The Clash — Rock the Casbah
Album: Combat RockAvg rating:
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Length: 3:32
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Now, the king told the boogie men
You have to let that raga drop
The oil down the desert way
Has been shakin' to the top
The sheik, he drove his Cadillac
He went a-cruisin' down the ville
The muezzin was a-standin'
On the radiator grille
The sharif don't like it
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah
The sharif don't like it
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah
By order of The Prophet
We ban that boogie sound
Degenerate the faithful
With that crazy Casbah sound
But the Bedouin they brought out
The electric camel drum
The local guitar picker
Got his guitar picking thumb
As soon as the sharif
Had cleared the square
They began to wail
The sharif don't like it
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah
The sharif don't like it
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah
Now over at the temple
Ooh, they really pack 'em in
The in-crowd say it's cool
To dig this chanting thing
But as the wind changed direction
And the temple band took five
The crowd caught a whiff
Of that crazy Casbah jive
The sharif don't like it
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah
The sharif don't like it
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah
The king called up his jet fighters
He said, "You better earn your pay
Drop your bombs between the minarets
Down the Casbah way"
As soon as the sharif
Was chauffeured outta there
The jet pilots tuned to
The cockpit radio blare
As soon as the sharif
Was outta their hair
The jet pilots wailed
The sharif don't like it
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah
The sharif don't like it
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah
The sharif don't like it (He thinks it's not kosher)
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah
The sharif don't like it (Fundamentally can't take it)
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah
The sharif don't like it (You know he really hates it)
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah
You have to let that raga drop
The oil down the desert way
Has been shakin' to the top
The sheik, he drove his Cadillac
He went a-cruisin' down the ville
The muezzin was a-standin'
On the radiator grille
The sharif don't like it
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah
The sharif don't like it
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah
By order of The Prophet
We ban that boogie sound
Degenerate the faithful
With that crazy Casbah sound
But the Bedouin they brought out
The electric camel drum
The local guitar picker
Got his guitar picking thumb
As soon as the sharif
Had cleared the square
They began to wail
The sharif don't like it
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah
The sharif don't like it
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah
Now over at the temple
Ooh, they really pack 'em in
The in-crowd say it's cool
To dig this chanting thing
But as the wind changed direction
And the temple band took five
The crowd caught a whiff
Of that crazy Casbah jive
The sharif don't like it
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah
The sharif don't like it
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah
The king called up his jet fighters
He said, "You better earn your pay
Drop your bombs between the minarets
Down the Casbah way"
As soon as the sharif
Was chauffeured outta there
The jet pilots tuned to
The cockpit radio blare
As soon as the sharif
Was outta their hair
The jet pilots wailed
The sharif don't like it
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah
The sharif don't like it
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah
The sharif don't like it (He thinks it's not kosher)
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah
The sharif don't like it (Fundamentally can't take it)
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah
The sharif don't like it (You know he really hates it)
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah
Comments (259)add comment
Circa 1982, at US Navy A School at Great Lakes NRTC. The Barracks Duty Officer (BDO) drops by to tell us to "turn down that damned music."
Cut to 2 weeks later, ready for the same guy's drop by (we baited him with loud radio). He opens the room door, cue my buddy to press play on the cassette deck, and at top volume "Rock The Casbah" blasts out of the boom box.
My friend starts bellowing, "The BDO don't like it! ROCK THE BARRACKS, ROCK THE BARRACKS!!!"
The BDO took a quick look around the room and quickly closed the door as he exited.
We almost died laughing...
Cut to 2 weeks later, ready for the same guy's drop by (we baited him with loud radio). He opens the room door, cue my buddy to press play on the cassette deck, and at top volume "Rock The Casbah" blasts out of the boom box.
My friend starts bellowing, "The BDO don't like it! ROCK THE BARRACKS, ROCK THE BARRACKS!!!"
The BDO took a quick look around the room and quickly closed the door as he exited.
We almost died laughing...
Lock the task bar!
