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Golden Brown
Stranglers Lyrics
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Lays me down, with my mind she runs
Throughout the night
No need to fight
Never a frown with golden brown
Every time just like the last
On her ship tied to the mast
Takes both my hands
Never a frown with golden brown
Golden brown, finer temptress
Through the ages she's heading west
From far away
Stays for a day
Never a frown with golden brown
Never a frown (never a frown), never a frown
With golden brown (with golden brown), with golden brown
Never a frown (never a frown), never a frown
With golden brown (with golden brown), with golden brown
Never a frown (never a frown), never a frown
With golden brown (with golden brown), with golden brown
Never a frown (never a frown), never a frown
With golden brown (with golden brown), with golden brown
The Stranglers’ “Golden Brown” is an enigmatic and seductive song full of hidden meanings that have been a subject of debate since its release in 1982. At first, the upbeat melody and harmonic structure might suggest a joyful and sunny atmosphere, yet the lyrics tell a different story. The song is rich in metaphor and symbolism, and its true meaning remains open to interpretation.
At its core, “Golden Brown” is a song about addiction and infatuation. The titular reference to “Golden Brown” might refer to heroin, as its color and texture resemble the drug. The first verse reveals the singer being laid down by a woman who runs through their mind. The next verse brings up the image of a ship tied to a mast, a reference to the Greek myth of Odysseus, who had himself tied to his ship to resist the allure of the Sirens' song. The song's climax suggests that the song's subject is enslaved by this addiction, as the woman he describes never leaves a frown on his face.
The enigmatic nature of “Golden Brown” extends beyond its lyrics. The song combines elements of baroque pop and folk music with a modern rock and new wave sound to create a unique sonic atmosphere. The subtle use of harpsichord and other classical instruments gives the song a timeless quality while its drum machine and synthesizers place it firmly in the 1980s. The initial reception to the song was mixed, but it has since become a classic and a staple of alternative rock radio.
Line by Line Meaning
Golden brown, texture like sun
The singer describes a woman who is like the shining sun and has a golden-brown complexion.
Lays me down, with my mind she runs
When the singer is with this woman, he feels relaxed and entranced by her.
Throughout the night
He spends the night with her, not wanting to be anywhere else.
No need to fight
He doesn't argue or have any disagreements with this woman.
Never a frown with golden brown
The woman always has a smile on her face and makes the singer happy.
Every time just like the last
Each time he is with her, it feels like the first time and is just as special.
On her ship tied to the mast
He is willing to go anywhere with her, even on a dangerous adventure.
To distant lands
The woman takes him on journeys far away from home.
Takes both my hands
She holds his hands and leads him on these exciting travels.
Golden brown, finer temptress
She is a seductive, irresistible woman.
Through the ages she's heading west
This woman has been around for centuries and is always moving forward into new adventures.
From far away
She comes from a distant place and seems mysterious to the singer.
Stays for a day
She is only with him for a short time before moving on to her next adventure.
Never a frown with golden brown
Despite her brief stay, she always leaves the singer feeling happy and content.
Never a frown (never a frown), never a frown
Repeating the chorus reinforces the theme of the woman always making the singer happy.
With golden brown (with golden brown), with golden brown
Repeating her name reinforces her importance and allure to the singer.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Brian Duffy, Dave Greenfield, Hugh Cornwell, Jean Jacques Burnel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sebastian
Golden brown, texture like sun
Lays me down, with my mind she runs
Throughout the night, no need to fight
Never a frown with golden brown
Every time, just like the last
On her ship tied to the mast
To distant lands takes both my hands
Never a frown with golden brown
Golden brown, finer temptress
Through the ages she's heading west
From far away, stays for a day
Never a frown with golden brown
Never a frown with golden brown
Never a frown with golden brown (never a frown with golden brown)
Never a frown with golden brown (never a frown with golden brown)
Never a frown (never a frown)
Never a frown (with golden brown)
With golden brown (with golden brown)
With golden brown
Michael Melro
** LYRICS **
[Verse 1]
Golden brown, texture like sun
Lays me down, with my mind she runs
Throughout the night, no need to fight
Never a frown with golden brown
[Verse 2]
Every time, just like the last
On her ship, tied to the mast
To distant lands, takes both my hands
Never a frown with golden brown
[Verse 3]
Golden brown, finer temptress
Through the ages, she's heading west
From far away, stays for a day
Never a frown with golden brown
[Instrumental]
[Outro]
Never a frown (never a frown)
(Never a frown) with golden brown (with golden brown)
(With golden brown) never a frown (never a frown)
(Never a frown) with golden brown (with golden brown)
(With golden brown) never a frown (never a frown)
(Never a frown) with golden brown (with golden brown)
(With golden brown) never a frown (never a frown)
(Never a frown) with golden brown (with golden brown)
benski tv
After years of copyright dispute, 1080p version is live:
https://youtu.be/6meCXQ6UKb0
Cubit
That makes me so happy bro, tysm
Matfaios Tsala
Thanks man
Alejandro Vedia Espinoza
Good
paul evans
thanks old one.😁😁😁
Harry Garrett
Been looking for this version for years.
Ryan Mc
This song is beautiful. It's dark, it's soulful. It's been in my mind since I saw the movie "snatch". Love it
raymond jones
Snatch is the greatest movie ever produced! Theres a similar Guy Ritchie film named "Lock, Stock, and 2 Smoking Barrels" if you havent seen it, you should!
fuxbox
Thank you! I've been wracking my brain for half a year trying to remember where I heard this!
Ryan McDonough
Probably because it's about Heroin