"Goodbye Toulouse" is a song by The Stranglers, appearing as the second song on their 1977 debut album Rattus Norvegicus. The lyrics were written by Jean-Jacques Burnel and the music by Hugh Cornwell, although it was credited to the band as a whole.

"Goodbye Toulouse"
Song by The Stranglers
from the album Rattus Norvegicus
Released15 April 1977
StudioTW Studios
Genre
Length3:12
LabelUnited Artists
Songwriter(s)Hugh Cornwell, Jean-Jacques Burnel, Dave Greenfield, Jet Black
Producer(s)Martin Rushent

Overview

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The song tells of Nostradamus' predictions on the French town of Toulouse, with the song acting as a 'goodbye' to the town.[1][2] Cornwell refers to the song as 'very unpunk'.[3]

Writing and composition

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The music was written by Cornwell and the lyrics were later written by Burnel. Initially, Burnel wanted to sing, but because his bass line was so frenetic that Cornell agreed to performing the vocals. At the time, this was an oddity, as the pair usually sang their own individual lyrics. Burnel's lyrics were inspired by Nostradamus' predictions that there was going to be a cataclysmic event on Toulouse, and he wrote the song as a 'goodbye' to the town.[4] The song begins with Dave Greenfield's signature organ effect, shifting up and down in tone until the drums, bass, guitar, and keyboards all eventually come in throughout the song. The song's guitar solo features heavy amounts of delay and multitracking, giving the effect of two guitar solos in unison. The explosion sound effect at the end is meant to represent an atomic meltdown of the town.[3]

Personnel

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References

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  1. ^ Endeacott, Robert (2014). Peaches: A Chronicle of The Stranglers 1974-1990. Soundcheck Books. p. 25. ISBN 9780957570047.
  2. ^ "The Stranglers : "En 1977, on avait rayé Toulouse de la carte avec Nostradamus"".
  3. ^ a b Cornwell, Hugh; Drury, Jim (2011). The Stranglers: Song by Song. Bobcat Books. ISBN 9780857124449.
  4. ^ Knight, Phil (2015). Strangled: Identity, Status, Structure and The Stranglers. John Hunt Publishing. ISBN 9781782797968.