The Stranglers — Golden Brown
Album: La FolieAvg rating:
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Length: 3:23
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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
(La la la la la la la la leeeah)
Never a frown
With Golden Brown
Never a frown
With Golden Brown
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
(La la la la la la la la leeeah)
Never a frown
With Golden Brown
Never a frown
With Golden Brown
Comments (488)add comment
comment 487….
I’m definitely down with feeling “golden brown.”
I’m definitely down with feeling “golden brown.”
I love this song! First heard it in the movie 'Snatch' (such a great scene) and it was also in the much lesser-known movie 'He died with a felafel in his hand' in which its use seemed much more appropriate
Beautiful song, but I really get pissed about the subject matter. So many have died or destroyed their lives due to heroin, so I just hate hearing anything that glorifies the drug.
Heroin or Heroine take your pick
I reiterate my comment of 11 years ago: Anyone who glorifies heroin is despicable.
justin4kick wrote:
It is SUBLIME
You really should listen to this Dave Brubeck Golden Brown mashup
It's really great
It is SUBLIME
Cool sound. The music sounds like something from a Zelda game.
Dave Greenfield.. Great keyboards and sadly missed.
I was entranced when I first heard this song 41 years ago. It still transports me back in time.
This song is from the RP of yore. Probably one of the first songs I heard when I joined back during the biblical times. 
Still love it though and literally just found out what it's about. I thought he was singing about a girl.
Still love it though and literally just found out what it's about. I thought he was singing about a girl.
Never a frown with Gordon Brown
Massively underappreciated and influential (on New Wave) IMHO.
Nice little song about heroin.
This song was the perfect choice for the movie Snatch...
One of the greatest tracks not to make it to number 1 in the charts. Kept in second spot for two weeks by The Jam – A Town Called Malice, which, coincidentally, Bill played nine tracks earlier in today's mix. I wonder if he knew 
Love this song. Entrancing, hypnotic. And that guitar which comes in about halfway into the song is perfect.
MKoMOne wrote:
Also used brilliantly in "Metalhead", the Black Mirror episode with the robot dogs.
Great scene in the Move "Snatch" with this song. Guy Ritchie knows his stuff..
Also used brilliantly in "Metalhead", the Black Mirror episode with the robot dogs.
mbolch30307 wrote:
I just noticed that the whole song is in waltz time (3/4). Written while under the influence, I bet, not after coming down. "Never a frown".
Happiest song about heroin addiction -- ever!!
I just noticed that the whole song is in waltz time (3/4). Written while under the influence, I bet, not after coming down. "Never a frown".
Seems like I just heard this on RP the other day. Thank you.
A lot of harpsichord and organ sounds! Nice!
Lasting the test of time, this one 👍
rjraymond wrote:
I prefer to specifically listen to music that deals with concepts which I disagree with, especially if I'm unfamiliar with the concept.
then read poetry and practice yodeling
I prefer to specifically listen to music that deals with concepts which I disagree with, especially if I'm unfamiliar with the concept.
then read poetry and practice yodeling
Great scene in the Move "Snatch" with this song. Guy Ritchie knows his stuff..
t0m5k1 wrote:
Better stop listening to nearly all music then.
I prefer to specifically listen to music that deals with concepts which I disagree with, especially if I'm unfamiliar with the concept.
Better stop listening to nearly all music then.
I prefer to specifically listen to music that deals with concepts which I disagree with, especially if I'm unfamiliar with the concept.
this sounds so Sixties...
schwarze_kunst wrote:
It's 3/8 with 4/8 in between.
yes, never realised that. Great groove
It's 3/8 with 4/8 in between.
yes, never realised that. Great groove
Happiest song about heroin addiction -- ever!!
rocking that Harpsicord
garyalex wrote:
It's 3/8 with 4/8 in between.
Sounds like a fast waltz. 3/4?
It's 3/8 with 4/8 in between.
A gem! I love time signature changes so much.
Sounds like a fast waltz. 3/4?
excellent song and outstanding rhythm.
if you are not sure what i mean... just start counting what seems to be a 4/4 rhythm with 1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4... and see what happens
if you are not sure what i mean... just start counting what seems to be a 4/4 rhythm with 1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4... and see what happens
Wow, I had this on in the background and completely thought it was The Decemberists.
This has just been moved up to 10... I hear the intro and it moves me so.
