track

Brass in Pocket - 2006 Remaster

1980Released
3:05

Did You Know?

Interesting facts and trivia about Brass in Pocket - 2006 Remaster. By Songfacts®.

There is a lot of British slang in the lyrics: "Got Bottle" - Have courage. "Skank" - Move your body side to side. "Reet" - Righteous. "Brass" - a Northern English expression for money, harking back to the days when non-silver coins, or "coppers" were worth something. Lead singer Chrissie Hynde grew up in Akron, Ohio and was a student at Kent State University in 1970 when four students were killed by members of the US National Guard. She left for England in 1973, where she formed the group with three guys from Hereford.

"Brass In Pocket" was written by Pretenders lead singer Chrissie Hynde and guitarist James Honeyman-Scott. Hynde rarely explains what her songs are about, but she let on with this one in a 1980 interview with Sounds. "It's very lightweight pop type of song, nothing heavy about it," she said. "It's along the lines of the guy who is feeling very insecure, not about pulling a girl but, say, trying to be accepted by the guys down the pub. It's a front he's putting up. It's like buying a pair of new boots and you feel great but then you get home and see you spots in the mirror. Or take a couple of dexies and you're in gear for the evening but on the train home it's different." She had clearly internalized the British argot. "Pulling a girl" means finding a companion for the evening; "dexies" are Dexedrine pills, which give the user a jolt of energy. At the time, dexy abuse was common in the UK, especially amongst musicians and clubgoers. The band Dexys Midnight Runners took their name from the pill.

The song's title came about after The Pretenders first-ever UK gig, when they were in the communal dressing room with The Strangeways, whom they were supporting. Chrissie Hynde wanted to know whose trousers were sprawled over the back of a chair. One of The Strangeways, Ada Wilson, said: "I'll have them if there's any brass in the pockets." Hynde learned that "brass" is a Northern slang term for money. She fell in love with the expression and was inspired to write the song.

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Song Analysis

Key, BPM (tempo) and time signature of Brass in Pocket - 2006 Remaster.
AKey
MajorMode
4/4Time Signature
98BPM

Album

The album Brass in Pocket - 2006 Remaster is released on.

Released By

The record label that has released Brass in Pocket - 2006 Remaster.
WM UK
© 2006 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company
℗ 2006 Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company

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