Hanging Around
Stranglers · Essential [2011]
She's just trying to impress us
And she's got the barley fever
But she doesn't make a sound
She's just hanging around
She's just hanging around
Down the court road early
With the Hustlers big and burly
There's a million of 'em selling
And the buyers can be found
They're just hanging around
They're just hanging around
[CHORUS:]
Christ he told his mother
Christ he told her not to bother
Cos he's alright in the city
Cos he's high above the ground
He's just hanging around (hanging around)
He's just hanging around (hanging around)
He's just hanging around (hanging around)
He's just hanging around (hanging around)
One of 'em comes over
Got a monkey on his shoulder
And the monkey's getting grinner
But his eyes are on the ground
He's just hanging around
He's just hanging around
I'm moving to a coleheme
With the leather all around me
And the sweat is getting steamy
But their eyes are on the ground
They're just hanging around
They're just hanging around
[CHORUS 2x]
He's just hanging around (hanging around)
He's just hanging around
Hanging Around
Hanging Around stands as one of the Stranglers' most enduring early recordings, capturing the band's signature blend of post-punk tension and melodic accessibility. Released during their formative years, the track showcases the group's ability to balance dark, driving basslines with a deceptively light vocal delivery. As a staple of their extensive catalogue, the song reflects the band's evolution from experimental punk pioneers to masters of new wave pop. Its enduring presence in their discography highlights the Stranglers' capacity to craft songs that resonate across generations without relying on overt complexity. The recording remains a definitive example of their early sound, bridging the gap between their more aggressive punk roots and the sophisticated harmonies that would define later hits.