| The Clash – Clampdown Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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I have a different view- starting with the song's title, which was used throughout the second half of the 20th century as moscow clamped down on expressions of dissent and individual freedom in eastern european states. I think that Clampdown is about the socialist worker-style communist groups that were relatively popular in Britain at the time. I agree with everyone that it's one of the Clash's best songs, but I think a couple of the lyrics are wrong above, and that the reading I suggest is the most coherent and consistent. "Cover the wall, cause governments can fall- how can you refuse it" I reckon this is about putting up communist posters, and the allure of socialist revolution to young people. "Stop wasting your time, there's nothing coming" means 'stop waiting for the revolution'. "Evil Presidentes working for the clampdown"- it's pretty clear that refers to dictators- Castro was always presidente. The reference to "paying their dues" is also a communist party/trade union reference. If you look at the song with this interpretation, the rest makes sense too. The Clash were social commentators, whose main message was one of personal and class emancipation. But they were too intelligent and iconoclastic to be moscow-line communists. This song is a rejection of the cult-like communist groups that still exist in much of the western world, and the "best years of your life" these groups too often steal from idealistic young activists. That's my two cents anyway! |
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