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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
As told to Dave Simpson

Belle and Sebastian’s Stuart Murdoch: ‘Songs tumble out like dreams – you can’t control them’

Stuart Murdoch Belle and Sebastian Seymour Stein Joanne Glasgow Nick Drake
Stuart Murdoch of Belle and Sebastian
‘Songs tumble out like dreams’ … Stuart Murdoch of Belle and Sebastian. Photograph: Marisa Privitera Murdoch

Can you please explain what exactly an “Arab strap” is [as in the song The Boy with the Arab Strap]? Asking for a friend … Lennon

The funny thing is I can’t! I know it’s something vaguely sexual, but the reference was to Arab Strap, the band. I gave the gold disc for it to my mum, who put it up in her living room. When the minister came round for tea, he was looking at the gold record and reading the label, so there was an awkward moment. After that, she gave it back to me.

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