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/
Time to Die
The Stranglers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You couldn't even imagine
Neon storms on the airstrips at Sales Marsh
I saw hope in King Gomez Cape of eyes
Before the Ten Year Fog
Alas these things will disappear
Time to die
Time to die
The Stranglers' "Time to Die" is a dark, melancholic song whose lyrics convey a sense of hopelessness and despair. The opening lines of the song, "My eyes have gazed upon things / You couldn't even imagine," suggest that the singer has undergone some profound experiences that have left a lasting impression on his mind. The reference to "neon storms on the airstrips at Sales Marsh" conjures up a vivid image of a dystopian world where even the skies are filled with artificial lights and pollution.
The second verse is more introspective, as the singer reflects on the fleeting nature of hope. He mentions "King Gomez Cape of eyes," which could be a metaphor for a promised land or a utopia that has since faded away. The reference to the "Ten Year Fog" suggests that this once bright future has been obscured by a haze of uncertainty and fear. The chorus repeats the phrase "Time to die" to drive home the idea that all things come to an end and that even the most cherished memories will eventually fade away.
Overall, "Time to Die" is a poignant meditation on the transience of life and the inevitability of death. The subdued instrumentation and haunting vocals create a somber atmosphere that immerses the listener in the singer's world of regret and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
My eyes have gazed upon things
I have seen things that are beyond imagination.
You couldn't even imagine
You have no capacity to even envision what I have seen.
Neon storms on the airstrips at Sales Marsh
I have witnessed electrically charged weather events at an airport in Sales Marsh.
I saw hope in King Gomez Cape of eyes
I found reasons to be optimistic in the presence of a powerful figure named King Gomez.
Before the Ten Year Fog
This was prior to an extended period of obscurity referred to as the Ten Year Fog.
Alas these things will disappear
Unfortunately, all of these experiences will ultimately vanish.
Like shifting sands in an ocean's bed
They will slip away as easily as sand moving underwater.
Time to die
It is now time for me to pass on from this life.
Time to die
My time has arrived, and my existence will come to an end.
Contributed by Wyatt N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.