The Wrong People · 1986 · Stiff Records
Pierre's Fight
Written by Jim Irvin, Tim Whelan
Published by Copyright Control
Pierre gets short shrift from his so called love She's been out all hours And it's her secret And she revels in it Pierre gets relaxed with a whiskey glass He's in two confused minds Do I put up with it Or put an end to it? She wears shabby dresses that he likes her in Flaunts herself for him Then goes out on the town Leaves him to brood, fix himself food There's a fight on the radio he's looked forward to He'll scramble an egg Pace the floor and decide If it's worth staying round If it's worth staying round (Round One) The rhythm of the blows hits home Pounds on his gut, don't don't He throws back his head Finishes his drink Uses his fists on himself Come home baby, come home, I want you here He beats, beats Come home baby, come home, I want you here Here in this room, in that dress Baby you hurt me Don't count me out, I'm not down yet I'm coming out swinging I'm coming out swinging Come home baby, come home You haven't won I'm not down yet I'm coming out swinging This time, I'm coming I'm coming out Send you out of the ring I'm coming out swinging You haven't won I'm not down yet Just wait and see Come on baby And this time things will be different
Commentary
Tim's piano playing is extraordinary here. Recording this was very intense. I remember getting very nervous when Mick Glossop edited the 2" master-tape. The lyric was inspired by the film Carmen Jones, where a young soldier goes AWOL to hook up with a femme fatale, and is confined to their cheap hotel room because he's wanted by the military police. While she goes out on the town, he goes crazy with jealousy, like a junkie suffering cold turkey. So, wrestling with demons in a dingy space. Typical. Thank you, goodnight!
Jim Irvin — Band commentary, 2010 Cherry Red reissue booklet (compiled by Jim, Tim and Hami)
"Pierre's Fight" on The Wrong People was directly influenced by the film Carmen Jones. Jim liked bringing in quotes from across the culture: girl-group lyrics, film stars, music hall acts, things from newspapers, descriptions of scenes he'd been in, ruined love affairs.
Jim Irvin — BanBanTonTon interview, 2019