I guess I'm missing something but I really don't see the appeal of such intense repetition. I guess I'm missing something but I really don't see the appeal of such intense repetition. I guess I'm missing something but I really don't see the appeal of such intense repetition. I guess I'm missing something but I really don't see the appeal of such intense repetition. I guess I'm missing something but I really don't see the appeal of such intense repetition. I guess I'm missing something but I really don't see the appeal of such intense repetition. I guess I'm missing something but I really don't see the appeal of such intense repetition. I guess I'm missing something but I really don't see the appeal of such intense repetition. I guess I'm missing something but I really don't see the appeal of such intense repetition.
Get yer New Year's Eve Dance on..
MattRudely wrote:
Drop your bombs between the little rats
Lock the taskbar.
Drop your bombs between the little rats
bialia wrote:
You do that very thing..
I know this isn't their best song but I'm gonna rate it super high anyway
You do that very thing..
To this fantastic track, you have to dance!!!!
I know this isn't their best song but I'm gonna rate it super high anyway
Far from their best tune but made them some cash
Topper Headon's piano on this is likely my favorite part of the song. Great stuff.
love The Clash, please play Bikini Girls with Machine Guns!
16 years old. Tune
LOVE the Clash. Hate this song.
chasmen wrote:
haha ja die hoor ik altijd!
Fock de kerstman, Fock de kerstman!!!
haha ja die hoor ik altijd!
MattRudely wrote:
Too funny!
Lock the taskbar.
Too funny!
hellsgardener wrote:
Thank you - I now have a Dutch earworm that I won't be able to unhear
Too funny!
Thank you - I now have a Dutch earworm that I won't be able to unhear
Too funny!
huib wrote:
Being dutch, I always hear "F#ck de kerstman" (de kerstman meaning Santa Claus) 🎅
Thank you - I now have a Dutch earworm that I won't be able to unhear
Being dutch, I always hear "F#ck de kerstman" (de kerstman meaning Santa Claus) 🎅
Thank you - I now have a Dutch earworm that I won't be able to unhear
The Clash in Austin TX, 1981, doing the Rock The Cashbah video. Pretty awesome.
I knew this was JAM when I was sitting in a dive drinking beers with school buddies as the video of this first came over MTV. The bar cranked up the sound, had it on every screen, and IT ROCKED our world!
Joe, you left us such seminal treasure!
-- And I know a FINE THING when I see it...
-- SEE IT!
All right tourists, fix your frame.
Get your tickets for the Graffiti Train!
Yeah, positively absolutely...
Ahh don't believe it...
And everybody say Is he all right?
And everybody say What's he like?
And everybody say He sure looks funny...
-- 'At's MONTGOMERY CLIFT, honey!
Nembutal...numbs it all...
But I prefer...Al-COH-HAHL!
Joe, you left us such seminal treasure!
-- And I know a FINE THING when I see it...
-- SEE IT!
All right tourists, fix your frame.
Get your tickets for the Graffiti Train!
Yeah, positively absolutely...
Ahh don't believe it...
And everybody say Is he all right?
And everybody say What's he like?
And everybody say He sure looks funny...
-- 'At's MONTGOMERY CLIFT, honey!
Nembutal...numbs it all...
But I prefer...Al-COH-HAHL!
huib wrote:
Being dutch, I always hear "F#ck de kerstman" (de kerstman meaning Santa Claus) 🎅
The less said about your Santa's timing and his helpers, the better. ;o)
Being dutch, I always hear "F#ck de kerstman" (de kerstman meaning Santa Claus) 🎅
The less said about your Santa's timing and his helpers, the better. ;o)
MattRudely wrote:
Being dutch, I always hear "F#ck de kerstman" (de kerstman meaning Santa Claus) 🎅
Lock the taskbar.
Being dutch, I always hear "F#ck de kerstman" (de kerstman meaning Santa Claus) 🎅
Lock the taskbar.
This CANNOT be a 40 y.o. SONG !!! Fantastic.
Sofakinggood!! Then and now...
"This one goes to 11" sofakinggood!!!
I robbed a cash-bar once.
The sheriff was not impressed...
The sheriff was not impressed...
