by Big_Daddy    [ Reply ]
Yes, I would. Anywhere, any time.
Posted 4 years ago by gwyllwm    [ Reply ]
Wow…after all these years…still…wow!
 
Posted 5 years ago by ottovonb    [ Reply ]
 ScottFromWyoming wrote:

I just came here to say that. Pains. Turns out it's pains.

 
I thought it was parents.
Posted 5 years ago by bronorb    [ Reply ]
 Lindo525 wrote:
Standin' in the middle of life with my pants behind me. (Recurring nightmare)

 
Today, for the first time ever, I "heard" this line without prompting. I'm still laughing!

(CCR: "Heading down to Memphis on a minibike ride ...") 
Posted 5 years ago by colt4x5    [ Reply ]
 ScottFromWyoming wrote:
I just came here to say that. Pains. Turns out it's pains.
 
Got me to looking at the lyrics. A great message here. Way back when. Too bad it didn't take.
Posted 5 years ago by Carl    [ Reply ]
Still. Kicks. Ass.
Posted 5 years ago by leafmold    [ Reply ]
 Lindo525 wrote:
Standin' in the middle of life with my pants behind me. (Recurring nightmare)
 
I just came here to say that. Pains. Turns out it's pains.
Posted 5 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
the growl to that harmonica. ..still awesome! 
Posted 5 years ago by df1489    [ Reply ]
Standin' in the middle of life with my pants behind me. (Recurring nightmare)

I used to dance my ass off to this song! Not so much any more - (But I'm still dancing on the inside!!) 
Posted 6 years ago by Lindo525    [ Reply ]
Bangin'.  I love this stuff.  Thanks RP.
Posted 6 years ago by DaidyBoy    [ Reply ]
This following Joan Osbourne totally killed my auditory boner from Airborne Toxic Event. It's so far from where we were just 7 and a half minutes ago. RP on shuffle tonight?
Posted 6 years ago by JasondotG    [ Reply ]
Well, now she's almost 63 instead of 33.  But still rockin"  Stockholm is a very good recording, imo.
This song is a classic.
Posted 6 years ago by ScottN    [ Reply ]
Middle of the road. That is what it is. Mediocre.
Posted 6 years ago by ppopp    [ Reply ]
Motor City Roller Rink 1980 - a great show.  Too bad 3.4 of the band is dead.
Posted 6 years ago by arlvatom    [ Reply ]
 Stingray wrote:
Marry me, Chrissie. I do not mind that you must be already 77!

 
she's 62 says wikipedia.
Posted 6 years ago by Nadine    [ Reply ]
This song was presented in late 80"s on the disc ""Greenpeace"" along with different groups of that era  .. Martin Stephenson, Daintres " All the humble heart song, another pearl from the album,also R.e.ÐŒ.., and others)
Posted 6 years ago by Coldcreek    [ Reply ]

Seeing the Pretenders in 1984 on the Learning to Crawl tour was one of the best decisions I ever made.

Even if my girlfriend wouldn't fly in for the show and I had to sell the extra ticket at a loss, I did not care. 

Still one of the best shows I've ever seen.

Ahh Youth!


Posted 6 years ago by LPCity    [ Reply ]
So I saw the Pretenders on live from the artists den last weekend, and I'm wondering if Bill did too, because I swear, this is like the 3rd time I've heard them today.
Posted 7 years ago by blotto    [ Reply ]
The sound of my youth. I love it.

Posted 7 years ago by Freibuerger    [ Reply ]
So, the running theme of the last three songs (Metric, Smiths, Pretenders) was annoying "wooo wooo wooo"-ing? 
Posted 7 years ago by NeuroGeek    [ Reply ]
 ottojschlosser wrote:
There is nothing like this drum intro — one of those songs that you recognize 3 seconds in. Always happy to hear this.

 
For a moment I thought it was institutionalized by suicidal tendencies...
Posted 7 years ago by SuperWeh    [ Reply ]
Marry me, Chrissie. I do not mind that you must be already 77!
Posted 7 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
Well, shoot. I always thought she was standing in the road with her pants behind her. My bad.
Posted 7 years ago by jmkate    [ Reply ]
 zanref wrote:
Not sure why but I can't stand this masculine voice with russian accent....

 
{#Stupid}
Posted 7 years ago by Antigone    [ Reply ]
annoying.
Posted 7 years ago by TheKing2    [ Reply ]
 "i'm standing in the middle of the road, with my pants behind me." i swear she says that.
Posted 7 years ago by zenhead    [ Reply ]
Well, depending on where YOU are in the road, this could be way out there, or at your right hand.

