submissions
| Social Distortion – Don't Drag Me Down Lyrics
| 16 years ago
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Dude, you are exactly what Mike Ness is referring to when he says "take two steps forward and four steps back". That this type of racism still exists is exactly the point of the song. I suggest you read Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the United States" and you'll understand the lyrics to this song. And why whites should feel guilt over how horrible we've been. |
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| The Clash – Guns on the Roof Lyrics
| 16 years ago
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It is about Paul and Topper's arrest for shooting pigeons on the roof. Read Passion is a Fashion or watch Rude Boy. There's alot about it in Rude Boy. Robin Banks (Crocker) and somebody else (don't remember the name) were also arrested. And I think Mick Jones bailed them out. Topper says something about it in a conversation with Ray in Rude Boy. |
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| Social Distortion – I Was Wrong Lyrics
| 16 years ago
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I think Mike Ness wrote this either in prison or after being in prison. He is admitting that his drug use was wrong (self-destruction) and now he realizes it. This is my favorite Social Distortion song because it really sounds like it comes from the heart. |
submissions
| Sex Pistols – Anarchy in the U.K. Lyrics
| 16 years ago
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Well, any Brit would know it's council tenancy.
I can't argue with those who put the Clash ahead of the Pistols (I do too), but it is safe to say that the Clash wouldn't exist if not for the Pistols. It was after seeing the Pistols that Joe Strummer decided that punk was the future and got him to join the Clash. I think Joe was a better lyricist than Johnny Rotten.
But this song rocks. Steve Jones is a great guitar player and his guitar makes this song. |
submissions
| Sex Pistols – God Save the Queen Lyrics
| 16 years ago
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Lots of talk here, but little about the song. In 1977, the economy in England was crap and unemployment was high. There seemed to be no future for the youth and all anyone talked about was the queen's silver jubilee. So Johnny wrote this. Glen Matlock put music to it. Steve Jones added his power guitar and Paul Cook some rockin drums and a punk classic was born.
As for Sid, he is a tragedy. He couldn't play bass (he did play drums for Siouxie and the Banshees). He was there for the attitude and look. And it's one of the reasons the Pistols only made one album. When you sack one of your song writers(Matlock), it's hard to make another album. (The Clash would learn this lesson later when they sacked Mick Jones.) |
submissions
| Stiff Little Fingers – Strummerville Lyrics
| 16 years ago
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Yes, definitely a reference to White Man. I love the line "I still see you up there with your right leg pumping". I picture Joe that way too. And I like the Clash City Rockers reference at the end of the song too. |
submissions
| The Clash – Know Your Rights Lyrics
| 16 years ago
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I love the line you have the right to free speech- just as long as your not dumb enough to actually try it. With all the tasering and arresting of people trying to use their free speech protesting the Iraq war, it is so appropriate. Joe was always ahead of his time- or what he wrote about was timeless. |
submissions
| The Clash – The Magnificent Seven Lyrics
| 16 years ago
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Alot of Sandanista was recorded in New York and the Clash integrated the music around them into their own stuff, so they picked up the rap vibe there. I read Johnny Green's book A Riot of Our Own and I think the origin of Mag 7 is in there. Apparently the Clash would dance to the opening acts music. As more guys joined in they came up with a name until there were 7 of them dancing and they called themselves the Magnificent 7. |
submissions
| Big Audio Dynamite – Innocent Child Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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This is such a beautiful song. I've met people that I felt this same way about- that I could have met them before life changed them, when they were innocent and naive. |
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| The Clash – The Call Up Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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Another timeless Clash song. It may have been written at the height of the Cold War, but it is so appropriate now with the Iraq War- especially with the troop surge. I wish radio stations would have had the balls to play this recently. But of course the only Clash songs you hear on the radio is Rock the Casbah, London Calling, and Should I Stay. Corporate radio really sucks! |
submissions
| The Clash – Hateful Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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Maybe the heavy lyrics and light music has something to do with how Joe and Mick wrote. I've heard in interviews that usually Joe wrote the lyrics first and then Mick wrote the music, but sometimes they did it the other way around. I think that was true of "The Right Profile" which has another name and no lyrics on the Vanilla Tapes. Regardless of the process, I love this song! |
submissions
| The Clash – Spanish Bombs Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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Well, Joe always said it was Clash spanish as opposed to real spanish. And very few bands can give you a history lesson in a song- especially with such a beautiful melody. RIP Joe! |
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| The Clash – Garageland Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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I believe it was Charles Shar Murray who wrote that, so Joe wrote this in response. I just love the whole bullshit detector thing. |
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| The Clash – The Prisoner Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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I have heard before that this song refers to Bernie Rhodes- certainly the Camden town line seems to refer to him. But when I listen to this song I imagine Mick may have written this while riding the tube somewhere and looking around at people stuck in the monotony of everyday life and thinking, I don't want to be like that. |
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| The Clash – Capital Radio Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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This song is just another example of how The Clash were so ahead of their time (or at least timeless.) Replace the word Capitol with the word Corporate and doesn't this pretty much describe radio today? |
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| Rancid – Travis Bickle Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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Joe Strummer loved Taxi Driver (and for a time had a Travis Bickle mohawk). So, yeah, I do see a similarity with Red Angel Dragnet. |
