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...
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...