Straighten Out
The Stranglers Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

And the first commandment reads
That human flesh and blood
Is sacred
Until there is no more food

The break of day has come
I see the cracks have just begun
To line the walls
Line the walls
I want to see the little girls and boys
Destroy their toys
And line the walls
Line the walls

What a fate for little girls
British boys' minds in a whirl
Tell you things that'll make your curls

Straighten out
Straighten out
Straighten out
Straighten out

For twenty years or more
Just tell me what we're living for
So tell me now
Tell me now
Frustrated intellect
That government capitulation
Follows now
Follows now

What a fate for little girls
British boys' minds in a whirl
Tell you things that'll make your curls

Straighten out
Straighten out
Straighten out
Straighten out

The break of day has come
I see the cracks have just begun
To line the walls
Line the walls
I want to see the little girls and boys
Destroy their toys
And line the walls
Line the walls

What a fate for little girls
British boys' minds in a whirl
Tell you things that'll make your curls

Straighten out
Straighten out
Straighten out
Straighten out

Straighten out
Straighten out




Straighten out
Straighten out ...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Stranglers' song Straighten Out seem to comment on the state of society, with a somber and critical tone. The first few lines of the song seem to address the sanctity of human life, stating that it is sacred until it becomes food: a sobering reminder of hunger and starvation across the world. This is followed by the break of the day and the observation of cracks on the walls, which could be a metaphor for the cracks in society that continue to grow. The next stanza talks about wanting to see little girls and boys destroy their toys and line the walls, which could represent a desire for change and a break from the norms that have led to this situation.


The song also features the line "British boys' minds in a whirl," which could be a commentary on the political climate in Britain during the time the song was written, with the lyrics addressing frustrations with the government and a lack of clear direction for the country. The line "tell you things that'll make your curls" is a reference to hair standing on end due to shock or fear, suggesting that the situation is dire.


Overall, The Stranglers' Straighten Out lyrics seem to comment on a societal need for change and the frustration that is felt when that change is slow or nonexistent.


Line by Line Meaning

And the first commandment reads
The first rule states


That human flesh and blood
That the body of human beings


Is sacred
Is holy and deserving of respect


Until there is no more food
Until there is no other option but to cannibalize


The break of day has come
Morning has arrived


I see the cracks have just begun
I observe that the cracks in the system are starting to show


To line the walls
To decorate the walls with fissures


I want to see the little girls and boys
I wish to witness the destruction caused by the juveniles


Destroy their toys
Demolish their playthings


And line the walls
And embellish the walls with cracking patterns


What a fate for little girls
The destiny that awaits young females


British boys' minds in a whirl
Mentally confused boys from Britain


Tell you things that'll make your curls
Reveal something that might surprise you


Straighten out
Fix what's wrong


For twenty years or more
For two decades or more


Just tell me what we're living for
Just explain what the purpose of our existence is


So tell me now
So give me an answer immediately


Frustrated intellect
An intellect that is vexed


That government capitulation
That the government has surrendered


Follows now
Is happening now


The break of day has come
Morning has arrived


I see the cracks have just begun
I observe that the cracks in the system are starting to show


To line the walls
To decorate the walls with fissures


I want to see the little girls and boys
I wish to witness the destruction caused by the juveniles


Destroy their toys
Demolish their playthings


And line the walls
And embellish the walls with cracking patterns


What a fate for little girls
The destiny that awaits young females


British boys' minds in a whirl
Mentally confused boys from Britain


Tell you things that'll make your curls
Reveal something that might surprise you


Straighten out
Fix what's wrong


Straighten out
Fix what's wrong


Straighten out
Fix what's wrong


Straighten out
Fix what's wrong




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN JOHN DUFFY, DAVID GREENFIELD, HUGH ALAN CORNWELL, JEAN JACQUES BURNEL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@undergroundwarrior70

J.J. Burnel studied classical guitar in his younger years.

Jet Black was a jazz drummer in his younger years.

Hugh Cornwell played bass in a band in the late 60's.


Dave Greenfield learned how to play the guitar from a older schoolmate, played in several bands before joining The Stranglers, and he worked for his father in the printing business, and as a piano tuner. Dave was a musical perfectionist and he could be awkward in social situations; observations consistent with his diagnosis, which was never made public during his lifetime, as a high-functioning autistic. Which most of us (or none of us) didn't even know.

I saw The Stranglers in concert in my hometown of Santa Barbara, California around the mid 80's at the Santa Barbara County Bowl.
Oddly enough they opened up for Roxy Music. Two of my many favorite bands from England.

Do Rest In Peace Dave. We all miss you, but never forgotten.



@zg8626

So good.
I love:
- the way Dave has to get on his knees to worship his organ before the solo.
- Jet's light touch. He could so easily have overwhelmed the vocal and didn't.
- JJ's fabulous raw sound.
- Hugh.


PS/ "For 20 years or more" not "I'm 10 years or more". Read his lips.



All comments from YouTube:

@sean4286

Don't even get me started, what a band and what a tune.

@mummyd1990

Too true,Rip Dave.

@guntherbeckman1257

Absolutely mate

@ivanjosephmurray605

Well said. Proper good.

@Alfredo78666

What?

@tabbykat9

They are my favorite no joke

14 More Replies...

@stuartharrison165

Early Stranglers is always brilliant , JJ's bass has been killing me for 45 years .

@tadsomato1940

He is a unique force on the bass.

@daz.6112

For sure. 'School Mam' still blows me away bro.

@trevorbrown6654

Even their more recent stuff is better than most of the crap in the charts these days but yes, the stuff recorded 77-81 was probably their zenith. Attitude, biting lyrics, an angry but accomplished style and Hugh doing the singing was definitely their best days.

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