Timeless in sound and vision.…

THE STRANGLERS, regarded as the ‘old men‘ of punk back then and criticised by the Pistols and Clash focused music press but with more talent and more creativeness than many of the young brats surrounding them at the time, released their steamy, keyboards driven, debut single (GET A) GRIP (ON YOURSELF) on 28 January 1977 – 40 years ago. The track, written by frontman Hugh Cornwell (and featuring a Welsh coal miner on saxophone) was included on their debut album RATTUS NORVEGICUS and reached number 44 of the UK singles chart…

Didn’t have the money ’round to buy a Morry Thou
Been around and seen a lot to shake me anyhow
Begged and borrowed, sometimes I admit I even stole
The worse crime that I ever did was play some rock ‘n’ roll

But the money’s no good
Just get a grip on yourself
But the money’s no good
Just get a grip on yourself

Suffering convictions on a two-way stretch inside
The air in here is pretty thin, I think I’ll go outside
Committed for insanity and crimes against the soul
The worst crime that I ever did was play some rock ‘n’ roll

But the money’s no good
Just get a grip on yourself
But the money’s no good
Just get a grip on yourself

And you should know

Now I find from week to week the sentence sticking fast
Turn the corner, rub my eyes and hope the world will last
Stranger from another planet welcome to our hole
Just strap on your guitar and we’ll play some rock ‘n’ roll

But the money’s no good
Just get a grip on yourself
But the money’s no good
Just get a grip on yourself

And you should know

THE STRANGLERS: Biography – Discography