Me?  I meander all over the road, and this is OUTSTANDING!!!    {#Dancingbanana} 
Posted 7 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
 Moak wrote:
It just hit me now...this could be the best rock n' roll tune ever written.

 
 It's more in the middle of the road for me.
Posted 7 years ago by Webfoot    [ Reply ]
It just hit me now...this could be the best rock n' roll tune ever written.
Posted 7 years ago by Moak    [ Reply ]
 redmachine wrote:
How ironic.
It's called 'middle of the road'.
perfect name for it.

 

{#High-five}
Posted 7 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
 rockpommel16 wrote:
.......crazy..........................smiley..............................

  Rock on Rockpommel !!!

Posted 7 years ago by drewd    [ Reply ]
Not my favorite Pretenders tune...but then again...it's Ms. Hynde...good stuff.
Posted 7 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]
Alf!
Posted 7 years ago by t00lur    [ Reply ]
"When you own a big chunk of the bloody third world, the babies just come with the scenery." 

Whoosh!  One of the better political statements I've ever heard in a song.  Must be the underlying refrain of every oligarch and plutocrat out there these days, eh?

So it goes.

Highlow
American Net'Zen
Posted 7 years ago by Highlowsel    [ Reply ]
 toomanyollys wrote:
Just looked up the lyrics and was very disappointed to see it's not "...standing in the middle of life with my pants behind me"... 
 

I always thought that was a better line too.
{#Angel}
Posted 7 years ago by bronorb    [ Reply ]
Just looked up the lyrics and was very disappointed to see it's not "...standing in the middle of life with my pants behind me"... 
Posted 8 years ago by toomanyollys    [ Reply ]
There is nothing like this drum intro — one of those songs that you recognize 3 seconds in. Always happy to hear this.
Posted 8 years ago by ottojschlosser    [ Reply ]
Election day!
middle of the road indeed
meet the new boss.... 
Posted 8 years ago by max_p    [ Reply ]
.......crazy..........................smiley..............................
Posted 8 years ago by rockpommel16    [ Reply ]
Not sure why but I can't stand this masculine voice with russian accent....
Posted 8 years ago by zanref    [ Reply ]
Smokin'! 120 proof straight neat rock and roll. 
Posted 8 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
Agree w/ all:  this is maybe their BEST rocker and it does cook.
Posted 8 years ago by joelbb    [ Reply ]
this is rock and roll and a good singer!
Posted 8 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
This cut rocks so good we forgive them for all the drugs, insanity and star-turns.  At LEAST a 9.
Posted 8 years ago by joelbb    [ Reply ]
{#Drummer}
Posted 8 years ago by rpdevotee    [ Reply ]
 Boy_Wonder wrote:

I'm afraid James H-S had gone to the Great Gig in the Sky before this was recorded...  

Learning to Crawl is the Pretenders' third album, released in 1984 after a two-year hiatus, during which timeJames Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon both died of drug overdoses.

After Farndon's dismissal from the band and Honeyman-Scott's death, Chrissie Hynde and Martin Chambersinitially recruited Rockpile's Billy Bremner and Big Country's Tony Butler to fill out a caretaker line-up of the band in 1982. Bremner played guitar and Butler played bass on the band's September 1982 single "Back on the Chain Gang/My City Was Gone", both sides of which were later included on Learning to Crawl. As the album sessions got under way, Bremner, The Rumour's Andrew Bodnar, and Paul Carrack (formerly of Squeeze, Ace and Roxy Music) played guitar, bass and piano respectively for the track "Thin Line Between Love and Hate".

Finally, Robbie McIntosh (guitar) and Malcolm Foster (bass) were recruited to join Hynde and Chambers, and the band was now officially a quartet. It was this line-up that recorded the majority of the tracks featured on Learning to Crawl.

The November 1983 single "2000 Miles/Fast or Slow (The Law's the Law)" was the newly reconstituted foursome's first release, followed shortly by the full Learning to Crawl album in January 1984.

 
And I'm afraid you're dead on—so to speak. One source credits Chambers with the opening and McIntosh with the solo (https://www.coffeerooms.com/bb/showthread.php?t=1432), although Honeyman-Scott's guitar work is found somewhere on the bloody record, 'cos he's credited in the liner notes. Even if it's not JHS, it's a hell of a record, and I'd give it a 10 if Howard the Duck played lead.
Posted 8 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
 lemmoth wrote:
One of their very best.  9 plus
 
Couldn't agree more - well said!
Driving, irresistible, unique.
Posted 8 years ago by daedalus    [ Reply ]
One of their very best.  9 plus
Posted 8 years ago by lemmoth    [ Reply ]
Very informative. Was 2000 miles a tribute to the 'departed' members ?
Posted 8 years ago by Far    [ Reply ]

I'm afraid James H-S had gone to the Great Gig in the Sky before this was recorded...  

