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The Pretenders — Sense of Purpose
Album: The Isle Of View
Avg rating:
7.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 883









Released: 1995
Length: 3:03
Plays (last 30 days): 2
Everybody chokes
When they see someone cut down in their prime
It may not show when you look at me
But I know I'm in mine
I'm potent, baby, I'm potent
Dangerous to the naked eye
Rest your head on this bed of mother's pride
And find out why

Don't you wanna take me home?
Don't you wanna take me home?

Give me a sense of purpose
A real sense of purpose now
Give me a sense of purpose
A real sense of purpose now

Bully boys don't bother me
I purse my lips and they run away
Guys like you who are gentle and true
Don't come around here everyday
I'm potent, baby, I'm potent
Just one swing of me would get most guys smashed
But a drop of yours makes me stagger and swerve
I guess I'm outclassed

Everybody chokes
When they see someone cut down in their prime
Take this plea to your heart
- lift me in mine

Don't you wanna take me home?
Don't you wanna take me home?

Give me a sense of purpose
A real sense of purpose now
Give me a sense of purpose
A real sense of purpose now

Give me a sense of purpose
A real sense of purpose now
Give me a sense of purpose
A real sense of purpose now
Comments (31)add comment
purpose, live, strings, pretenders purpose
 zenhead wrote:

If you can play a rock song in an acoustic setting, and it still rocks, you got a good one. This album is proof of that. 



and along with the strings.
Superb!!! I never heard this tune before. Thank You RP!   
Ms Hynde is my favourite rock lady of my era.
Best rockin' female artist of all time. Chrisse is the best. The GOAT.
'one swing' in lyrics should be 'one swig'
A great and honest poems lies within this track 👍
If you can play a rock song in an acoustic setting, and it still rocks, you got a good one. This album is proof of that. 
I really like this band, and in my (limited) view, it's one of the most readily identifiable and recognisable ones. Chrissie Hynde has such a voice!!!
Thanks for playing them :-)
Well...my experience is that strength can be displayed in a variety of ways. Seems to me Chrissie and the Pretenders know that.
the female lou reed. and like lou, she's not afraid to step off the beaten path. wagner, anyone?
a real sense of ... yawning
Yashure wrote:
Chrissy backed by violins?! I'm sorry, but I've just never understood the "sensitive artist" unplugged phenomenon.
Me neither. That "bossa nova" version of Layla (which made Pete Townshend nauseated, apparently) on Eric Clapton's Unplugged album also never did it for me.
Platypus wrote:
after all these years, I still just can't get past her voice. it grates at the back of my skull something fierce.
You should duck then...
steeler wrote:
Me, too. Never would have thought Pretenders would make use of classical music, but it really works extraordinarily well.
The whole album is pretty good.
Chrissy backed by violins?! I'm sorry, but I've just never understood the "sensitive artist" unplugged phenomenon.
depski2003 wrote:
Love the strings! 8)
Me, too. Never would have thought Pretenders would make use of classical music, but it really works extraordinarily well.
I must take exception! I, too, love Chrissy's voice, but it seems to me she's gone soft. I'm all for affirmations, but this completely lacks the edge of some of the Pretenders' early work. It gets a 4, because it's sad to see bands take a step back.
Oh yeah... never can get enough of Chrissy's superb voice and singing.
Love the strings! 8)
I love the pretenders, but this song has never done it for me. :-/
after all these years, I still just can't get past her voice. it grates at the back of my skull something fierce.
Leslie wrote:
This whole album is awesome. Not a bad tune on it.
I can never hear enough of the Pretenders Fantastic
A little classic, I love it!
a noble aspiration, and a fine song
A good one - thanks for digging it out Bill!
Great track!
I agree with the prior comment, this whole album is great - Acoustic Pretenders backed by a wonderful string quartet. But this tune is far from the strongest on the album. Why not play \"Revolution\" or \"Back on the Chaingang\", which despite the rocking nature of the original, works perfectly with the string quartet.
This whole album is awesome. Not a bad tune on it.