(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais

The Clash

Midnight to six man
For the first time from Jamaica
Dillinger and Leroy Smart
Delroy Wilson, your cool operator

Ken Boothe for UK pop reggae
With backing bands sound systems
And if they've got anything to say
There's many black ears here to listen

But it was Four Tops all night with encores from stage right
Charging from the bass knives to the treble
But onstage they ain't got no roots rock rebel
Onstage they ain't got no roots rock rebel

Dress back jump back, this is a bluebeat attack
'Cause it won't get you anywhere
Fooling with the guns
The British Army is waiting out there
An' it weighs fifteen hundred tons

White youth, black youth
Better find another solution
Why not phone up Robin Hood
And ask him for some wealth distribution

Punk rockers in the UK
They won't notice anyway
They're all too busy fighting
For a good place under the lighting

The new groups are not concerned
With what there is to be learned
They got Burton suits, ha, you think it's funny
Turning rebellion into money

All over people changing their votes
Along with their overcoats
If Adolf Hitler flew in today
They'd send a limousine anyway

I'm the all night drug-prowling wolf
Who looks so sick in the sun
I'm the white man in the Palais
Just lookin' for fun

I'm only
Looking for fun

I'm only
Looking for fun


Lyrics submitted by aebassist

(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais Lyrics as written by Mick Jones Joe Strummer

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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  • -2
    General Comment

    Great song. One of my all time favourites.

    However, I think the 7th verse:-

    The NEW GROUPS are not concerned With what there is to be learned They got BURTON SUITS, ha you think it's funny Turning rebellion into money

    Would be better off:-

    The NEWSGROUPS are not concerned With what there is to be learned They got BULLETINS, ha you think it's funny Turning rebellion into money

    • That's how I heard the lyrics first-off, prior to further listening. Moreover, I think the second version makes a far more biting Strummerism.
    BoHoon May 05, 2006   Link

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