My City Was Gone by Pretenders

Album: Learning To Crawl (1984)

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This song is about Akron, Ohio, where Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders was raised. Akron was an industrial city known as the "Rubber Capital of the World," which despite the smell of burning rubber, was a place Chrissie enjoyed growing up. In the '70s, it was gritty but vibrant, and it had a thriving rock scene with bands like Pere Ubu, Devo, The Bizarros, and Jane Aire & The Belvederes.

Hynde would augment her musical education with the R&B she could find on Detroit radio stations, and would seek out rock music from the likes of Lou Reed and The Rolling Stones. She did a lot of traveling and played in a lot of bands before forming the Pretenders in 1978 when she relocated to England. Returning to Akron in the '80s, she was disappointed in what the city had become: shopping malls and segregation. "Everything's just huge masses of granite blocks, and everything's outsized. It might look good on a drawing, but it doesn't seem to apply to human life," said Hynde.
The conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh uses the opening riff of this song as theme music for his radio show. Limbaugh and Hynde have radically different political views, but she cannot stop him from using the song as long as the show continues to pay royalties, and has no interest in doing so.

In a 2017 Songfacts interview with Chrissie Hynde, she explained that she has never heard Limbaugh's show, and being a resident of England, she wasn't even aware of him. When she learned about it, she made sure that any royalties from Limbaugh's use of the song go to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

"So many people told me to stop him, that it kind of irritated me," said Hynde. "I don't like being told what to do. I'm sure they had good reason for it, although I still haven't heard his show and I think he's off the air now."

When we informed her that Limbaugh was still broadcasting, she said, "A lot of shock jocks, I guess that's what they're called, they stir up a certain dialog with people and I think we're going to see that now with the current president [Donald Trump]. It's certainly not a good time for people to be complacent."
This was released as the B-side of "Back On The Chain Gang."

Comments: 34

Not Me from UsaIn her own words on twitter Feb 17 2020..look it up
“An open Letter to
@realDonaldTrump
, President of the United States.

Dear Mr. President,

I often think of how much my father, Melville “Bud” Hynde, who proudly served his country as a Marine on Guadalcanal, would have enjoyed your Presidency.

The other day when you gave that award to Rush Limbaugh, my father would have been so delighted. He loved listening to Rush, which is why I allowed my song, 'My City Was Gone', to be used on his radio show.
My father and I didn't always see eye-to-eye. We argued a lot but isn’t that the American way? The right to disagree without having your head chopped off?
John Henry F, Iii from Reston, VaThis song Always gets me emotional, because that’s the way Pikesville, MD was for me in my 1960s childhood: farms, beautiful green countryside, & small townish; now it’s turned to crap by development, which started as soon as the Baltimore Beltway opened in 1962. We had to move from our great old house to a suburban development that year, my father died a couple months later (partly because he was depressed by the move), and my life just seemed to go downhill from there. Of course, I can’t return to Pikesville as a successful rockstar like Chrissie Hynde, so I just quietly lament the destruction of natural beauty by urban sprawl. This song just beautifully expresses that tragedy of “progress”, even better than “Cement, Clay and Glass” by the New Riders of the Purple Sage (though that is an Excellent song, too) and Joni Mitchell‘s “Big Yellow Taxi.”
George from BcSoothsayer~sage: It's not likely she would ever get to know every entity paying a royalty for a part of a song -- the list would be long, & to her, it's just a number she gets paid whenever. Do you know where & how your landlord spends the money you pay each month?
George Pope from Vancouver BcI like how Hynde handles the Limbaugh using her riff thing; upon learning enough of him to disagree, instead of fighting against him, she chose to redirect the royalties to a charity--one likely, I think, to really piss him off. Kudos, Ms. Hynde -- keep t he freedom to express open for all, even those you might disagree with, & credit to her for admitting she hadn't heard his show. I think I'd react suchly if people were /ordering/ me to do a certain reaction, too.

