London calling to the faraway towns
Now war is declared and battle come down
London calling to the underworld
Come out of the cupboard, you boys and girls
London calling, now don't look to us
Phony Beatlemania has bitten the dust
London calling, see we ain't got no swing
Except for the ring of the truncheon thing

The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in
Meltdown expected, the wheat is growing thin
Engines stop running, but I have no fear
'Cause London is drowning
I live by the river

London calling to the imitation zone
Forget it, brother, you can go it alone
London calling to the zombies of death
Quit holding out and draw another breath
London calling and I don't want to shout
But while we were talking, I saw you nodding out
London calling, see we ain't got no high
Except for that one with the yellowy eye

The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in
Engines stop running, the wheat is growing thin
A nuclear era, but I have no fear
'Cause London is drowning
I, I live by the river

The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in
Engines stop running, the wheat is growing thin
A nuclear era, but I have no fear
'Cause London is drowning
I, I live by the river

Now get this

London calling, yes, I was there, too
And you know what they said? Well, some of it was true
London calling at the top of the dial
And after all this, won't you give me a smile?

(London calling)

I never felt so much alike, alike, alike, alike


Lyrics submitted by aebassist

London Calling Lyrics as written by Mick Jones Joe Strummer

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

London Calling song meanings
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    General Comment

    Others have expressed good thoughts on this song, I would just add about the line "but while we were talking/ I saw you nodding out" was about people of their age getting into Heroin. (also, the following line: "see we ain't got no high/ Except for that one with the yellowy eye") Strummer remarked on that line in an interview I read long ago. It's just an apocalyptic song in general, and even now, when its power has been a bit sapped by too many appearances in movies, etc ("hey, we have this establishing shot of London, let's be edgy and use London Calling!").

    I wasn't quite a teen yet when this album was released, but this song is still one of the anthems of the '70s. It still gives me goose bumps when I listen to it. This song is as much an iconic punk tune as much as any of the Sex Pistols songs. (and the Pistols album is amazing, go listen to it if you never have)

    KingRadioon July 31, 2021   Link

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