MattRudely wrote:
TOO FUNNY!
Lock the taskbar.
TOO FUNNY!
"F**k the jazz bar"
lizardking wrote:
Oddly, if that were a cell phone going off on this tune from 1982, that might have been a reason to +1 it (though to my ears, way back when, that sound always reminded me of the handheld football gamethat predated the Nintendo and made obsolete by it too. Long Live RP and retro video games!!
*Edit* A recent episode of The Professor of Rock (a must-subscribe YouTube channel for rock/pop music lovers) mentioned the exact sound I've always heard on this tune, but from the Logical Song by Supertramp.
Lookie what I found:
The version of the song on Combat Rock, as well as many other Clash compilations, features an electronic sound effect beginning at the 1:52-minute point of the song. This noise is a monophonic version of the song "Dixie". The sound effect source was generated by the alarm from a digital wristwatch that Mick Jones owned, and was intentionally added to the recording by Jones.[7]
(I always thought it was Coleco football, too LK)
Oddly, if that were a cell phone going off on this tune from 1982, that might have been a reason to +1 it (though to my ears, way back when, that sound always reminded me of the handheld football gamethat predated the Nintendo and made obsolete by it too. Long Live RP and retro video games!!
*Edit* A recent episode of The Professor of Rock (a must-subscribe YouTube channel for rock/pop music lovers) mentioned the exact sound I've always heard on this tune, but from the Logical Song by Supertramp.
Lookie what I found:
The version of the song on Combat Rock, as well as many other Clash compilations, features an electronic sound effect beginning at the 1:52-minute point of the song. This noise is a monophonic version of the song "Dixie". The sound effect source was generated by the alarm from a digital wristwatch that Mick Jones owned, and was intentionally added to the recording by Jones.[7]
(I always thought it was Coleco football, too LK)
MattRudely wrote:
F**k the gas pump. That's what a Mormon co-worker of mine heard, anyway. Could never figure out how that got past the MTV censors...
Lock the taskbar.
F**k the gas pump. That's what a Mormon co-worker of mine heard, anyway. Could never figure out how that got past the MTV censors...
Yeah, what is the case with that ringtone? anyone?
Unbearable...
Ah, memories from Navy A School in Great Lakes back in 1983: "The BDO don't like it, rock the barracks, rock the barracks..."
Nice, Bill you're on a roll
MattRudely wrote:
I always heard "Rock the cash bar!" .. and this reminds of Olivia, the really nice daughter of an OB-GYN that took a shine to me. For some forgotten reason, I completely ignored this opportunity.
Sometimes Present Me really doesn't understand Past Me at all.
Lock the taskbar.
I always heard "Rock the cash bar!" .. and this reminds of Olivia, the really nice daughter of an OB-GYN that took a shine to me. For some forgotten reason, I completely ignored this opportunity.
Sometimes Present Me really doesn't understand Past Me at all.
When this came out, my wife and I were at a record store (remember those?) with her elderly mother. They played this song over the store speakers and I noticed my mother-in-law bobbing her purse up and down in time with the song. Whenever we hear this song now my wife and I look at each other and start doing the bobbing motion. Great memory.
This is my Indian summer ... I learnt that fame is an illusion and everything about it is just a joke. I'm far more dangerous now, because I don't care at all.
— Joe Strummer to Chris Salewicz – 2000
RIP Joe, gone too soon!
— Joe Strummer to Chris Salewicz – 2000
RIP Joe, gone too soon!
why do i always think of "The Young Ones" when this is playing? Is that you Vyvyan ??
I loved this song when it came out, cranked it up big time on the home sound system. But my Clash phase ran out after some months. Now they just sound like noise. London Calling still sounds good though
ziggytrix wrote:
LOL! ....Too funny!
I never did care for that cellphone going off in the third verse, but the rest of the song is so good that ya really can't hold it against it.
LOL! ....Too funny!
Good bop
Keep on boppin!
ziggytrix wrote:
Cellphone? In 1982? That'll be clever; I'm going to buy a time machine last Tuesday so I'll make sure Joe Strummer has one ringing nearby instead of the alarm on his watch...
