So you've got to live up to your name
Or else I'll put you to shame, listen!

If you say you a selector
You a fe have good selection
A-and I say if you say you a de special
Man I say I want to know your potential

You a say you a madness
You a say you a de best
But when I put you 'pon you feet
A-some a-some a say you can't play de beat

And I hear you say a Clash a you ruler
Say a Clash sound cooler, eh!
Say a Clash sound sweeter
And now-a-days man a measure mile in a meter, eh!

Live up to your name
Or else you die in shame
A-and a so me say fe live up to your name
A so me tell you say you die in shame

Some a dem a bodysnatcher
Some a dem a barracuda, eh!
But who a know fe me Jah Jah
Fe me Jah a me creator, eh!

Flying saucers, rock-and-roll
Natty Dread a fe be in control
It's all in the whirlwind
I say you've gone with the blockhead

A-and I say me say dat some a dem a Sex Pistol
Nipple erectors
A so me tell you set dem still up on a corner
An a who on a farm
And I'll tell you 'bout the X-generation
Me know dem a victimed
'Cause dem no know fe me sweet Jah Jah, eh!

Clash a you ruler
Say a Clash sound cooler
A-and I tell you say a Clash sound sweeter
And now-a-days man measure mile in a meter
A none a dem deh measure gallon in a liter
And I tell you say me know dem a cheat ya

'Cause when you living inna fame
You got to live up to your name
Or else a suffer and you die inna shame
And I tell you say it's all in the game, eh!

Some a say dem a selector
Dem a fe have good selection
Or else deh moving in the wrong direction
And deh no know dis a reggae vibration
A-and a so me say a Clash a you ruler
And dis ya one a say it a musically cooler, eh!

Me say fe live up to your name
Or else you suffer and you die inna shame
'Cause when you living inna fame
A so me tell you say it's all in the game

And so me talkin' about
Specials and Madness beats,
Big body snatcher, selector, eh!

Flying saucers, rock-and-roll
See you gone in the whirlwind
A-and I tell you say, a you a de blockhead
And some will tell you dat you dreader than dread

And a-some a say a Clash a you ruler
See a Clash sound cooler, aaaye!
Clash sound sweeter
Man a measure mile in a metre, eh!

When you living inna fame
You got to live up to your name
Or else you suffer and you die inna shame
It's all in the game, eh!

This is the game of life
We no wa' no strife
Game of life
We no wa' no strife, no no

Don't, no no no no

Fuckin' hell Mickey


Lyrics submitted by aebassist, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Living in Fame Lyrics as written by Mick Jones Joe Strummer

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Living in Fame song meanings
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2 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    I think it's mostly self-referential for the Clash but could be applied to many people/groups in general. Once the built up a reputation as a punk band with their first album(s), their fans expected them to keep churning out the same rehashed material-living up to their name. This is saying how this notion is simply part of a game; they wanted to change their sound, ala Combat Rock and Sandinista! (and even London Calling) , so they did without respect to whether or not they were "selling out" or living up to their name. And that's real punk

    floating_eyeon June 28, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Agreed, floating eye. Totally agree.

    RettAlexison October 13, 2008   Link

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