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/
Wet Afternoon
The Stranglers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the candlelight
Now a childlike voice comes
From the other side
There behind the curtain
I saw something move
I couldn't tell for certain
She wants to speak to daddy
But daddy doesn't come
We only try to help her
We mean nobody harm
Keeping dry on a wet afternoon
This is no place for tears
The table turns on a wet afternoon
God has mighty powers
No one can explain
He chose us for his agents
To help our fellow man
They say it's an illusion
What we do in here
And for the richest pocket
We are the most sincere
Repeat chorus
Someone's pulled the curtains
All the lights turned out
Taps upon the table
In an empty house
The lyrics to the song “Wet Afternoon” by The Stranglers are filled with eerie mystery, as they describe a group of people gathered together in a circle with candles illuminating their faces. They are trying to communicate with someone from the “other side,” and as they do, they become aware of a presence lurking just beyond the curtains. The song is both haunting and unsettling, as it leaves the listener to wonder what exactly is happening in this darkened room and what these people are hoping to achieve with their séance.
The opening lines of the song depict a group of individuals holding hands in a circle, as they try to make contact with someone from the other side. The imagery is potent, as it conjures up a sense of ritualistic behavior and an intense sense of focus. The childlike voice that they hear is both eerie and unsettling, and it is made even more so by the shadowy figure that seems to be lurking just out of sight behind the curtains.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the people in the room are attempting to help a troubled child. They talk about “speaking to daddy,” but their efforts seem to be in vain, as he doesn’t respond. Meanwhile, the sense of foreboding that permeates the song only grows stronger. The idea that these people are manipulating forces beyond their control is a chilling one, and it creates an atmosphere of dread that makes this one of The Stranglers’ most memorable tracks.
Overall, “Wet Afternoon” is a powerful and evocative song that leaves a lasting impression on the listener. Its themes of death, loss, and the unknown make it a haunting piece of music, and its unsettling lyrics and mysterious imagery only add to its impact.
Line by Line Meaning
Hands around a circle
People are holding hands in a circle formation
In the candlelight
The only source of light is from candles
Now a childlike voice comes
A voice that sounds like a child's is heard
From the other side
The voice seems to come from somewhere else
There behind the curtain
Something is behind the curtain
I saw something move
Movement was detected
I couldn't tell for certain
It was difficult to determine what was moving
Maybe it was you
The movement could have been caused by someone
She wants to speak to daddy
A female voice desires to speak to her father
But daddy doesn't come
However, the father does not answer her call
We only try to help her
Other people are trying to assist her
We mean nobody harm
They have no intention of causing harm
Keeping dry on a wet afternoon
They are staying dry during a rainy day
This is no place for tears
Crying is not appropriate in this environment
The table turns on a wet afternoon
A shift in power dynamics is happening during the rainy day
God has mighty powers
There is a belief in a powerful higher being
No one can explain
However, no one can fully describe or understand this being
He chose us for his agents
This higher being has selected people to carry out their work
To help our fellow man
The work assigned is to aid other human beings
They say it's an illusion
Others may view their work as fake or not genuine
What we do in here
Their actions are being questioned
And for the richest pocket
Despite this, they are still dedicated to their work
We are the most sincere
They believe their dedication is beyond compare
Repeat chorus
Go back to the chorus
Someone's pulled the curtains
The curtains have been moved by someone
All the lights turned out
All the sources of light have been switched off
Taps upon the table
The sound of someone lightly hitting the table is heard
In an empty house
Despite the sound, the house is vacant
Contributed by Scarlett D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.