Mugro wrote:
Have you seen the version of this song Hugh Cornell has done with a mariachi band? Brilliant. Look it up on youtube. You won't be disappointed.
I could listen to this only song for hours. Actually, I have, on several occasions :-D
The rest of the album is very... uneven? Some good, but not AS good, and some very weird tracks!
The rest of the album is very... uneven? Some good, but not AS good, and some very weird tracks!
nutrod42 wrote:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Harpsichords rock!
I believe the unique sounds in the background here is one of these things:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
I stumbled across this the other day, Brubeck performing "Golden Brown" ;-)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2Qs1J612nZs
Never a frown...
Never a frown...
This was played recently on an episode of The Umbrella Academy (Season 2) - Netflix.
...And I was like, "Hey! That's a song they play on Radio Paradise!"
Love it.
...And I was like, "Hey! That's a song they play on Radio Paradise!"
Love it.
maboleth wrote:
"Honey, it's all about drugs and promiscuous sex."
Great music, but questionable lyrics... Singing about drugs is just lame. :-/
"Honey, it's all about drugs and promiscuous sex."
Merci RP.
Love The Stranglers. Rattus Norvegicus is the debut studio album by the Stranglers, released on 15 April 1977. It was one of the highest-selling albums of the punk era in Britain, eventually achieving platinum record sales. Two of its tracks, "Peaches" and " Grip", were released as 7" singles in the UK.
I listened to Rattus Norvegicus a million times back then it seems. Saw their show at the Ontario Theater in DC in 82. Unforgettable.
THE BEST FOR ME
Always makes me think of Keith Floyd...:)
Definitely one of the perkiest songs about heroin going. As for "never a frown with golden brown", there's a whole lotta dead folk might disagree. Nina Hagen's 'Smack Jack' is a mighty fine counterpoint to this.
Mugro wrote:
That's fantastic!
Have you seen the version of this song Hugh Cornell has done with a mariachi band? Brilliant. Look it up on youtube. You won't be disappointed.
That's fantastic!
Mugro wrote:
Yeah, it's pretty cool.
Have you seen the version of this song Hugh Cornell has done with a mariachi band? Brilliant. Look it up on youtube. You won't be disappointed.
Yeah, it's pretty cool.
Proclivities wrote:
They played to a lot of "punk" audiences long before "Skin Deep" was released - mid'70s. "Peaches" and "No More Heroes" were two songs with particular punk appeal back then, but I agree they were never exactly a punk band.
My mother would disagree.
They played to a lot of "punk" audiences long before "Skin Deep" was released - mid'70s. "Peaches" and "No More Heroes" were two songs with particular punk appeal back then, but I agree they were never exactly a punk band.
My mother would disagree.
maboleth wrote:
Better stop listening to nearly all music then.
Great music, but questionable lyrics... Singing about drugs is just lame. :-/
Better stop listening to nearly all music then.
I always loved-hated this song. There's so much to love.
But when I remind myself that of all topics in the world he chose to sing about heroin as his "golden brown", suddenly it makes the lyrical content worthless and trivial.
But when I remind myself that of all topics in the world he chose to sing about heroin as his "golden brown", suddenly it makes the lyrical content worthless and trivial.
Never thought I'd give a thumbs-up to a mariachi tune :D
Mugro wrote:
Mugro wrote:
Have you seen the version of this song Hugh Cornell has done with a mariachi band? Brilliant. Look it up on youtube. You won't be disappointed.
Every time just like the last... Just always loved that song. Makes me think of a spinning top that keeps getting spun.
I don't think it's bad to discuss things like heroin. If loads and loads of people use it and become addicted, there's got to be something to it. Hiding or denying this doesn't help. Drugs are also mentioned in books such as Trainspotting and they are not a vindication of them. Far from it.
Anyways, I loved the song before I could understand what it was about.
This was a 7...but I lower to a 6. It's just a bit disjointed in it's attempt to be bountifully bouncy and mysterious. Too much.
Nice rhythm, interesting time signature.
Great music, but questionable lyrics... Singing about drugs is just lame. :-/
Mugro wrote:
I second that! In fact, here is the link.
Have you seen the version of this song Hugh Cornell has done with a mariachi band? Brilliant. Look it up on youtube. You won't be disappointed.
I second that! In fact, here is the link.
Have you seen the version of this song Hugh Cornell has done with a mariachi band? Brilliant. Look it up on youtube. You won't be disappointed.
