This song (Corner Soul) is most likely about the Rivers Of Blood speech by Enoch Powell, a conservative MP in the UK in the 1960's... Basically, he was saying that the black (and other minority, to a lesser extent) British subculture - what Strummer generally refers to as "music"* - cannot co-exist with English, white culture and the entire multi-ethnic situation will implode and result in a catastrophic, biblical-style 'river of blood' in the streets of Birmingham specifically and the UK more generally. Obviously, Strummer is at odds with this opinion and doubts the logic, or at least thinks it's interesting, expressed in the question "Is the music calling for the river of blood?" You can read more about the speech and its effects and interpretations at wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivers_of_Blood_speech.
*Music in the black British culture has also been explored by, among others, Paul Gilroy who called the LP the second most important influence the creation of (and distinction from pre-existing black cultures) black British culture. At least, I'm pretty sure it was Gilroy.
This song (Corner Soul) is most likely about the Rivers Of Blood speech by Enoch Powell, a conservative MP in the UK in the 1960's... Basically, he was saying that the black (and other minority, to a lesser extent) British subculture - what Strummer generally refers to as "music"* - cannot co-exist with English, white culture and the entire multi-ethnic situation will implode and result in a catastrophic, biblical-style 'river of blood' in the streets of Birmingham specifically and the UK more generally. Obviously, Strummer is at odds with this opinion and doubts the logic, or at least thinks it's interesting, expressed in the question "Is the music calling for the river of blood?" You can read more about the speech and its effects and interpretations at wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivers_of_Blood_speech.
*Music in the black British culture has also been explored by, among others, Paul Gilroy who called the LP the second most important influence the creation of (and distinction from pre-existing black cultures) black British culture. At least, I'm pretty sure it was Gilroy.