The Stranglers - Don't Bring Harry TOTP 1979

[hydrodwarf]

Fark ! first time I've heard this particular tune ... anyone else thinkin Lou Reed ?

[Swaggs303]

harry showed up and disliked this

[banny9965]

This is an anti Heroin song written at around the time they were using the stuff.

Its probably written from the view point of Hugh's girlfriend at the time.

I believe Jet didnt like the heroin.

Brilliant lyrics and music superbly delivered by John (in my view his best)

[bonbelami]

C'mon, it's about an anti-heroine looking for a friend. Hmm... I don't need him around. Love it.

[andycowley17]

On the album, "The Raven", the song is acoompanied by a picture of an white elephant with a big "H" on the side, so it is definitely about heroin!

[MaxJNorman]

i think that the song was written with heroin in mind, but it can work equally well for other subjects such as depression

[Swaggs303]

harry was dead upset when he heard this song. he was alright was harry aswell...we kinda liked him being around

[Fishissmelly]

Think the record buying public were on smack at the time. This song only got to number 41 in the charts whilst at the same time Dollar were at number 9 with their awful cover of The Beatles I wanna hold your hand. Oh dear!

[kensharonyoga]

Dave Greenfield proves yet again that he is the best keyboard player on the planet.

[555Nato]

With friend like him I don't need enemies.....

[r3playretro]

i love harry

[kitzchx]

is this 'anti-heroine' ? sounds like intense yearning to me or the loss of the romance - which heroin inevitably achieves. don't believe addiction was the sole province of cornell. they couldn't perform this song without prior knowledge of the stuff.

[Noodles37UK]

Stuff smack. Great song.

[RobertLonsdale]

If you've got Raven on vinyl, try listening to it at 45 rpm. Great band.

[small16mm]

what a good song the band is the best ever thanks

[godparticles1]

They are actually singing about Harry Potter

i

[travisrlel]

@godparticles1 I always thought it was about Harry Truman

[Xythantiops]

Dont know if im right but that geezer in the audience down the front who looks at the camera at around 2.22 couldnt be Jah Wobble could it????

[Feisty1967]

This is rather dark.

[dannybrown8787]

this is actually an anti cocaine song, golden brown was about heroin. Sorry to be a smart arse but thought u should know & also about the top comment, burnell was into it also like the rest of the band their favourite play thing was opium, he probably learnt martial arts to beat the dealers off!!! Bless him

[SteveResin]

@dannybrown8787 Nah it's about heroin, which is why it's called "Harry", a street name for heroin. If it was about cocaine it would have been called Don't Bring Charlie LMAO.

[MrScumwhisperer]

@SteveResin

They could also have speeded it up and called it Dont Bring Billy

[Bertinblack]

@SteveResin

yeah your right

[Quoinblock]

@dannybrown8787 It is about Hugh Cornwells addiction to heroin, and how he suddenly stopped "Showing up" as far as the band was concerned. JJ wrote this as a way of saying to Hugh Cornwell, Don't Bring us down with your heroin. I don't know about drugs, but I do know about The stranglers.

[Quoinblock]

@dannybrown8787 The song is about Hugh Cornwells addiction to heroin, and how he stopped showing up with anything positive for the band.

[Quoinblock]

@dannybrown8787 The song is about Hugh Cornwells addiction to Heroin. It was written as a way of saying "You are not contributing to this band anymore". Of course Hugh did contribute before and after.

[marcuslaughton]

@dannybrown8787 harry is a euphamism for heroin.

[ribs303]

@dannybrown8787 It's about smack mate. Not such a smart arse after all eh? :)

[MrTulip65]

@rowdyroddy4321 Hey I like that,I like that alot....they could've made a video around this idea of an ageing old rich queen who's dangerous to be around...a psychic vampire..The Beast of Luxury-sort of a metaphor for Heroin anyway so it would stay true to the song,because you thought good old uncle harry would always be around to indulge you and get you out of a hole,and then one day he isn't.That's Heroin let me tellya.

[paulmaguire12345]

it sounds like something a 5 year old would write about his or her dog.

[brnmhn]

No,because of the tone of voice and musical backing.Lou Reed sounded similar around the same period.

