Golden Brown

In the 2001 book on the Stranglers, Hugh (who wrote the song) said "it works on two levels, it's about heroin and also about a girl", "both provided me with pleasurable times". As far as I know, it isn't specifically about "a prostitute" like someone else said. Hugh nailed it though and the parallels are perfect. Every verse can be about a girl or heroin,depending on what you want it to mean. First: Give in with a smile and let it/her take away your mind/might for the night. No need to fight... Second: Take you away "by both hands" to (metaphorical) distant lands with little regard for safety (tied to the mast = Odysseus). Third: Over time it/she is moving on, moving forward,going away. West could mean either to "the new world" (in parallel with the ship travel) or along a trade route from the East, as herion is moved. There and gone in a day could also be either a fling you can't quite catch, or your stash. Good freakin song. Strangely I always thought it was just about a girl. I started looking into its meaning shortly after my buddy who played it religiously died of an overdose. Felt like an idiot when I learned what I know now...

The analogy with the Odyssey is actually brilliant, there is another element to it. Odysseus, when he is enchanted by the sirens, "frowns" to his shipmates (since they cannot hear him) so that they untie him and let him go with the sirens. The singer here however, does not want to leave the ship. He is happy that he is tied with "her": "never a frown, golden brown"

did you guys hear that this song is about heroin. I think it's about heroin you guys.

I was told to get this song by a friend, and I can't remember it being in Snatch, (Even though i'm constantly told it!) its a good song, and its most probably about Heroin .... Or taking a really nice relaxing poo.

This song is about heroine.

this a just a great song, one my fav since i can remember, i can see where you come from about it being about heroin, but for me i see it being more about golden syrup! lol

Quote Directly From Wikipedia "Its about Heroin, but its also about a girl" Now will everyone shut the hell up about this?

I think the line is "With my mind, she runs" Also, this song is supposed to be simultaneously about heroin and a beautiful woman. It's about the temptation of both. And the experience of both.

It´s sure about heroine and "golden brown" golden for this shining perfect rar & expensive feeling you have for a while and brown its the heroine. Brown could be a lot but most dirt cause of that the "GOLDEN" brown. Then "lays me down, with my mind she runs takes both my hands.... no need to fight...with golden brown" He talkes abot the goldenbrown feeling like about a person, a woman who cares, takes his hands and makes that all becomes good, no need to fight, like a protector for every situation... But sure he also sings about it´s not a permanent mood, metaphoric he sings about her as his loer who is normally far away and sometimes comes for visits on her ship (means he can find protection and "luck for a little time" in her place-her ship) and that he knows her ( the heroine since years they are friends, "stays for a day" like a relationsh. since long time with the rule of meeting only one day ( heroine works till you fall assleep and wake up if you are addicted) - its such a different and bad feeling that he sings ( ..."fom far away") but it seems for me like he doesnt want to give up taking heroine, he sings about it as a person he can go/escape to whenever he wants and that he likes or at least its okay for him-never a frown- its clear as long as he takes it hes happy or whenever he is sad or angry he has "her,it, his goldenbrown". For me it sometimes sounds like a lovesong for this feeling, for heroine, and if you listen to the melody, you´ll notice thats a waltz and this is very rar... And its the typical dance for a couple- he and heroine

no duh. i just downloaded it because Snatch is a fuckin great movie.