"Back on the Chain Gang" is a classic hit song by the English-American band The Pretenders, released as single by Sire Records in late 1982. The song was also released on The King of Comedy soundtrack album in March 1983 and later included on The Pretenders' next album Learning to Crawl in January 1984. It reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 becoming the band's biggest hit in the United States. It also got as high as #4 on Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number 17 in the UK Singles Chart. The single's flip side, "My City Was Gone", became a substantial hit as well.