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| The Clash – Rock the Casbah Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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Although this song is about the banning of western music in Iran, I wonder if it isn't also about the struggle between the band and their manager (Bernie Rhodes) at the time. The king is a reference to him and he complained that their songs were too long like ragas. Mick wanted to do more dance songs and Rhodes wanted them to return to punk songs (short and fast). Rhodes wanted Jones out of the band (for quite a long time). So maybe it has a double meaning about the shereef (Rhodes) bugging Joe to sack Mick (which did eventually happen). |
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| The Clash – Lost in the Supermarket Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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Yes it is definitely about consumerism and trying to belong, but losing your identity in the process. And LilianPhoebe could very well be correct in the reference to Allen Ginsberg. The Clash knew Ginsberg and worked with him. |
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| The Clash – Should I Stay or Should I Go Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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I recently read the Clash bio Passion is a Fashion and this song is about Mick's relationship with Ellen Foley. The spanish was a last minute decision by Joe when they were recording. They had a friend of a friend or something translate. They put it in what Joe Strummer referred to as Clash Spanish. And I don't think anyone can deny that this song has one of the best hooks ever. |
submissions
| The Clash – 1-2 Crush on You Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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Yes a bit cynical- notice the different spellings of the word come. I think Mick Jones wrote this before the Clash formed- with the London SS. |
submissions
| Big Audio Dynamite – V.thriteen Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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Can't believe no one has said anything about this song yet. I love the lyrics to this song. And it marked the return of Strummer/Jones. These lyrics scream Joe Strummer to me. I love the line "Let the DJ play cause I'm only gone tomorrow and here today". Life is short so make it a party! |
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| The Clash – Complete Control Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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Actually, Mick Jones wrote this song by himself for the reasons mentioned above. Joe ad libbed the You're my guitar hero part, about Mick, probably because he loved this song so much. And I think this song should be on the video game Guitar Hero for that reason (and because it rocks!) |
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| The Clash – Safe European Home Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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phil is right. This was written in Jamaica by Joe and Mick. They basically had a bad time, thought there was alot of violence. They did go back again, however, to work with Mikey Dread for Sandanista. But I think they had to leave quickly again because the locals wanted them to pay them all money. |
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| The Clash – Death or Glory Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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Although I can see the music references to bands and such, I think this song boils down to the idealism of youth versus the reality of age. We slap our kids around cause they don't understand that those things that they think are so important now, won't be so important when they get older. I think that as I've gotten older and had kids, I understand what Joe was saying here much better. |
submissions
| The Clash – Clampdown Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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I agree that their is a reference to the Nazi's and it was probably prompted by the rise of the neo-nazi's and national front in England at the time. I think the rest is a reference to working people and that if you start to work for the clampdown, you eventually become part of that system (make your first kill now). I think this has a similar theme as Death or Glory. |
submissions
| The Clash – The Card Cheat Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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This is one of my favorites from London Calling. And I believe it is a Mick tune. I've always loved the line "from the Hundred Years War to the Crimea, with the lance, and the musket, and the Roman Spear". I think this refers to people being the same and doing the same things (making the same mistakes) no matter what time they lived in. |
submissions
| The Clash – Rudie Can't Fail Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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If you watch the movie Rude Boy (featuring the Clash), I think you get the picture of what they are referring to. And a brew in this case is definitely a beer. |
submissions
| The Clash – Jail Guitar Doors Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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I don't believe Sandy Perlman produced this. I believe Mick wrote new lyrics for this to a tune by the 101ers (Joe old group). |
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| The Clash – Gates of the West Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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This song has always reminded me of a Springsteen song. It has the same feel. I know that Mick Jones liked Springsteen and wonder if he was trying to write a song in that style. |
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| The Clash – Stay Free Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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Robin Banks hung out with the Clash for awhile after prison. He was one of those arrested along with Paul and Topper for the famous "Guns on the Roof" episode. |
submissions
| The Clash – (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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The Burton suits line and the changing votes is indeed a reference to The Jam as they announced they would vote for the Tories. I think Joe is lamenting the fact that bands had a forum to incite thought and change, but instead they are all concerned about how popular they are (fighting for good space under the lighting) and making money (turning rebellion into money). |
submissions
| The Clash – Train in Vain Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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Train in Vain is a reference to the old Robert Johnson blues song Love in Vain. The Clash loved old music and knew the roots of rock and roll. This song is basically a blues song played at a faster pace. |
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