This harpsichord sounding tune with a heroin theme is giving me an interesting visual of J.S. Bach shooting up some smack. Of course had he been on the H I'm guessing he wouldn't have had 20 kids!
I'm a big fan of this track and rate it a 9. LONG LIVE RP!
I'm a big fan of this track and rate it a 9. LONG LIVE RP!
Great song!! - its about heroin addiction BTW
SmackDaddy wrote:
Nothing about them was punk. Just happened to be british in the same era. The song Skin Deep was quirky enough to be liked on the new wave/alt scene but punk it wasn't.
They played to a lot of "punk" audiences long before "Skin Deep" was released - mid'70s. "Peaches" and "No More Heroes" were two songs with particular punk appeal back then, but I agree they were never exactly a punk band.
Nothing about them was punk. Just happened to be british in the same era. The song Skin Deep was quirky enough to be liked on the new wave/alt scene but punk it wasn't.
They played to a lot of "punk" audiences long before "Skin Deep" was released - mid'70s. "Peaches" and "No More Heroes" were two songs with particular punk appeal back then, but I agree they were never exactly a punk band.
Always liked this one, nice keyboards
Ramones followed by this Stranglers gem......There are some albums in our collection we have completely played out the grooves...La Folie and Feline are 2 that for me are in that group
A classic song from a band that defied the conventions of their day. Hugh Cornwell is one of the best singers of this or any era...and he plays a decent guitar too.
nutrod42 wrote:
Yes!
Harpsichords rock!
Yes!
Oh Bill, you have misinterpreted, I fear. They say it is about Marmite.
Heh.
Heh.
triplets in 3/3 last measure of the bar is in 5/4
NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote:
ah, is that what it is..
you can count to it in your head!
it's:
1,2,3 1,2,3 1,2,3 1,2,3,4
in the verse section.
It's a great song!
ah, is that what it is..
you can count to it in your head!
it's:
1,2,3 1,2,3 1,2,3 1,2,3,4
in the verse section.
It's a great song!
The Stranglers are always a welcome sound. Thanks Bill!
Still sounds fresh
omg...this mix is killing it tonight
Channelling my inner Donovan! Now I need to hear Hurdy Gurdy Man!
ppopp wrote:
Nothing about them was punk. Just happened to be british in the same era. The song Skin Deep was quirky enough to be liked on the new wave/alt scene but punk it wasn't.
Superb song. Not your typical punk single. Timeless.
Nothing about them was punk. Just happened to be british in the same era. The song Skin Deep was quirky enough to be liked on the new wave/alt scene but punk it wasn't.
Harpsichords rock!
PERFECTION
Again please!
Always sounds BRILL.
Love the catchy timing of this tune
nicolas65 wrote:
Fully agree. But 3/4 only for most of the time - they have inserted a few 4/4...
ah, is that what it is..
Fully agree. But 3/4 only for most of the time - they have inserted a few 4/4...
ah, is that what it is..
frolic4rp wrote:
don't quote me on it but I think it is a 4/4 time with the main beat on three.
One of the rare 3/4 time great songs of the era
don't quote me on it but I think it is a 4/4 time with the main beat on three.
frolic4rp wrote:
Fully agree. But 3/4 only for most of the time - they have inserted a few 4/4...
One of the rare 3/4 time great songs of the era
Fully agree. But 3/4 only for most of the time - they have inserted a few 4/4...
One of the rare 3/4 time great songs of the era
I saw the Stranglers back in '83 in Toronto as they were touring the album this song is from. They were great. Although they became popular during the punk movement all the musicians were a lot older than most of their fellow punkers. Hugh Cornwell went to school with Richard Thompson and Jet Black is older still. They put out some great music that stands up 30 and 40 years later and even had the odd commercial hit as with this tune.
"You Mother Should Know" followed by "Golden Brown" = two 10s in a row
Hannio wrote:
To Jim and his brandy.
Cheers!
Well, okay then, I'm glad we got that cleared up. And just to clarify further, I wasn't criticizing at all. I was pointing out the elements of the song I really like. Lyrically this song reminds me of Crystal Ship, which Morrison eventually said refers to a glass of brandy. Yeah, right, Jim, whatever you say. Well, I suppose he had no choice but to say that.
To Jim and his brandy.
Cheers!
