Sometimes (Stranglers song) explained

Sometimes
Artist:The Stranglers
Album:Rattus Norvegicus
Released:15 April 1977
Recorded:TW Studios
Genre:
Length:4:56
Label:United Artists
Producer:Martin Rushent
Sometimes
Caption:1977 single released in Japan.
Type:single
Artist:The Stranglers
Album:Rattus Norvegicus
B-Side:Go Buddy Go
Released:October 1977
Recorded:TW Studios
Genre:Punk rock
Length:4:56
Label:United Artists
Producer:Martin Rushent

"Sometimes" is a song by The Stranglers, appearing as the first song on their debut album Rattus Norvegicus (1977). The song was written and sung by Hugh Cornwell, and credited to the band as a whole.

It was released as a single in Japan in 1977 with the B-side of "Go Buddy Go".

Overview

The song has a distinctive leitmotif played throughout on the keyboards, backed by a heavy bass riff which repeats throughout the song. The lyrics tell of an aggressive narrator's feelings towards a person, presumably their significant other, and it tells of their feelings of wanting to hit them. The song features a guitar and keyboard solo played in the call and response style during its climactic bridge before reprising its elongated chorus.

Writing and composition

The lyrics were written by Hugh Cornwell, inspired by an altercation between him and his girlfriend in which he caught her cheating on him and proceeded to hit her.[1] The music was written predominantly by JJ Burnel with Hugh adding various pieces of music to Burnel's riff.[2] The song is in the key of E minor, and features a large instrumental passage during its bridge.

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. Book: Cornwell. Hugh. Drury. Jim. The Stranglers: Song by Song. 2001. Omnibus Press. 14-15 Berners Street, London W1T 3LJ. 978-0-85712-444-9. 12. 2010.
  2. Book: Cornwell. Hugh. Drury. Jim. The Stranglers: Song by Song. 2001. Omnibus Press. 14-15 Berners Street, London W1T 3LJ. 978-0-85712-444-9. 14. 2010.