I never did care for that cellphone going off in the third verse, but the rest of the song is so good that ya really can't hold it against it.
Cellphone? In 1982? That'll be clever; I'm going to buy a time machine last Tuesday so I'll make sure Joe Strummer has one ringing nearby instead of the alarm on his watch...
Memories of City League soccer, on the fields in Ala Wai Park behind the Waikiki skyscrapers in 1978. Those fields were later converted into an elementary school. <sigh>
ziggytrix wrote:
Oddly, if that were a cell phone going off on this tune from 1982, that might have been a reason to +1 it (though to my ears, way back when, that sound always reminded me of the handheld football gamethat predated the Nintendo and made obsolete by it too. Long Live RP and retro video games!!
*Edit* A recent episode of The Professor of Rock (a must-subscribe YouTube channel for rock/pop music lovers) mentioned the exact sound I've always heard on this tune, but from the Logical Song by Supertramp.
I never did care for that cellphone going off in the third verse, but the rest of the song is so good that ya really can't hold it against it.
Oddly, if that were a cell phone going off on this tune from 1982, that might have been a reason to +1 it (though to my ears, way back when, that sound always reminded me of the handheld football gamethat predated the Nintendo and made obsolete by it too. Long Live RP and retro video games!!
*Edit* A recent episode of The Professor of Rock (a must-subscribe YouTube channel for rock/pop music lovers) mentioned the exact sound I've always heard on this tune, but from the Logical Song by Supertramp.
Haven’t heard this one in a while
Still fun
chasmen wrote:
And I always sang it as "Fuck the Cash Bar"
Fock de kerstman, Fock de kerstman!!!
And I always sang it as "Fuck the Cash Bar"
Fock de kerstman, Fock de kerstman!!!
Lock the taskbar.
I never did care for that cellphone going off in the third verse, but the rest of the song is so good that ya really can't hold it against it.
Shawty don't like it, lock the taskbar!
maboleth wrote:
Nope!
Soooo worn and bad aged......
Nope!
Soooo worn and bad aged......
ThePoose wrote:
Wow, didn't know that. This song could be mistaken as being anti-Islam, but really it's just anti-fundamentalism. You could write a similar song in regards to any fundamentalist banning rock music. Come to think of it, someone has - Footloose!
When Joe found out that US airmen wrote ROCK THE CASBAH on their bombs before dropping them in Afghanistan, he wept bitter tears.
Wow, didn't know that. This song could be mistaken as being anti-Islam, but really it's just anti-fundamentalism. You could write a similar song in regards to any fundamentalist banning rock music. Come to think of it, someone has - Footloose!
I still hear this as "Rockin' the cat box..."
woolybear wrote:
WOW
thanks!
If you like Rock the Casbah, check out Rock El Casbah by Rachid Taha.
WOW
thanks!
"That Crazy Cat Box Sound"
Pete Townsend said The Clash were going to be bigger than The Beatles. Was this the point when Pete started to get tone deaf?
Oddly, this is probably the only Clash song I enjoy, but they appear to have half-inched it from elsewhere ...
If you like Rock the Casbah, check out Rock El Casbah by Rachid Taha.
I thought it would've been "Great Balls Of Fire".
Jerry Lee probably wouldn't have minded.
Jerry Lee probably wouldn't have minded.
When Joe found out that US airmen wrote ROCK THE CASBAH on their bombs before dropping them in Afghanistan, he wept bitter tears.
Clarentine wrote:
Bill, you guys are hitting it out of the park this afternoon.
Agreed! Most excellent...
Bill, you guys are hitting it out of the park this afternoon. Agreed! Most excellent...
Bill, you guys are hitting it out of the park this afternoon. Like them but not this one.
When Joe found out that US airmen wrote ROCK THE CASBAH on their bombs before dropping them in Afghanistan, he wept bitter tears.
below72 wrote:
Any repetitive sound played at high volume for 32 hours, thus depriving the subject of sleep, would be considered torture. It could be Beethoven, The Beatles, or Brittany Spears. Duh!
At least with this one, you'd be rocking your ass off for the first hour which is more than could be said for some.
