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Red Angel Dragnet Lyrics
I come from a long way away
And I know a fine thing when I see it.
See it
For the same reason no one ever
Pointed a telescope at the sun
Talking about the Red Angels of New York City
CHORUS
Who shot the shot?
Who got shot tonite?
Not even five enforcement agencies can save their own.
Never mind the people
Tonite it's raining on the Angels of the City
Did anyone prophesize these people?
Only Travis
Come in Travis
One of these days I'm gonna get myself organized.
All the animals come out at night.
Queens, fairies, dopers, junkies, sick venal.
Some day a real rain will come and wash all the scum off the streets.
Thank god for the rain to wash the trash off the sidewalk. Listen you screwheads:
Here is a man who would not take it anymore.
A man who stood up against the scum, the filth.
Now I see clearly.
Personally I know the alley
Where Jack feeds on the birds of night
Not even bubbies on bicycles 2x2
Can stop the blood and feathers flying
Waring overalls and for once and for all
What is the dream?
I'll tell it
To live like they do in the movies
San Juan you listening?
Yeah I bet you are
Hands up for Hollywood
Hooray
I hear you
Snappy on the air
Hang in their
Wall to wall
You saved the worled
What else? You saved the girl
Chmpagne on ice
No stranger to Alcatraz
To boot
Or strip it down
Chop it a little
Being reasonable
Just freedom to move
To live
For women to take a walk in the park at midnite
Hey, but this is serious
She can't even get back home
I come from a long way off
And I know a lifegiver over a lifetaker
For the same reason no-one ever pointed
A gun at a policeman
Talking about the Red Angels of New York City
Yeah
And I know a fine thing when I see it.
See it
For the same reason no one ever
Pointed a telescope at the sun
Talking about the Red Angels of New York City
Who shot the shot?
Who got shot tonite?
Never mind the people
Tonite it's raining on the Angels of the City
Did anyone prophesize these people?
Come in Travis
One of these days I'm gonna get myself organized.
Queens, fairies, dopers, junkies, sick venal.
Some day a real rain will come and wash all the scum off the streets.
Here is a man who would not take it anymore.
A man who stood up against the scum, the filth.
Now I see clearly.
Where Jack feeds on the birds of night
Not even bubbies on bicycles 2x2
Can stop the blood and feathers flying
What is the dream?
I'll tell it
To live like they do in the movies
San Juan you listening?
Hands up for Hollywood
Hooray
I hear you
Snappy on the air
Hang in their
Wall to wall
You saved the worled
What else? You saved the girl
Chmpagne on ice
No stranger to Alcatraz
To boot
Or strip it down
Chop it a little
Being reasonable
Just freedom to move
To live
For women to take a walk in the park at midnite
Hey, but this is serious
She can't even get back home
And I know a lifegiver over a lifetaker
For the same reason no-one ever pointed
A gun at a policeman
Talking about the Red Angels of New York City
Yeah
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A friend told me the exact same thing about Taxi Driver. Then I actually saw the movie and that's not really how it concludes. Regarding the song, besides sounding like it's about Taxi Driver it also seems to reference the Guardian Angels which is a citizen's crime watch group started in NY who can be identified by their red barrets and jackets.
@Veecha The Guardian Angels wore red i believe. So, this make sense to me as well.
@Veecha The Guardian Angels wore red i believe. So, this make sense to me as well.
Another point...
"Personally I know the alley Where Jack feeds on the birds of night"
seems to pertain to Jack the Ripper as "birds of night" could mean ladies of the night aka prostitutes, the Ripper's victim of choice, which ties in again to the theme of 'Taxi Driver'
Although it has quotes from Taxi Driver, the song is not about the movie.
"According to author Marcus Gray, the song Red Angel Dragnet was inspired by the January 1982 shooting death of Frank Melvin, a New York member of the Guardian Angels." - from wikipedia.
This song is about the general attitude of street crime in the late 70's and early 80's. It uses topics such as Taxi Driver and the death of Frank Melvin as talking points. Like most songs by The Clash it isn't cut and dry. It is designed to make you think about more than one side to "the crime problem".
This entire album is pretty much about the battle between the people and the authority and this song is no exception. It isn't made to get you to believe there is a right answer, but to think about how to find an answer. Police brutality and vigilante justice are both shitty solutions and this song is all about that.
this is about an old movie called taxi driver the guys name is travis bickle he comes back to new york after being in the vietnam war hes disgusted at the amount of crime scum and prostitution he goes nuts and kills everybody
short andd sweet straigh to point no fluffing around bout deeper meaning or chord progressions aceospades91 u have left an awesome comment congrats (it not my fault it 6:36 in the morning i should probably be asleep night everyone).
This song seems to go in a lot of different directions. The main point I get from it is how paranoid politicians and police, who may themselves be doing a horrible job of controlling crime, feel threatened and will suddenly focus their attention on "vigilante" groups as they perceived the Guardian Angels to be.
Travis from "Taxi Driver" was a bit nuts, but felt he had high morals. Driving his cab each night he sinks further as he watches the "scum and filth" take over the streets. Anyway, he ends up packing enough heat to make Rambo proud, killing a would-b thief, attempting to assassinate a politician, rescues 13 year old Jodie Foster from her life of prostitution by killing her pimp and various other enablers.
Good show. Good song. Good point
Inspired yes, but that doesn't mean that it's entirely about that single event.
Yeah, the Clash did a sh+tload of gigs at Bond's Casino in NYC in the early 80s. This song is inspired, in part, by the Red Angels. They were a group of dudes (mostly) who were of Latino descent (mostly) who, in the absence of NY city's finest, rode the subway system and looked after ladies (mostly) who were harassed by f+ckwits. A bit like Travis with Jodie Foster's character in Taxi Driver (i.e., apart from the Latino and the subway bit) ....