Originally, they used the moniker 'The Nightlife Thugs'. The name "The Boomtown Rats" comes from a gang of down-and-outs from Woody Guthrie's autobiography, which the folk artist titled 'Bound for Glory'. The guys gained fame due to their often cynical tunes, having several notable singles, yet their record is overshadowed by the charity work on behalf of famine relief of their lead singer. Geldof, being nicknamed 'Bob The Gob' by the media for his big mouth, attained international fame after spearheading efforts such as 'Live Aid'.
The Boomtown Rats itself scored several Top Ten hits in the UK charts during their commercial peak, from 1978 to 79, and their most famous songs, still to this day, are "Rat Trap" (a U.K. #1) and "I Don't Like Mondays" (another U.K. #1), the latter being their biggest hit and achieving international notoriety. The track was written on a tour of the US in 1979 when Bob Geldof heard a telex machine spouting the story of Californian schoolgirl Brenda Ann Spencer, a girl that went on wild shooting spree at a San Diego high school with what seemed like no provocation before or remorse afterward. She justified her killing spree with the excuse "I don't like Mondays".
Bob Geldof has been gifted with the art of story-telling through songs. Lyrics are mostly in third person, have clever double entendre meanings, often relating some story or incident, eg "Dave". Geldof's charity work has been centred around the issue of famine relief, and includes being the organiser for the Band Aid single, for which he brought a superstar pop lineup together to record a song to aid famine relief (at the time was the fastest selling single in Britain of all time) and organizing the LiveAid concerts, a 2-continent superstar live concert that raised over 100 million dollars for famine relief.
Guitarist Gerry Cott left the band in 1981 and the band became a quintet. They disbanded in 1986 following a charity concert in Ireland. Most of the band members have now moved on to solo projects or new bands.
The Boomtown Rats reformed in 2013 going on tour again and released a new best of album Back to Boomtown : Classic Rats Hits which includes two new recorded songs.
So Strange
The Boomtown Rats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was screaming but I soon woke up
on that night on that night with you
I realized it was gonna be me or you
Ooh and it made me feel strange
so strange, strange
the fog was closing in on what remained of the light
on that night on that night with you
I heard the wild dogs howling in the distant moon
Ooh and it made me feel strange
so strange, strange
oh yeah..
You told me you had arranged
for something special and strange
but suddenly I saw your eyes
and realized that you were quite insane
And when the dawn came I listened hard for your breath
you once told me the bottom line in life is death
on that night on that night with you
I realized it was gonna be me or you
And it made me feel strange
so strange, strange
_______________________________________________________
*written by Bob Geldof
*originally released as the b-side of the single "Rat Trap"
The Boomtown Rats' song "So Strange" is a dark and introspective look at a dangerous and unsettling relationship. The lyrics describe the singer's realization that they are in grave danger, and that they must take drastic action in order to survive. The song opens with the image of the singer bleeding before they even realize they've been hurt, suggesting that they are living in a state of constant danger or distress. They then express their fear and confusion, admitting that they were screaming before they even knew what was happening. The chorus, with its repeated refrain of "so strange, strange," captures the eerie, unsettling feeling of this situation. The second verse describes the singer's attempts to pray and find solace, but the darkness and unease continue to close in around them. The bridge reveals that the singer was led into this dangerous situation by someone they trusted - someone who promised something "special and strange" but turned out to be insane.
Overall, "So Strange" is a powerful meditation on fear, danger, and the need for self-preservation in the face of a threatening situation. The singer's desperate attempt to make sense of their circumstances and protect themselves from harm will resonate with anyone who has ever found themselves in a similar position. Through its vivid imagery, haunting melody, and tense lyrics, the song paints a vivid picture of the desperation and terror that come with being trapped in a dangerous situation.
Line by Line Meaning
I was bleeding before I saw the blood
I was hurting inside before I even realized what was causing the pain.
I was screaming but I soon woke up
I was making noise, but then I realized what was happening and became calm.
On that night on that night with you
I realized it was gonna be me or you
That evening spent with you made me realize that one of us was going to come out on top, and the other would not.
So I knelt down and said my prayers that night
the fog was closing in on what remained of the light
The darkness was closing in, so I took a moment to pray for guidance and clarity.
On that night on that night with you
I heard the wild dogs howling in the distant moon
That evening with you was haunting, and even the sounds from outside seemed to reinforce that feeling.
You told me you had arranged
for something special and strange
but suddenly I saw your eyes
and realized that you were quite insane
You claimed to have planned something interesting, but your eyes showed me that your plans were actually quite crazy.
And when the dawn came I listened hard for your breath
you once told me the bottom line in life is death
When morning arrived, I was on the lookout for any sign that you had survived the night. It reminded me of the time you spoke about how life always ends in death.
And it made me feel strange
so strange, strange
Everything that happened that night left me with a weird feeling that I couldn't shake.
Contributed by Luke C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Reed Gordon
Great riff. Just love this band.
Paul
Played this song many many times, loved it and the lyrics, should have been an A side. In fact ' Lying Again ' & ' How do you do ' B sides- same year brilliant.
Albert Ross
Fucking hell.....and this song was only good enough for a B side.
THE BOOMTOWN RATS
Stop talking
Chris Drummond
Sounds like the Kinks