Proclivities wrote:
Hannio wrote:
People have been comparing The Stranglers sound to that of The Doors for almost 40 years. They never denied the influence - especially their keyboard player. However, guitar modal scales played on a clean, non-distorted guitar existed long before Krieger. Any rock song with a harpsichord is going to remind some people of Manzarek (especially if the only other rock song with a harpsichord they've heard is "Love Me Two Times"), and Jim Morrison did not invent the concept of symbolic lyrics.
The guitar work is very reminiscent of Robby Krieger. Come to think of it, I'm hearing Ray Manzarek in the harpsichord, too, and the treatment of the subject matter is quintessentially Jim Morrison.
People have been comparing The Stranglers sound to that of The Doors for almost 40 years. They never denied the influence - especially their keyboard player. However, guitar modal scales played on a clean, non-distorted guitar existed long before Krieger. Any rock song with a harpsichord is going to remind some people of Manzarek (especially if the only other rock song with a harpsichord they've heard is "Love Me Two Times"), and Jim Morrison did not invent the concept of symbolic lyrics.
Well, okay then, I'm glad we got that cleared up. And just to clarify further, I wasn't criticizing at all. I was pointing out the elements of the song I really like. Lyrically this song reminds me of Crystal Ship, which Morrison eventually said refers to a glass of brandy. Yeah, right, Jim, whatever you say. Well, I suppose he had no choice but to say that.
Hannio wrote:
People have been comparing The Stranglers sound to that of The Doors for almost 40 years. They never denied the influence - especially their keyboard player. However, guitar modal scales played on a clean, non-distorted guitar existed long before Krieger. Any rock song with a harpsichord is going to remind some people of Manzarek (especially if the only other rock song with a harpsichord they've heard is "Love Me Two Times"), and Jim Morrison did not invent the concept of symbolic lyrics.
The guitar work is very reminiscent of Robby Krieger. Come to think of it, I'm hearing Ray Manzarek in the harpsichord, too, and the treatment of the subject matter is quintessentially Jim Morrison.
People have been comparing The Stranglers sound to that of The Doors for almost 40 years. They never denied the influence - especially their keyboard player. However, guitar modal scales played on a clean, non-distorted guitar existed long before Krieger. Any rock song with a harpsichord is going to remind some people of Manzarek (especially if the only other rock song with a harpsichord they've heard is "Love Me Two Times"), and Jim Morrison did not invent the concept of symbolic lyrics.
The guitar work is very reminiscent of Robby Krieger. Come to think of it, I'm hearing Ray Manzarek in the harpsichord, too, and the treatment of the subject matter is quintessentially Jim Morrison.
Aging very well. 8 -> 9 !
Beautiful but losing the vibe when it's overplayed again.
Superb song. Not your typical punk single. Timeless.
I stayed on to listen to Jean-Jacques sing in French.
Stranglersfan wrote:
Perhaps the above was true, but after their first 4 albums which were rather Punk, as in fast and loud and all made in the 70's. The Stranglers moved with the times, during the first half of the 80's they put out another 4 albums, which were all stunning in quality and workmanship, but perhaps not Punk Rock in terms of fast and loud. I think they were in their prime from 1977-1984. (My opinion of course)They still maintained their strong standing as punk rock pioneers and made incredible music. To me, those first 8 studio albums are the pinnacle of music that I love. The second half of the 80's they created another couple of very good studio albums. Hugh Cornwell (singer, songwriter and guitarist) left the band shortly after 1990. That is when I stopped listening. I could not keep following. It would be like the Beatles continuing on with out Lennon or McCartney.
Stranglersfan wrote:
Perhaps the above was true, but after their first 4 albums which were rather Punk, as in fast and loud and all made in the 70's. The Stranglers moved with the times, during the first half of the 80's they put out another 4 albums, which were all stunning in quality and workmanship, but perhaps not Punk Rock in terms of fast and loud. I think they were in their prime from 1977-1984. (My opinion of course)They still maintained their strong standing as punk rock pioneers and made incredible music. To me, those first 8 studio albums are the pinnacle of music that I love. The second half of the 80's they created another couple of very good studio albums. Hugh Cornwell (singer, songwriter and guitarist) left the band shortly after 1990. That is when I stopped listening. I could not keep following. It would be like the Beatles continuing on with out Lennon or McCartney.
Competitor for "Best song ever written" IMO.
