Meaningful songs #21 - THE STRANGLERS

This  is the twenty-first in an occasional series of songs from my collection, with the intent of introducing music to younger readers that they may gain appreciation of music from the classic years, 1957-1990. 

I have lived long enough to hear the "popular" music industry become ever-more formulaic, lazy, uninspiring and cynical; delivering "units" and "artistes" as interesting and memorable as polished mud.

Meaningful songs that eloquently convey a story, sentiment, or social comment and make it to national consciousness are rare these days. If you agree this song is meaningful, please introduce it to someone young; they might enjoy becoming "musical archaeologists".

Todays song, titled "Golden Brown", released in 1981, is by a group called THE STRANGLERS.

The stranglers - Punks for a while but so much more

Hear the song here

Golden Brown, credited to all band members, is a lyrically vague song having two accepted interpretations: Either s song about a woman with golden brown skin, or about heroin - a golden brown powdered opiate drug. It is musically complex and was expected by the band "to tank in the Christmas rush", but it took off and became a hit, such was the appreciation of its unique musicality at that time. The full story of Golden Brown is told here, though a lesser narrative accuses The Stranglers of plagiarising the US band Quicksilver Messenger Service and their instrumental piece Gold And Silver.

N.B. There is an exceptionally good spoof video of a 1950's-60's Jazz group called the Dave Brubeck Quartet "performing" Golden Brown; actually a real group who never did perform Golden Brown. The spoof was created by Englishman Laurence Mason. Also, following the demise of the band, Hugh Cornwell resurrected the song with a Mexican band, "The Mariachis".

GOLDEN BROWN
    

Golden brown, texture like sun

Lays me down, with my mind she runs

Throughout the night, no need to fight

Never a frown with golden brown

Every time, just like the last

On her ship, tied to the mast

To distant lands, takes both my hands

Never a frown with golden brown

Golden brown, finer temptress

Through the ages, she's heading West

From far away, stays for a day

Never a frown with golden brown

Instrumental break

Never a frown (Never a frown)

Never a frown with golden brown)

Never a frown .....

 

There is a musical link to Angie by The Rolling Stones, in that both songs appear to be love songs but relate to the use of Heroin.

Return to the first article in this series or hear the first song in this series.

Read the next article in the series or hear the next song in the series.

For the index of all songs in this blog click here.