What's "and has no interest in doing so" mean? Rush wasn't paying royalties?
Soothsayer-sage from AtlantaJust reading the above is hilarious. Hynde says she was raised in Akron, but never heard of Rush, but she certainly enjoys the royalties. Even though she disagrees with capitalism. What a hypocrite.
The even BIGGER LIE is: "In a 2017 Songfacts interview with Chrissie Hynde, she explained that she has never heard Limbaugh's show, and being a resident of England, she wasn't even aware of him. When she learned about it, she made sure that any royalties from Limbaugh's use of the song go to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)."
SERIOUSLY? Rush used her song since 1988 and she didn't know about him or who he was? What a fraud. She knew, and she took the money from the capitalist system she hates. f--k Hynes. f--king hypocrite.
This is why people should stick to music, acting, playing ball, and keep their STUPID f--kING OPINIONS TO THEMSELVES.
Todd from FlIf you haven’t lived in Akron just Fuc& off!
Heather from Los AngelesThe lyrics are really good but I can't stand the tune. And to Anonymous below, Hynde CANNOT KEEP Limbaugh from using it as long as royalties are paid. It's got NOTHING to do with respect but has to do with the law. And the law is something both Limbaugh and Trump don't respect at all. Especially when it applies to them. Or hadn't you noticed, Ace?
F.j. from OhioSummit Mall was built to the far west of Akron and I think she was referring also to that mall (as well as Chapel Hill Mall.) But Seneca, where ? Btw, I think Rush Limbaugh is a big fat idiot, I'm sorry he ever used that song and got behind a microphone to spew out his divisive, hateful, reactionary drivel. ' They're coming to take me away, ' from Napoleon the 13th would be more appropriate -
Rs from NzSandy,
That’s not what Chrissie says in the Songfscts interview above.
Limbaugh and Hynde have radically different political views, but she cannot stop him from using the song as long as the show continues to pay royalties, and has no interest in doing so.

In a 2017 Songfacts interview with Chrissie Hynde, she explained that she has never heard Limbaugh's show, and being a resident of England, she wasn't even aware of him. When she learned about it, she made sure that any royalties from Limbaugh's use of the song go to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

"So many people told me to stop him, that it kind of irritated me," said Hynde. "I don't like being told what to do. I'm sure they had good reason for it, although I still haven't heard his show and I think he's off the air now."

When we informed her that Limbaugh was still broadcasting, she said, "A lot of shock jocks, I guess that's what they're called, they stir up a certain dialog with people and I think we're going to see that now with the current president [Donald Trump]. It's certainly not a good time for people to be complacent."
AnonymousHer Dad was a fan of Rush's and that is why she continues to allow Rush to use it. It's called respect!
Sandy Jordan from CaIts unfortunate how liberal writers taint these articles. The reason i looked up the lyrics to this song to begin with was because ive always loved the intro and have never known where it came from. I was listening to Rush’s show today, and they ran a whole piece on the explanation of its origin. Its quite a different take on it. An explanation of why Chrissie allowed the music to be played all of these yrs was presented today, and it certainly wasnt because some royalties law had her over a barrel. It was because her beloved father loved Rush Limbaugh, and it would have brought him joy to hear his daughter’s band’s intro every day on Rush’s show. So she honors her father’s memory, putting her own preferences aside. Also, Chrissie seems to be of a rational mind that understands we all can b of different persuasions, but all people should be afforded respect to have their own opinions. So kudos to you,Chrissie, from a Republican woman in her 70’s to a Democratic woman in the same general age bracket.