[robson1144]

Brilliant tune ....... even Jet is having the time of his life @ 1:30

[BeautyinDiatoms]

I thought for a very long time, that when he sang about "Harry"... it was more of a split personality.

[DJMatneyTIB]

if ever im on totp or similiar goddamn I want a potted plant on stage

[MrSkywaymotors]

@DJMatneyTIB That's just what I was thinking . . .Classy Bastards . .

."More heroin Vicar ?"

[jaspm23]

as an addict i think this is a much better heroin song than golden brown

[brnmhn]

If you closed your eyes and didn't know better you'd say it was Lou Reed!

[killerkarpfen90]

reminds me of lou reed in the early 70s

[pizza1066]

WHISH ID NEVER KNOWN HIM,EVERYTHING WOULD BE SO DIFFERENT

[Depigro]

great song not heard for 25 years at least ... they were really good !!!

[killingjokefan1]

excellent song. thanks mr. resin! can someone upload "wired" and "crabs (live)"

[blade0954]

good band,japanese tour followed this

[dirtygirlof76]

Love this song! Beautiful guitar solo.

[mugwamp4]

sounds a bit 'Velvety"

[allyplumb]

A great lost single one of their best also a great guitar solo..

[johnanthonyp]

Ha! Jet looks like one of the gendarme watching protesters gather while playing with his baton. Brilliant lyrics on a serious note.

[rubencon]

A Doors-esque beatiful song ..

[jefc52]

Another great song from the Stranglers. A DK fan for 30 years

[almklit]

Marillion ripped this song off if you listen keighley closely it is very similar.

[crapple009]

Funny because heroin is what would fuel their next lp,The Gospel According To The Meninblack.

I love this song and the album it's on,The Raven.

[PoireauMan68]

who said this was anti-hero ??

What a stupid comment but thanks for posting this video...both BURNELand CORNWELL consumed the stuff profusely between 1975 and 1973 but later I saw BURNEL at a TV prog blaming a young UK poop singer for making a stupid comment about the guys own personal use of Exctasy. I'm not saying BURNEL a hypopocrit but this dangerous substance has enhanced both guys amazing songwriting. As far East 17 (reference) they was a shit band anyway so Exsctasy or not they wld sti

[stargate669]

@PoireauMan68 Exctasy isn't always great. Next door's dog Earnie has it all the time and wizzes all over the place at high speed.

[lolabeaz]

I hope someone clears it up afterwards

[lordifan48]

Maybe their best TOTP vid.

[wayneleon100]

One of my favourite groups of all time. This particular tune is powerful, dark and deep.

[BigChrisButler]

Spot on mate, I never knew it was about heroin, it makes more sense now! LOL!!

[pillthepower]

Harry is smack and so is golden brown..fact people.

[robaralis]

haha jet is playing the invisible cymbals

[yomotoro]

just bring the ale mate.

[albytatlock]

funniest comment i`ve read on any video,made me chuckle anyway ;)

[Mariekesone]

This song makes me strangely feel very good somehow...

Its so different from their mostly upbeat songs and loud harder vocals..

This one has soft tones and beautiful melodies on Keyboard..:-)

[MoveOverCasanova]

dave greenfield is an extraordinary keyboarder.

he plays the piano very decent, but what i really admire is his choice of synth sounds, that turned into stranglers trademark sounds,

this is a great musical talent to me, to find the right sound with the right feel.

sounds easier than it is, since synthesizers tend to overwhelm you with a million of phantastic sounds

[johnanthonyp]

A superb point. I think he's peerless with way more nous for sounds than his prog rock predesessors. The Raven track is a stunning example.

[agaskew]

Dave Greenfield's piano is fantastic in this - what a great hook. His and JJB's musicianship were always superb.

[hanging1v]

this looks a pure effort for the s1v boys, should have stuck to more upbeat stuff, then again money is money, good song on the album though, the raven, top drawer

[ClemenzaKimble]

Who else thinks that JJ Burnel looks quite Emo on here?

[bilebeast]

Jet's just having the time of his life.