This annoyance has been used in the torturing of prisoners in various countries - and has never failed to get results. I once heard the song was played in the ears of a prisoner for 32 hours...and it killed him.
I'm not surprised. This pounding meoldy is right down there in annoying-ville with Saturday Night Fever.
I'm not surprised. This pounding meoldy is right down there in annoying-ville with Saturday Night Fever.
Any repetitive sound played at high volume for 32 hours, thus depriving the subject of sleep, would be considered torture. It could be Beethoven, The Beatles, or Brittany Spears. Duh!
At least with this one, you'd be rocking your ass off for the first hour which is more than could be said for some.
below72 wrote:
More than that - it killed him and there's no evidence of it left on the internet! Scary, eh kids?
This annoyance has been used in the torturing of prisoners in various countries - and has never failed to get results. I once heard the song was played in the ears of a prisoner for 32 hours...and it killed him.
I'm not surprised. This pounding meoldy is right down there in annoying-ville with Saturday Night Fever.
I'm not surprised. This pounding meoldy is right down there in annoying-ville with Saturday Night Fever.
More than that - it killed him and there's no evidence of it left on the internet! Scary, eh kids?
This is one of those songs that are truly excellent and I'm completely tired of hearing them. Not on RP but Pandora crams this into ever 80s related station I create.
Im'ma PSD reluctantly. See ya'll on the other side.
Im'ma PSD reluctantly. See ya'll on the other side.
As if she figured out all and prophesied
You can look away only when
You can't take away your eyes..
So my best friend die another day.
But, I'll die everyday hungry in luxury.
grbn wrote:
Laughed so hard when I saw this, one of the best misheard lyrics in a while:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEWG6kSYqlY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEWG6kSYqlY
Not bad but not their best.
Laughed so hard when I saw this, one of the best misheard lyrics in a while:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEWG6kSYqlY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEWG6kSYqlY
This annoyance has been used in the torturing of prisoners in various countries - and has never failed to get results. I once heard the song was played in the ears of a prisoner for 32 hours...and it killed him.
I'm not surprised. This pounding meoldy is right down there in annoying-ville with Saturday Night Fever.
I'm not surprised. This pounding meoldy is right down there in annoying-ville with Saturday Night Fever.
Anybody have any wine to go along with this cheese?
Never really understood all the lyrics until I found this cool acoustic cover.
https://youtu.be/J-q1QPkOyL4
https://youtu.be/J-q1QPkOyL4
Hard to believe this is my first listen on RP, at least to rate it.
Saw these guys during the year this came out. They were opening for The Who.
Saw these guys during the year this came out. They were opening for The Who.
Sounds different than the album I remember, is this a remix?
Sasha2001 wrote:
6. It's kitschy
You lost a lot of cred with this statement. This song succeeds on so many levels. 1. Catchy as hell
2. A good beat that you can dance to.
3. Ironic, political, and socially aware lyrics (the trifecta)
4. Rocks pretty hard
5. From a legendary album/band Am I missing any others?
2. A good beat that you can dance to.
3. Ironic, political, and socially aware lyrics (the trifecta)
4. Rocks pretty hard
5. From a legendary album/band Am I missing any others?
6. It's kitschy
unclehud wrote:
Yeah...sigh. I can't imagine that those 30 years have been kind to Hawaiian nature, although my brother and sister-in-law had a great time on Kona and found a lot of nature there. I had trouble believing you about Larry Ellison and Lanai, but Wikipedia set me straight. What a jerk. Rumor was that he paid $500-600 million.
I've heard the Arizona memorial is powerful and beautiful.
kcar wrote:
... clipped ... How was Honolulu? I'd love to go to Hawaii for a coupla weeks if I could find places that aren't too built up.
OFF TOPIC
Hawaii was fabulous from 1978 to 1983. Oahu had almost nowhere that wasn't urbanized, but you could find solitude with a 30-to-90 minute hike through the jungle and bamboo. Maui had mega-resorts that cultivated an artificial "away from everything" feel, wide-open whaling town Lahaina, and KNUI radio. Kauai has the still-wild Na Pali coast trail. Big Island was my favorite, because it has a built-in functioning volcano and was touristy only along 3 or 4 blocks in Kona -- but kcar, that was 30 years ago, my friend.
