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/
Straighten Out
The Stranglers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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 ...
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
@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.
@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
@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.