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chelsea girl
composers
Kerr,
Burchill
publisher
© EMI Music Publishing
background
Not connected musically with Nico's Chelsea Girls,
Jim used the title as it had atmosphere.
It was based on a Jean Shrimpton character.
The riff was stolen from a Lou Reed song called Temporary Thing (Rock And Roll Heart, Arista, 1976).
"If the Boomtown Rats had recorded it, it would definitely have become a number one hit" - Bob Geldof.
A
live favourite from 1978, it originally clocked in at over six minutes, featuring extra
verses and breaks. This was the version recorded for the band's
second demo tape.
It was during the recording of the demo, that someone stole
Derek Forbes' guitar. He was planning on leaving
Simple Minds to play lead guitar elsewhere, but after the theft, asked to stay on as bass player.
It was recorded for their first album and considered the best song for a single.
But Life In A Day was first issued to whet the appetite before
Chelsea Girl was issued. Great things were expected of it, but it sunk without
a trace.
It became a live favourite, being featured during all their gigs in 1979.
"Promised You a Miracle was our first true pop hit, but Chelsea Girl
from our debut album was in my opinion the first really good pop song that both Charlie
and I wrote. Again, I recall clearly it coming together in an instant."
"It was a rainy March afternoon in April’78 in fact and we were in my parent’s front room with only Charlie’s
acoustic guitar as a tool. We needed a killer "sing-along" to plop into the middle of our burgeoning live set, something that an
audience could grasp and come in on with us from the first hearing. This was "a trick" I observed Steve Harley doing during
Cockney Rebel's period of fame, when I saw them perform a handful of times, and we in turn rather ambitiously wanted to
emulate some of the spirit of the Harley shows."
"The fact that he was playing Wembley Arena type shows while we were playing the basement of a beer cellar in Shawlands, Glasgow,
somehow never managed to deter us from our desired effect, and Chelsea Girl was constructed and put together especially to be our big
throw of the dice. This was the song that we wanted, the one we needed, the call out to anyone listening with a message intact
that said we were not content to be another run of the mill punk outfit with dreams no bigger than securing a mention on the
John Peel show!"
"Did it work? You bet it did, and right off the bat too. We were inundated in fact with requests to play it sometimes two or
three times a night. The confidence it gave us was remarkable and the audience more than joined in on it also. Especially during the
break down where Brian McGee does a great job." - Jim.
lyrics
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And now the sound of time is getting fast,
It's getting late,
Don't know if I can take much more.
The way you talk I often wondered,
If I heard the words somewhere,
Someplace before.
I got so nervous when I called,
And found that lately,
You had gone and changed your name.
But I've got something on my mind,
I want you here,
I want you now,
You better explain.
Is it true you're running round?
Now is it true they're calling you the Chelsea Girl?
Is it true you're running round?
Now is it true they're calling you the Chelsea Girl?
Your best friend never calls you up,
But you don't mind,
'Cause lately things are all the same.
Ain't it strange how people always seem,
To know your face,
But just don't know your name?
Well I don't care there's no-one there,
That even turn around and say get out of this place.
Last night I saw a shooting star,
When morning comes,
She hides away,
A real disgrace.
Is it true you're running round?
Now is it true they're calling you the Chelsea Girl?
Is it true you're running round?
Now is it true they're calling you the Chelsea Girl?
Oh Chelsea Girl,
You got me caught up in a whirl,
I want you here now Chelsea Girl.
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