Cornwell was born in London, England in 1949 - growing up in Tufnell Park and Kentish Town - and attended William Ellis School in Highgate, where he was friends with Richard Thompson, later a member of Fairport Convention. In the late 1960s, having obtained a degree in biochemistry from Bristol University, he embarked on postgraduate research post in Lund University, southern Sweden. Not long after his arrival he formed a band, Johnny Sox.
Cornwell did not complete his doctorate and returned to the UK, in 1974. Soon after, he formed The Stranglers with Jet Black, Hans Warmling and Jean Jacques Burnel. By 1977 they had secured a deal with United Artists records and become the highest selling band on the UK punk scene and had several hit singles and albums.
By the time Cornwell reached his thirties, the British punk scene had died down and he was prompted to start a solo career in case the Stranglers broke up. He recorded his first album away from the group, Nosferatu, in collaboration with the Captain Beefheart's Magic Band's drummer, Robert Williams, in 1979.
Shortly before his 41st birthday Cornwell decided that the band could go no further artistically. He recorded the albums 10 and Saturday Night/Sunday Morning before leaving after sixteen years in the band. He described life with the Stranglers as brilliant, but he felt he had a dark coat over him. His biographical writing attest to many conflicts within the band, particularly between Cornwell and Burnel.
Since leaving the Stranglers his solo career has continued. He has released 11 solo albums, Wolf (1988), Wired (1993), Guilty (1997), Black Hair Black Eyes Black Suit (1999), First Bus To Babylon (1999), Hifi (2001), Footprints In The Desert (2002), Mayday (2002), In The Dock (2003), Beyond Elysian Fields (2004), Dirty Dozen (2006) and three collaborations, Nosferatu (1979) featuring Robert Williams, CCW (1992) featuring Roger Cook and Andy West and Sons Of Shiva (2002) featuring Sex W Johnston.
Cornwell's book, The Stranglers: Song by Song, was published in November 2001 by Sanctuary Publishing. In it he explains for the first time the real stories behind the Stranglers extensive catalogue of songs. In October 2004 Cornwell's autobiography A Multitude of Sins was published by Harper Collins.
The Stranglers' most successful song, Golden Brown, featured on the soundtrack to Guy Ritchie's Hollywood blockbuster Snatch; whilst Peaches was used as the opening sequence of the hit film Sexy Beast as well as in a Nike TV ad for 2002's Football World Cup.
A triple live album, People Places Pieces containing 45 tracks spanning the whole of Cornwell's career has been released in 2006. It spans his time with the Stranglers from 1974 to 1990, plus his critically acclaimed solo career to date and features remarkable performances of old and new standards.
Hugh Cornwell has completed his new album Hooverdam and first film Blueprint in Toerag Studios with producer Liam Watson (White Stripes 'Elephant'). The whole “Hoover Dam” album is available to download completely FREE as high quality DRM-free MP3s from www.hughcornwell.com – and Hugh’s site is now in twelve languages (English, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Italian, Turkish, Russian, Arabic, Farsi, Mandarin and Japanese).
This initiative has brought Hugh’s music to a massive new audience – a fact borne out by his barnstorming show at the Glastonbury Festival which was overflowing with people wanting to catch the performance. The CD version of “Hoover Dam” includes a DVD containing feature-length documentary “Blueprint”, and vinyl LP sales have also been very strong. “Hoover Dam” has been also making a splash abroad, with fantastic US concert dates throughout September, and shows in Germany, Holland, Lithuania, France and England.
Cádiz
Hugh Cornwell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't imagine what the world would be like without her sunset to brighten up the sky
Walked down her streets and the cool shadows in which I lingered before bursting into light
Opened her door I was beckoned inside into a fairy tale I climbed up to her heights
Hola Cadiz Falla she is
Hola Cadiz Falla she is
I hear the waves like the beat of her heart down by the shoreline past and present slips
Away Cadiz Falla she is
Hola Cadiz Falla she is
Show me a reason give me a sign
We could be leaving all this behind
So if a songbird flies from the north down to the island he'll be holding her hand
And he'll be looking for the house that is still down by the shoreline and she'll understand
Hola Cadiz Falla she is
Hola Cadiz Falla she is
Show me a reason give me a sign
We could be leaving all this behind
The lyrics of Hugh Cornwell's Cadiz paint a picture of a beautiful and magnetic woman living in the charming Spanish city of Cadiz. She is so alluring that the singer of the song cannot imagine a world without the beauty of her sunset brightening up the sky. As he walks down the streets of the city, the cool shadows and centuries of history echo his footsteps before bursting into light. The woman then beckons him into her home, which feels otherworldly and like climbing up to the heights of a fairytale.
The song speaks to the magic and charm of the city of Cadiz, which is personified in the woman who embodies the essence of the city. The waves at the shoreline are likened to the beat of her heart, and the centuries of history that have taken place in the city are reflected back in the mysterious and alluring atmosphere she exudes.
Overall, the lyrics of Cadiz capture the essence of the city's beauty and allure, while also leaving room for the possibility that this woman could be the reason for the singer to leave his old life behind and start anew.
Line by Line Meaning
She was a woman with a magnetic smile pointed at me like a compass at night
She had an attractive smile that drew me in and guided me towards her like a compass in the dark
I can't imagine what the world would be like without her sunset to brighten up the sky
Her presence makes life more vibrant and colorful, and without her the world would be lacking in beauty
Walked down her streets and the cool shadows in which I lingered before bursting into light
I explored the city and enjoyed the moments of calm and reflection before discovering the excitement and joy it had to offer
Opened her door I was beckoned inside into a fairy tale I climbed up to her heights
Entering her home, I felt invited into a magical world and was elevated to a higher state of being
Hola Cadiz Falla she is
She is the embodiment of the spirit and culture of Cadiz, as exemplified by its famous Carnaval de Cadiz
I walk down her steps and the centuries echo my footfalls bouncing round the crypt
As I descend the old steps, I can sense the history and tradition of the city reverberating around me
I hear the waves like the beat of her heart down by the shoreline past and present slips
Standing by the ocean, I can feel the connection between the city's past and present, as represented by the rhythmic sound of the waves
Away Cadiz Falla she is
She is a force that cannot be ignored or denied, a symbol of the city's vitality and character
Show me a reason give me a sign
I need some confirmation or inspiration to help me make a decision or take an action
We could be leaving all this behind
There is a possibility of moving on from the past and embracing a new future
So if a songbird flies from the north down to the island he'll be holding her hand
Even nature recognizes the beauty and allure of the city, and seeks to join in its celebrations
And he'll be looking for the house that is still down by the shoreline and she'll understand
The bird will seek out the symbols of the city's history and culture, and the people will appreciate and welcome it
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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@nicensleazy1892
perhaps his best ever solo track :-)
@stevenboulton9911
Great song.....love Hughs Style