[malenaxpl]

jj and hugh are so diffrent men, but both are so bloody stylish. jj's bass is rebellious killer while hugh's play bring something very touching and delicate into their songs. i love it together, that was the real stranglers music

[Celestiaetterra]

Burnell adds that "continental" touch to the Stranglers.  :)

[slipknotfreak6760]

do you know that harry is his own mind like he has to personalitys

[baldyholly79]

Pure quality.

[RattusNorvegicus67]

hugh always ... experimented not j.j.  does not matter .the whole band are a still loved ... by those whose attitudes they inspired....

[oxtheravenxo]

Even better than Golden Brown.

[travisrlel2]

You may be right

[jaipeteagain]

One of my favourite Stranglers tracks I remember them on TOPTP in '79. I didn't realise it was about Heroin...just some boring pain the arris!

[zxychesatz349]

With being forced to play all night and wanting the singer's body and soul, I'd always assumed Harry to be a particularly forceful and insistent homosexual!

[dermot51]

Harry is heroin ,smack ,horse etc

[MYxLOVExOFxBEER]

I was introduced to the Stranglers aged 10, so I thought Harry was some obnoxius party crashing cunt relative; always making a nuisance of himself.... My aldult alterego.

[ajj4account]

slow and hypnotic, it grows on you after awhile.

[wehavejoy]

big harry, smack h brown

[NJD1967]

My elder brother bought TheRaven as a present for me Xmas'79-I always hated this track-but as the years have passed it is now my fav track on my fav Stranglers album!!

Thx for posting!!!

[binloved]

Good one! once Harry comes into your life, he doesn't want to leave! lol How rude!

[hysteresiscure]

JJ looks like a choirboy who's been caught with his hands in the collection plate.

[RattusNorvegicus67]

well and always ahead of the game ? werent they always???? still gigin THAT will do me. cant wait till glasgow the first of nov 2008 rat night gettin down .

[eezy1972]

Seems strange that they did this anti-heroin song and a few years later released Golden Brown??

[b00mhauer]

I think Hugh was the one on junk back then, I believe Burnell avoided the stuff because of his commitment to martial arts.

[SteveResin]

JJ admits to taking Harry during this period in the Stranglers biog "No Mercy". The meninblack & Euroman Cometh albums were written on smack.

[GLOShaw5]

I really wish I could Find the sheet music for this song, I grew up Listening to The Stranglers And I loved this song.. (my parents Have awesome taste in music)

I guess they didnt bring the Sheet music out because they didn't want others playing it!

[annecc2000]

I love that song. I agree La Folie what a great song, I love his english accent lol :)

[michaelspaul]

I agree - the Raven is their masterpiece album in my opinion and this is a truly beautiful song from it. Though like La Folie, enother genius song of theirs, this shouldn't have been chosen as a single because it's just not commercial enough. Still would give anything to hear the Stranglers play this one live though- who knows, maybe on the Hits tour in November this year...

[patx29]

I have to agree with you on that,I second its the Stranglers best album by far and JJ's at his peek on the Bass,I the love the Raven.

[zslash99]

Forever Strangled by the Men in Black. Fuck ! :)))

[zslash99]

Did u hear the "Bring on the Nubiles", Danbftm ? Ah ah ah !

[zslash99]

"harry" for "heroin" !

But it's quite ambiguous, right. that's why it's beautiful as well. I guess.

That's just the Stranglers !!! :)

[danbFTM]

it sound like a middle aged peado song.

(harry likes to play all night ) ????

[blackmore4]

"Middle aged peado song"?

Um... I think you've missed something. Like everything. The only "playing" 'Harry' ever does is with your brain function. More than a couple of 'games' with 'Harry' and you'll miss him terribly when he leaves. If you invite him to stay, he may kill you.

Jean Jacques is certainly not singing about paedophilia. Think flower extract.

[proffesornutbutter]

your a div you like.

[plonsdrums]

you'd better drink your glass of warm milk now, boy

[Sravandrabellagola]

Their first song about heroin on totp, then Golden brown in the 80's. What other band would get away with this!! Fuckin' awesome!

[ja1959hnt]

cheers for that first time i have seen that vid.

very underated band, wish they'd done one for genetics.

[kevukuk]

love this song,i remember watching this on TOTP's,from the raven,the best stranglers album ever!!

[Meath3ad]

Really good song. Should have been a hit.