Original personnel were singer/guitarist Hugh Cornwell (from Kentish Town, London), keyboardist/guitarist Hans Wärmling (from Sweden, replaced within two years by Brighton-born keyboardist Dave Greenfield), London-born bass guitarist Jean-Jacques Burnel and drummer Jet Black (real name Brian Duffy), a native of Ilford, Essex.
They began as a sinister sounding, hard-edged pub rock group, but eventually branched out to explore other styles of music. The Stranglers were, beginning in 1976, tangentially associated with punk rock, due in part to their opening for The Ramones' first British tour. The Stranglers were also associated with new wave music as well as gothic rock, but their idiosyncratic approach never fit completely within a musical genre.
In August 1990, founding member Cornwell left the band to pursue a solo career. In his autobiography, Cornwell states that he felt the band was a spent force creatively, and cited various examples of his increasingly acrimonious relationship with his fellow band-members, particularly Burnel. The remaining members recruited two replacements, including John Ellis, who had opened for the band in the 1970s as a member of The Vibrators, and singer Paul Roberts.
Interest in The Stranglers resurfaced when, in 2001, singer Tori Amos covered their song "Strange Little Girl" and titled the album it was featured on Strange Little Girls. "Golden Brown" was also used in the hit film Snatch by film director Guy Ritchie and extensively in the Australian film He Died With A Felafel In His Hand. Their hit "No More Heroes" was covered by Violent Femmes and used for the film Mystery Men. "Peaches", finally, also appears prominently in another British movie, Sexy Beast by director Jonathan Glazer.
The Stranglers had a critical and popular renaissance in 2004 (together with their first top 40 hit for 14 years - "Big Thing Coming") with the acclaimed Norfolk Coast album and a subsequent sell-out tour. The follow-up album, Suite XVI, was released in September 2006 (the title is a pun on "Sweet 16" and also a reference to the fact that it is the band's 16th studio album).
During the recording of Suite XVI Paul Roberts left the band to pursue his solocareer. Guitarist Baz Warne, who replaced John Ellis in 2000, became the main vocalist.
A quite rare Hugh Cornwell audio interview may be listened to on http://www.jasonwrightonline.com/
Big in America
The Stranglers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
His family had a massive tree
They live just about everywhere
He was big in America
He was big in America
I met a vet in America
He was alive, he was in overdrive
He was big in America
He was big in America
And when you're big in America
You like to live in America
You won't be on your own
And since you've big in America
You might as well make America your home
Big in America
I met a girl in America
She wore the pants 'cross a big expanse
She was whippin' men everywhere
She was big in America
She was big in America
And when you're big in America
You like to live in America
You won't be on your own
And since you've big in America
You might as well make America your home
Big in America
Big in America
Big in America
Big in America
The Stranglers's song Big in America is a satirical take on the American dream and the glorification of success in American culture. The lyrics describe encounters with various individuals who have achieved fame or success in the United States. The first encounter is with a roach, who has an entire family living in a massive tree and is seen as "big" due to his widespread presence. The second encounter is with a veteran who has traveled extensively and is also seen as "big" due to his experiences. The third encounter is with a woman who is described as being dominant and "whippin' men everywhere", and is also seen as "big" due to her success.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the desire to live in America once one has become successful or "big". The repetition of the phrase "Big in America" throughout the song also serves to convey the absurdity and emptiness of the idea of achieving success solely for the purpose of being recognized in America.
Overall, Big in America is a critique of the shallow values and priorities of American culture, which places a disproportionate emphasis on material success and fame.
Line by Line Meaning
I met a roach in America
I encountered a cockroach during my time in America
His family had a massive tree
The cockroach's family resided in a large tree
They live just about everywhere
Cockroaches can be found in numerous places in America
He was big in America
This particular cockroach was quite large in size
He was big in America
Reinforcement of the previous line; this cockroach was noteworthy for its size
I met a vet in America
During my time in America, I encountered a veterinarian
He was alive, he was in overdrive
The veterinarian was alive and appeared to be working hard
He'd just been around everywhere
The veterinarian had traveled to and worked in many different places
He was big in America
This veterinarian was significant or prominent in some way
He was big in America
Reinforcement of the previous line; this veterinarian was noteworthy for some reason
And when you're big in America
If someone becomes well-known or successful in America
You like to live in America
They may prefer to reside in America
You won't be on your own
Being well-known or successful in America can mean having support or companionship
And since you're big in America
If you've achieved significance or success in America
You might as well make America your home
It would make sense to make America your permanent residence
I met a girl in America
During my time in America, I encountered a woman
She wore the pants 'cross a big expanse
This woman had control or influence over a large area or group of people
She was whippin' men everywhere
She was gaining control or dominance over men in various places
She was big in America
This woman was significant or influential in some way
She was big in America
Reinforcement of the previous line; this woman was noteworthy for some reason
Big in America
Repeated phrase to emphasize or reinforce the main theme of the song; being significant or successful in America
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JEAN JAQUES BURNEL, HUGH CORNWELL, BRIAN DUFFY, DAVID GREENFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Patrick Stocks
I met a roach in America
His family had a massive tree
They live just about everywhere
He was big in America
He was big in America
I met a vet in America
He was alive, he was in overdrive
He'd just been around everywhere
He was big in America
He was big in America
And when you're big in America
You like to live in America
You won't be on your own
And since you've big in Amern
You might as well make America your home
Big in America
I met a girl in America
She wore the pants 'cross a big expanse
She was whip pin men everywhere
She was big in America
She was big in America
And when you're big in Amern
You like to live in America
You won't be on your own
And since you've big in America
You might as well make America your home
Big in America
Big in America
Big in America
Big in America
That Stephen Welch
RIP Dave Greenfield. "Big in America" may not have been "The Stranglers" biggest hit but shows their talent and versatility. Iconic because I remember their music clearly from half a lifetime ago.
NMACog
it does now
Ricardo Sáenz Leiva
the keyboard arpeggio in this song is top.
Les Price
GREAT BAND GREAT SONGS - LONG LIVE THE STRANGLERS
Patrick Stocks
I met a roach in America
His family had a massive tree
They live just about everywhere
He was big in America
He was big in America
I met a vet in America
He was alive, he was in overdrive
He'd just been around everywhere
He was big in America
He was big in America
And when you're big in America
You like to live in America
You won't be on your own
And since you've big in Amern
You might as well make America your home
Big in America
I met a girl in America
She wore the pants 'cross a big expanse
She was whip pin men everywhere
She was big in America
She was big in America
And when you're big in Amern
You like to live in America
You won't be on your own
And since you've big in America
You might as well make America your home
Big in America
Big in America
Big in America
Big in America
Anne-Sophie Morin
Hugh's face at 2:41 ... most genuine smile ever lmao
MYEYESHAVEMELTED
Rob, you appear to have directed all of my favourite videos of the 80s!! Nice work, Sir!
alan hughes
they are still brilliant
SpankyMonkey
Ironic that America, and most of the rest of the world practically ignored The Stranglers. Their loss
Pip Pirrup
im american and know who they are. im 34 though. and discovered them while i was still in high school but its true most dont know who they are