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.
Stop
Hugh Cornwell Lyrics
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I seen beautiful girls losing their curls.
I seen 'em stretched out 'n' getting a tan.
I seen criminal types.
I'll forgive 'em the hype, dressed up in a tailored suit.
I seen an angel, with a pair o' wings, running off with a bag o' loot.
I said, stop, it's getting late.
I said, stop trying burying your hate.
I seen a man get bored.
I seen a bone get gnawed.
I seen him playing with a loaded gun.
I seen you laughing loud.
I seen you crying wolf.
I seen you steppin' on yo' fellow man.
I seen you grabbing at everything you want with a pair of clawing hands.
I said, stop, it's getting late.
I said, stop try burying your hate.
I said, stop, and learn to love.
I said stop...
Look above at the crown of love; try it on, it fits you like a glove.
There are jewels up there for you to take a pair.
Nobody will miss them if you want to dare...
I seen men acting like they're dumb.
I seen women acting like they're scared.
I seen 'em both, together, raising kids.
I seen 'em both with time to spare.
I seen 'em loving each other.
I seen 'em fighting mad.
I seen 'em working for a gallon of gas.
I seen an uptight man, in a monkey suit, cracking skulls for a little brass.
I said, stop, it's getting late.
In Hugh Cornwell's song "Stop," the lyrics describe the observations the singer has made about the world around him. He has seen boys and girls waste their potential and criminals dressed in suits, but he has also seen angels committing theft. The singer urges the listener to stop burying their hate and to learn to love instead. He also encourages the listener to look up at the crown of love, which has jewels that are waiting to be taken.
The song is a critique of the society and the behaviors that exist within it. The singer is observing people's actions and is asking them to reconsider their ways. The line "I said, stop, and learn to love" acts as a call to action for the listener to change their ways and become more accepting of others. Overall, the song is a reminder that there is more to life than greed, hate, and violence.
Line by Line Meaning
I seen boys get up and blowing it, with the world in the palm of their hands.
I have witnessed boys who had everything they could ever ask for, but they still managed to mess it up.
I seen beautiful girls losing their curls.
I have seen pretty girls losing their charm and grace over time.
I seen 'em stretched out 'n' getting a tan.
I have witnessed people relaxed and stretched out, getting suntanned under the sun.
I seen criminal types.
I'll forgive 'em the hype, dressed up in a tailored suit.
I have seen people with a suspicious background and bad reputation, but I am willing to disregard the hype if they look polished and smart.
I seen an angel, with a pair o' wings, running off with a bag o' loot.
I saw an innocent-looking person, who looked like an angel, stealing something valuable and running away with it.
I said, stop, it's getting late.
I exclaimed that it's high time to stop doing what we are doing.
I said, stop trying burying your hate.
I suggested that people should stop suppressing their hatred and address it instead.
I seen a human face inside a coloured race, gettin' up, and starting to run.
I have seen people from different races and ethnicities breaking free from societal chains and taking control of their lives.
I seen a man get bored.
I seen a bone get gnawed.
I seen him playing with a loaded gun.
I witnessed a man getting bored, chewing on bones, and playing with a dangerous weapon.
I seen you laughing loud.
I seen you crying wolf.
I seen you steppin' on yo' fellow man.
I seen you grabbing at everything you want with a pair of clawing hands.
I have observed you laughing, lying, mistreating others, and grabbing everything you can without any regard for others.
I said, stop, and learn to love.
I encouraged people to stop their destructive ways and learn to love.
Look above at the crown of love; try it on, it fits you like a glove.
There are jewels up there for you to take a pair.
Nobody will miss them if you want to dare...
I pointed out that love is valuable and abundant, and encouraged people to wear its crown and take its jewels for themselves.
I seen men acting like they're dumb.
I seen women acting like they're scared.
I have seen men acting foolish and women acting afraid.
I seen 'em both, together, raising kids.
I seen 'em both with time to spare.
I seen 'em loving each other.
I seen 'em fighting mad.
I seen 'em working for a gallon of gas.
I witnessed men and women raising children together, having free time, loving each other, and fighting hard for their daily bread.
I seen an uptight man, in a monkey suit, cracking skulls for a little brass.
I saw a tense and rigid man, dressed up in a formal suit, using violence to earn just a little bit of money.
I said, stop, it's getting late.
I reiterated that it's time to stop our negative habits and lifestyles.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HUGH CORNWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind