Back on the Chain Gang by The Pretenders

"Back on the Chain Gang" is a song written by Chrissie Hynde and originally recorded by her band the Pretenders, and released as a single by Sire Records in September 1982. The song also was released on The King of Comedy soundtrack album in March 1983 and later was included on the Pretenders' next album Learning to Crawl in January 1984. "Back on the Chain Gang" entered the Billboard charts in early October 1982, then reached no. 5 on the Hot 100 becoming the band's biggest hit in the U.S. It also got as high as no. 4 on Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and no. 17 on the UK Singles Chart. The single's flip side, "My City Was Gone", later became a substantial hit in the U.S. with lyrics about Ohio.