The Bangles

Songwriter: Walker Igleheart Debbie Peterson

Producer: Matthew Sweet The Bangles

I’ve been thinking ‘bout it night and day
Try to make sense of all the games you play
You don’t even know what you wanna do
If you had a mind you could make it up
Wasting my time, do you call me a slut?

The simplest thought is your cross to bear
If brains were clothes you’d have nothing to wear
How you gonna go with your foot on the brake?
A terminal case of hurry up and wait
Going nowhere

You’re a Ball ‘N’ Chain
(dragging me down, dragging me down)
You’re a Ball ‘N’ Chain
(dragging me down, dragging me down, down, down)

There’s a thousand reasons why I can’t stay
And every one of them has your name
You tell your little lies but it’s plain to see
You only fool yourself you don’t fool me
Going nowhere

You’re a Ball ‘N’ Chain
(dragging me down, dragging me down, down)
You’re a Ball ’N’ Chain
(dragging me down, dragging me down, down, down)

You tell your little lies but it’s plain to see
You only fool yourself you don’t fool me
Going nowhere

The Bangles are an American pop rock band originally part of the Paisley Undergound movement that’s been described as “sunshiney Beatles pop”. They are best known for their internationally successful ‘80s singles “Manic Monday”, “Walk Like An Egyptian”, and “Eternal Flame” and have been called “perhaps the biggest all-female rock group of the 1980s”.

When their friend/bassist quit their band The Colours, sisters Debbi & Vicki Peterson’s newspaper ad was answered by Susanna Hoffs. They renamed themselves The Bangs and released “Getting Out Of Hand” on their own record label in 1981. Airplay on KROQ FM attracted Miles Copeland (IRS Records / Go Go’s) who signed them to his short-lived label Faulty Products and became their manager. When a New Jersey band claimed ownership of the name The Bangs, they changed their named to The Bangles and released their self-titled debut EP. Bassist Annette Zilinskas was added to the group in time to be included on the artwork, but not on the recordings. The Bangles then toured with English Beat.

Zilinskas was replaced by ex-Runaways bassist Micki ‘Michael’ Steele before the group’s 1984 debut album All Over The Place, released on Columbia Records. Despite its two singles “Hero Takes A Fall” and the Kimberly Rew-penned “Going Down To Liverpool” modestly charting only in the UK, the album still reached #80 in the US thanks to college radio airplay, MTV exposure, a tour with Cyndi Lauper and good reviews. Prince took an interest in the band after seeing the music video for “Hero Takes A Fall” and offered them two songs – “Manic Monday” and “Jealous Girl”.

more tracks from the album

Sweetheart of the Sun

From the album

Sweetheart of the Sun (2011)

The Bangles popular songs

Ball N ChainThe Bangles

The Bangles

Sweetheart of the Sun