Pretty Things – Don’t Bring Me Down

I’ve heard of this band for so long but never listened to many of their songs. This one is right up my alley…raw, garage-sounding, and slightly punk. They formed in London in 1963. They were known for their raw sound and rebellious image, they are often cited as one of the most influential bands of the 1960s and 1970s. They didn’t have a lot of hits but their sound was copied. 

This song was released in 1964, and The Pretty Things was probably the scruffiest band around in 1964… and that includes the Stones. 

The song peaked at #10 in the UK and #34 in Canada in 1964. The song was a stand-alone single. They would release their self-titled debut album in 1965. The song was written by Johnny Dee, the manager of a British band at the time called The Fairies. 

The Pretty Things continued to evolve after “Don’t Bring Me Down” exploring different musical styles including psychedelia and hard rock. Despite numerous lineup changes and challenges, they remained active for decades, maintaining a cult following.

In 1968 they released the album S.F. Sorrow, one of the first rock operas, predating The Who’s Tommy. It is a concept album that tells the story of a character named Sebastian F. Sorrow from birth to death. Though not a commercial success at the time, it has since been recognized as a groundbreaking work and a classic of that genre.

Don’t Bring Me Down

I’m on my own, nowhere to roam
I tell you baby, don’t want no home
I wander round, feet off the ground
I even go from town to town
I said I think this rock is grand
Say I’ll be your man
Don’t bring me down, don’t bring me down

I met this chick, the other day
And then to me, she said she’ll stay
I get this pad, just like a cave
And then we’ll have, our living made
And then I’ll lead her on the ground
My head is spinning round
Don’t bring me down, don’t bring me down

I, I, I, I, I need a lover ’cause someone new
And then to her I will be true
I’ll buy her furs and pretty things
I’ll even buy a wedding ring
But until then I’ll settle down?
Say I’ll be your man
Don’t bring me down, don’t bring me down

Until then I’ll settle down?
Say I’ll be your man
Don’t bring me down, don’t bring me down
Don’t bring me down

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player.

18 thoughts on “Pretty Things – Don’t Bring Me Down”

    1. Yea they shared that sound…these guys…Bowie was friends with. They signed to Led Zeppelin’s Swan Song later…they had a huge cult following.

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  4. Once again, you’re a step ahead of me, Max! 🙂

    I’m still at the stage where I’ve heard of The Pretty Things more than once, but don’t know their music. “Don’t Bring Me Down” sounds very promising. That raw garage rock sound is right up my alley – reminds me a tiny bit of Them.

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    1. Yes that is a good comparison. This is the first time I’ve posted them. The Animals as well…they were releasing albums for decades…I forgot they also signed with Swan Song.

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  5. I like this cut. The sound coming out of that part of the world was so good at that time. You can hear the thread in all the early British stuff. It was just on the verge of breaking into all that mind blowing music that was around the corner. I’m not up on these guys like a lot of their piers but always like what I hear.

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    1. Me either CB…they always had more of a cult following so I knew they had to be pretty good. They weren’t massive popular by any means…I get a lot of Them and Animals vibes.

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  6. At the time they were too loud, too long-haired, too raw, too sullen and scruffy (where the Beatles were cute and cuddly)- just all too much for the times. Very much yer basic no-frills Brit beat.

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  8. Pingback: Pretty Things – Don’t Bring Me Down – MobsterTiger

  9. I only ever bought one Pretty Things single, which was Honey I Need, which I still love. However, in London when we were first aware of them, The Pretty Things were mostly regarded as Rolling Stones’ wannabees! (And Phil May’s voice even sounds like Mick Jagger on ‘Honey I Need’.) Probably wasn’t fair, but because of that I didn’t know many people for years who really took much notice of them. They did well later. (It was a bit like that with Donovan who, when he first came onto the scene, was regarded as a Bob Dylan wannabe. Which of course, he wasn’t.)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWMmU9vPmYw

    (Sorry, as usual I can’t get it to embed.)

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    1. With the Pretty Things…it almost looks like the other way around! They were scruffier than the Stones in looks…their sound…you are right…The Stones, Animals, and Them.
      I want to hear their album SF Sorrow.

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