Their first release was intended to mimic British invasion style sounds of the mid-60's, but DJ's in south Florida jumped on the B-side, "Stop! Get a Ticket" and the record was released nationally in the spring of 1966 on the Date label, distributed by Columbia. The song achieved hit status in several regions of the country but barely cracked Billboard's Hot 100 nationally.
Several releases followed with minimal success and Date abandoned the group before releasing an LP. "Stop! Get a Ticket" has since achieved cult classic status and has been included on cult compilations.
Stop
Clefs of Lavender Hill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you don't treat her better
She's gonna hop that train and say bye-bye
You gotta run and tell the conductor
[CHORUS]
You gotta stop, get a ticket
You gotta stop, get a ticket
You know your baby used to love you
Cause you wouldn't have no other
But she ran away and said bye-bye
And now she won't be your lover
[Repeat CHORUS 2x]
You know your baby's gonna leave you
If you don't treat her better
She's gonna hop that train and say bye-bye
You gotta run, tell the conductor
[Repeat CHORUS]
Stop, get a ticket
Stop, get a ticket
Stop, get a ticket
Stop, get a ticket...
The lyrics of "Stop" by Clefs of Lavender Hill are about the consequences of neglecting one's partner in a relationship. The singer warns the listener that if they don't start treating their significant other better, they will leave them. The metaphor of the train is used as a device to emphasize the notion of the relationship being in motion, and if the listener doesn't make a move to stop the train, their partner will leave them. The chorus is designed to be repetitive to reinforce the message that is being conveyed, that the only way to keep the relationship going is to take action.
The lyrics are written in a straightforward manner to convey the message clearly, and the use of the train metaphor is effective in creating an urgency around the situation. The lyrics imply that the listener has behaved badly in some way, leading their partner to want to leave, but it's not clear what the specifics of that behavior are. It could be anything from general neglect to outright abuse. The song's message is relatable to many people who have experienced or witnessed a relationship that is on the brink of falling apart, but it also has an uplifting quality to it, as the listener is encouraged to take action and try to save the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
You know your baby's gonna leave you
It is a fact that your partner will leave you soon.
If you don't treat her better
You are not treating your partner well, and that's causing them to leave.
She's gonna hop that train and say bye-bye
Your partner will leave you without a proper goodbye.
You gotta run and tell the conductor
You need to take necessary actions to prevent your partner from leaving.
You gotta stop, get a ticket
To stop your partner from leaving, you need to make efforts and do something about it.
You know your baby used to love you
There was a time when your partner loved you very much.
Cause you wouldn't have no other
Because you were loyal and did not have any other affairs.
But she ran away and said bye-bye
But now, your partner has left you without any signs of returning.
And now she won't be your lover
Your partner has lost all love and affection for you.
Stop, get a ticket
The chorus repeats, emphasizing the need to put in effort and stop your partner from leaving.
Stop, get a ticket
Repeat of the chorus.
Stop, get a ticket
Repeat of the chorus.
Stop, get a ticket...
The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, urging you to take action to save your relationship.
Contributed by Cooper T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.