Learning to Crawl is the Pretenders' third album, released in 1984 after a two-year hiatus, during which timeJames Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon both died of drug overdoses.

After Farndon's dismissal from the band and Honeyman-Scott's death, Chrissie Hynde and Martin Chambersinitially recruited Rockpile's Billy Bremner and Big Country's Tony Butler to fill out a caretaker line-up of the band in 1982. Bremner played guitar and Butler played bass on the band's September 1982 single "Back on the Chain Gang/My City Was Gone", both sides of which were later included on Learning to Crawl. As the album sessions got under way, Bremner, The Rumour's Andrew Bodnar, and Paul Carrack (formerly of Squeeze, Ace and Roxy Music) played guitar, bass and piano respectively for the track "Thin Line Between Love and Hate".

Finally, Robbie McIntosh (guitar) and Malcolm Foster (bass) were recruited to join Hynde and Chambers, and the band was now officially a quartet. It was this line-up that recorded the majority of the tracks featured on Learning to Crawl.

The November 1983 single "2000 Miles/Fast or Slow (The Law's the Law)" was the newly reconstituted foursome's first release, followed shortly by the full Learning to Crawl album in January 1984.


Posted 8 years ago by Boy_Wonder    [ Reply ]
8>9.... go Chrissie!!
Posted 8 years ago by Boy_Wonder    [ Reply ]
 olivertwist wrote:
Good song, but as the opening notes played I immediately thought how I'd rather hear the great track "Mystery Achievement" from their first album — a song I've yet to hear on RP.
 
I love that song.  The whole first album in fact.  Lets hear more of it.
Posted 8 years ago by Keef    [ Reply ]
Maybe the perfect rock song, and James Honeyman-Scott to top it off. I thought for a time that "Honeyman" was a nickname 'cos his guitar work was so cool. Probably should have been.
Posted 8 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
 BikeCoachDave wrote:
How time flies,
in 5 years Chrissy will be able to sing, "I got a kid THATS 33, baby!"
 
... and she will still be HOT.  Sing it loud, girl!

Posted 8 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
30 years old and still worth listening to, yessirree
Posted 8 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
Good song, but as the opening notes played I immediately thought how I'd rather hear the great track "Mystery Achievement" from their first album — a song I've yet to hear on RP.
Posted 9 years ago by olivertwist    [ Reply ]
 MiracleDrug wrote:
if you've never seen this live...
you probably won't get it...
 
It was pretty nice live.  Got to see her here in her hometown opening for the B - 52's at Blossom.  Was a full length set, too.  Not the 45 minute opening act length.  A full 90 minutes.  Most wonderful, and so were the B's.

Posted 9 years ago by kurtster    [ Reply ]
{#Wall}no more pretenders!!!!! please!!!!!
Posted 9 years ago by rlr511    [ Reply ]
 kayc wrote:

And all this time I thought it was "hamster nursery"

 
{#Roflol}

Cute hamsters in a nursery

Posted 9 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
That bassline just made my afternoon good again.
Oooooh yes.
{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Motor}

Posted 9 years ago by ce    [ Reply ]
Straight on kick-ass Rock and Roll — it hardly gets any better. At times the lead work sounds
like Mike Campbell's driving licks — and that is a good thing ... Keep em coming.. how some
folks can bitch about this Made in America driving rock, is beyond the pale.  

Posted 9 years ago by That_SOB    [ Reply ]
+2 for actually rocking in the 80's.   I mean compare this to the two that followed on RP today.

Go Go's - This Town
New Order - Blue Monday
Posted 9 years ago by to_the_eleven    [ Reply ]
8 for the vocal to harmonica fade end
Posted 9 years ago by a_genuine_find    [ Reply ]
 sirdroseph wrote:
This is probably in my top 50 great songs that I hope to never hear again.
 
I hate it when that happens.  
Posted 9 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
if you've never seen this live...
you probably won't get it...
Posted 9 years ago by MiracleDrug    [ Reply ]
This is probably in my top 50 great songs that I hope to never hear again.
Posted 9 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
How ironic.
It's called 'middle of the road'.
perfect name for it.

Posted 9 years ago by redmachine    [ Reply ]