Socialism will remove freedom from your vocabulary, and you’ll b told what you can do, what u can make, what you can buy, and who owns you. Your freedom to have your own opinions will ultimately be taken totally from you. We are already “shamed” in this society for too many irrational reasons. Please research this and know that Socialism soon becomes Comminism, and then we’re all toast.
Rebekah Dahl from FloridaLots of people here speaking out against a radio host they've never bothered to listen to themselves. I would challenge any of those folks to listen to him for a few weeks. I bet you start looking at politics much differently by them time those few weeks are up. You won't do it though, because liberals are in fact the closed-minded hateful ones in our society. I'd also challenge anyone to prove rush is "racist." In fact his own producer - who is black - has an open challenge to anyone who wants to come and debate him about his bosses alleged racism. To date, nobody has accepted.
Doug from Dearborn, MiSomeday Rush will be gone. I'll miss him. Then the song will be difficult to listen to.
Mike from Berkeley, CaAmazing that Chrissie wrote that "...The farms of Ohio / Had been replaced by shopping malls...", and this is exactly the kind of 'development' that Limbaugh and his funders support. Way to go.
Dane from Green Cove Springs Fla., FlNever mind the political stuff.Just groove on the awesome bass line & the twangy guitar.
Brad from Long Island, NyHey Ash, don't beleive all the hype, listen to the guys show just one time, you wont ever hear a hateful word come from the guy, except his disdain for socialism/liberalism. You can disagree with his politics if you want, but most of the lies regarding Rush are about him,not from him.
Bryan from Atlanta, GaSadly, the song acknowledges a universal truth: You can never go home again. What you call "home" is in the past and will never be again. Time moves on and life goes on. To the political wailing and gnashing of teeth about Rush's use of this great song: This is America, folks. Land of the somewhat free and home of the somewhat brave. Libs, where is your compassion and tolerance for all viewpoints? Hmmmmm?
Biff from Doylestown, PaI would imagine that Chrissy Hynde is rich, we know she's successful in ways most of us can only imagine. She is living the American dream thanks to capitalism (apparently someone wants to buy her product) and freedom. Now they say she's opened up a restaurant presumably for further personal wealth enhancement. That's great....same vision of the country as Rush. Radically different views indeed. Biff, Doylestown, PA
Nathan from Defiance, OhShe's dead on about the urban sprawl and pollution. It's actually a pretty sad song when you think about it. Damn good riff too.
Sam from Lincoln, NeThe Supreme Court held in 1999 that artists controlled the rights over the use of their songs on a thematic basis. Because of this, Rush Limbaugh was forced to stop using "My City Was Gone" until he and Chrissie Hynde came to an agreement. She gets half a million dollars per year from Limbaugh for the right to use the song, which money she donates to PETA. It's almost as if Limbaugh himself donated the money. How's that for irony?
Karl from Akron, , Oh Last year she opened up a veggie type resturant here in Akron. it's nice she didn't get too popular to forget her roots..... As a story goes, a few years back she was invited to throw out the first pich at an Akron Aeros baseball game ( The Areos are a Cleveland Indians farm team ) and she ended up hitting some old lady with a wild pitch.. I can't tell how valid that story is, but it's fun to talk about. Lastly she was a graduate of Firestone High School, where another famous Akronite had graduated from ( But not the same year ) That being Astronaut Judy Resnick who was tragically killed in the Challenger shuttle explosion.
Pat from Albuquerque, NmAs another Midwesterner, I sure understood how Chrissie felt about Akron dying. It's those conservative capitalists (like the Rush) that are the reason that tires aren't made in that city anymore. Incidentally, I saw the Pretenders in Chicago around 1981. They rocked.
Robin from Tyler, TxI'm happy for Chrissee for getting all those royalties from Rush using her song. That's called Capitalism! If not for people like Rush Limbaugh, Roland Reagan, and Newt Gingrich we would live in a socialist state that would be much like the Soviet Union. Wake up people!
John from Akron, Oh...from Seneca to Cuyahoga Falls!!!
Brian from Albany, OrIts assuming that one knows the meaning of 'ironic'. Also to note...maybe politically correct venom is OK. But the song rocks.
Mark from Killeen, TxSaying someone should 'rot in hell' for 'spewing venom' is just a tad ironic, don't you think?
Jerry from Youngstown, OhDespite her views towards Rush, Chrissy and that song rock.What's sad about that song to me, is I grew up in NE Ohio and heard it for the first time when Iwas 9, in the back seat of my car, watching the last mill be torn down. B
Dennis from Boyne City, MiThere are a lot of good reasons to dislike Rush Limbaugh, but using a particular theme song isn't one of them.
Don from Phoenix, AzWhen I first heard a little bit of something by the Pretenders in the early 80s, for some reason I just presumed they were a British band. Then I heard this, and when I heard Chrissie pronounce "Cuyahoga" with only three syllables instead of four, I knew they had to be Ohio-bred! Powerful tune; good American rock!
Frank from Westminster, ScWow. The sentence, for playing a song you like and disagreeing with you in political and social matters, is to rot in hell. To put such speech out on the radio, is to spew worthless venom. It's good to know there are still fair-minded, analytical thinkers out there. Dittos.
Mike from Fort Worth, Txhey, Rush is awesome...he pays the roylaties...don't worry. The only venom I hear comes from the left...
Ash from Charleston, WvMay Rush Limbaugh rot in hell for this and for all the worthless venom he spews every day.
Scott from Chicago, Ilwhat's really sad is that the song is truer now than it was then..try driving through youngstown
or akron now.....it's wayyyy gone now unfotunately
Kenny from Toronto, CanadaIt is about Chrissie's first experience back in her hometown after months of touring with The Pretenders. She describes her shock after learning that things aren't what it use to be.

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