Dukkha wrote:
I saw The Stranglers a few years back in London at the Shepherd's Bush Empire: we were up the back and my mate's much younger girlfriend on looking down at the standing area exclaimed "Oh my god! Look at all the skin-heads" to which we had to point out "No, everyone's just that much older - they are just all bald."
I saw The Stranglers a few years back in London at the Shepherd's Bush Empire: we were up the back and my mate's much younger girlfriend on looking down at the standing area exclaimed "Oh my god! Look at all the skin-heads" to which we had to point out "No, everyone's just that much older - they are just all bald."
Overplayed on RP
Who the hell was up to this in '81..
stranglin'
stranglin'
An English "HALLELU-JAH" to HEROIN!
a "10", of course!
a "10", of course!
Tommy...he's prayin'....and if he's not....he fuckin' better be...
My first single, saved for 2 weeks.
couldnt cope with giving it less.
couldnt cope with giving it less.
Made Harpsichord sound trendy for 3 minutes. Beautiful song especially at the time of release, and surprisingly less dated than most from that era
One of my all time faves.
One of the greats.
X 2 hayduke2 wrote:
RIP to a great actor, there's a strong review for "God's Pocket" in this week's New Yorker
Hoffman was tremendously great. His acting always pulled a visceral reaction out of me—hatred at the bullying bellowing sleaze in "Punchdrunk Love", pity and exasperation towards the depressed and closeted homosexual in "Boogie Nights", titillated fascination and impatience with the self-indulgent, cocky but relentless "Capote." I have not seen "God's Pocket" or "A Most Wanted Man" but they're definitely on my watch list.
The other actor in the pic above, Eddie Marsan, is also great. He is unforgettable as the round-headed, snot-snorting rent collector Pancks in the BBC's adaptation of "Little Dorrit."
"Lovely day for it, innit?"
update: "God's Pocket" definitely had the feel of a short story that shouldn't have been made into a movie, but Hoffman was great.
RIP to a great actor, there's a strong review for "God's Pocket" in this week's New Yorker
Hoffman was tremendously great. His acting always pulled a visceral reaction out of me—hatred at the bullying bellowing sleaze in "Punchdrunk Love", pity and exasperation towards the depressed and closeted homosexual in "Boogie Nights", titillated fascination and impatience with the self-indulgent, cocky but relentless "Capote." I have not seen "God's Pocket" or "A Most Wanted Man" but they're definitely on my watch list.
The other actor in the pic above, Eddie Marsan, is also great. He is unforgettable as the round-headed, snot-snorting rent collector Pancks in the BBC's adaptation of "Little Dorrit."
"Lovely day for it, innit?"
update: "God's Pocket" definitely had the feel of a short story that shouldn't have been made into a movie, but Hoffman was great.
10+ (for music and lyrics)
BrightonGuy wrote:
I wouldn't go that far, but this song has been played to death and beyond into zombiedom on mainstream radio. I've never really taken to the Stranglers, who have always had, IMO, a dark misogynistism which leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Some of their song lyrics are pretty dodgy, to say the least, in their attitudes to women. Luckily for women, the band members are face-aches so even as rock stars would be unlikely to attract any female with half-decent sight and two legs.
Am I alone in thinking this song is tedious, irritating and unmelodious? I would go even further and say if I had my way they would be 'The Strangled'
I wouldn't go that far, but this song has been played to death and beyond into zombiedom on mainstream radio. I've never really taken to the Stranglers, who have always had, IMO, a dark misogynistism which leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Some of their song lyrics are pretty dodgy, to say the least, in their attitudes to women. Luckily for women, the band members are face-aches so even as rock stars would be unlikely to attract any female with half-decent sight and two legs.
What a HOOK, picked this up a while back and played it on repeat for like an hour. weird.
rpdevotee wrote:
RIP to a great actor, there's a strong review for "God's Pocket" in this week's New Yorker
Never a frown...unless you're Philip Seymour Hoffman
RIP to a great actor, there's a strong review for "God's Pocket" in this week's New Yorker
I usually haaaaate harpsichord, but this tune uses it so brilliantly!
8!
8!
brilliantly catchy
The chorus at the end is so great!!! A masterpiece!
Beautiful song, but I really get pissed about the subject matter. So many have died or destroyed their lives due to heroin, so I just hate hearing anything that glorifies the drug.
How do you feel about glorifying cigarettes? Tobacco has killed orders of magnitude more people than heroin.