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/
Blue Sky
The Stranglers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Did you ever think you had it made
It's a big wide world
Think of all the games left to play
You wrote the letter
I saw your fingers bleed
And your brown eyes glaze
Such a beautiful waste
Goodbye blue sky, what will it be, wash over me
Goodbye blue sky, wash over me
What will it be, wash over me
Wash over me
Whatever happens to the time we give
Never took a life
Never stole a kiss
Sitting here
Staring out, it's a twisting world
Someone's cracked the glass and
Turned it upside down
The Stranglers' song "Blue Sky" is a song that deals with the themes of regret, loss, and departure. The tone of the song is melancholic, and the lyrics express a sense of resignation towards one's fate. In the beginning of the song, the singer bids goodbye to the blue sky, which is a metaphor for the optimistic outlook on life. The blue sky represents the possibilities, the games yet to be played, and the dreams yet to be realized. However, as life progresses, the singer realizes that the blue sky was just an illusion, and the reality is much darker.
The second verse of the song talks about the memories and the things that never happened. The singer regrets not taking the chances, not stealing the kisses, and not living the life to the fullest. The world is twisted, and the glass is cracked, which symbolizes the hopelessness and despair that the singer feels. The song ends with the singer asking the blue sky to wash over him, which shows that he is ready to accept his fate and move on.
Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the human condition, and it reveals the insecurities and fears that we all have. The melancholic tone of the song, coupled with the poignant lyrics, makes it a timeless classic that resonates with people across generations.
Line by Line Meaning
Goodbye blue sky, goodbye blue sky
The singer is bidding farewell to the clear and open blue sky with a hint of sadness.
Did you ever think you had it made
The singer is asking if the blue sky ever thought it has achieved everything it needs to and nothing more.
It's a big wide world
The singer acknowledges that the world is vast and is full of endless possibilities.
Think of all the games left to play
The singer urges the listeners to explore the world and discover all the wonders of life that are yet to be experienced.
You wrote the letter
The singer is addressing someone who sent a letter, and acknowledges the effort they put into writing it.
I saw your fingers bleed
The singer observed the sender's struggle in writing the letter and is expressing sympathy towards them.
And your brown eyes glaze
The singer could also see the pain and sadness in the sender's eyes when they wrote the letter.
Such a beautiful waste
The singer appreciates the sender's artistic expression and is lamenting the situation that led to them writing the letter in the first place.
Goodbye blue sky, what will it be, wash over me
The singer is again saying farewell to the blue sky and asking what the future holds for them and the environment around them.
Whatever happens to the time we give
The singer is contemplating the allocation of time in one's life and the meaning we attach to it.
Never took a life
The singer has never caused harm to anyone or anything through their actions.
Never stole a kiss
The singer has never cheated or taken advantage of someone for their own benefit.
Sitting here
The singer is reflecting on their current situation and taking a moment to think.
Staring out, it's a twisting world
The singer sees that the world is not straightforward and uncomplicated but rather confusing and puzzling.
Someone's cracked the glass and
There is something or someone that caused the distortion in what the singer perceives to be real, and they are pointing that out.
Turned it upside down
The world seems to be turned upside down, causing everything to be chaotic and disorderly.
Contributed by Lillian I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.