Today, for example, the entire island of Lanai is owned by Larry Ellison (Oracle dude) who uses it for cruising his superyacht and supporting a few high-end resort hotels. Back in the day it was entirely a Dole pineapple plantation with a worker population of maybe 1,000.
The USS Arizona is still sunk in Pearl Harbor, I am sure, and is a not-to-be-missed experience. Budget three hours, including transport, and you will leave with new insight on war.
Yeah...sigh. I can't imagine that those 30 years have been kind to Hawaiian nature, although my brother and sister-in-law had a great time on Kona and found a lot of nature there. I had trouble believing you about Larry Ellison and Lanai, but Wikipedia set me straight. What a jerk. Rumor was that he paid $500-600 million.
I've heard the Arizona memorial is powerful and beautiful.
Not my favorite Clash song but had way too much fun dancing to it in the bars back in the 80's
kcar wrote:
... clipped ... How was Honolulu? I'd love to go to Hawaii for a coupla weeks if I could find places that aren't too built up.
OFF TOPIC
Hawaii was fabulous from 1978 to 1983. Oahu had almost nowhere that wasn't urbanized, but you could find solitude with a 30-to-90 minute hike through the jungle and bamboo. Maui had mega-resorts that cultivated an artificial "away from everything" feel, wide-open whaling town Lahaina, and KNUI radio. Kauai has the still-wild Na Pali coast trail. Big Island was my favorite, because it has a built-in functioning volcano and was touristy only along 3 or 4 blocks in Kona -- but kcar, that was 30 years ago, my friend.
Today, for example, the entire island of Lanai is owned by Larry Ellison (Oracle dude) who uses it for cruising his superyacht and supporting a few high-end resort hotels. Back in the day it was entirely a Dole pineapple plantation with a worker population of maybe 1,000.
The USS Arizona is still sunk in Pearl Harbor, I am sure, and is a not-to-be-missed experience. Budget three hours, including transport, and you will leave with new insight on war.
....... love it 
fredriley wrote:
Nope, that pretty much sums the song up. Danceable agitprop, and back in the day it was absolutely guaranteed to fill the dance floors at leftie gigs. My second fave from the Clash, behind The Magnificent Seven.
This song was outrageous, outspoken, over the top and original!
Nope, that pretty much sums the song up. Danceable agitprop, and back in the day it was absolutely guaranteed to fill the dance floors at leftie gigs. My second fave from the Clash, behind The Magnificent Seven.
This song was outrageous, outspoken, over the top and original!
Clashy! 
Proclivities wrote:
I'm not sure how much '80s alternative music you'd heard, but the majority of it was quite danceable.
Amen, to that!
I'm not sure how much '80s alternative music you'd heard, but the majority of it was quite danceable.
Amen, to that!
unclehud wrote:
It has a loopy, knocked-on-the-head feel of its own that your Estonian friends amplified. Good for dancing in a dark club but I heard this too many times on FM radio and dumb frat parties to listen with fresh ears. Maybe that scheduled lobotomy will help...
How was Honolulu? I'd love to go to Hawaii for a coupla weeks if I could find places that aren't too built up.
Freshly discharged, but still hanging in Honolulu, practicing and playing with an Estonian soccer club on the fields immediately behind Waikiki canal. This was their theme song, and they sang in comically broken English and twisted lyrics. Good times.
It has a loopy, knocked-on-the-head feel of its own that your Estonian friends amplified. Good for dancing in a dark club but I heard this too many times on FM radio and dumb frat parties to listen with fresh ears. Maybe that scheduled lobotomy will help...
How was Honolulu? I'd love to go to Hawaii for a coupla weeks if I could find places that aren't too built up.
Freshly discharged, but still hanging in Honolulu, practicing and playing with an Estonian soccer club on the fields immediately behind Waikiki canal. This was their theme song, and they sang in comically broken English and twisted lyrics. Good times.
Rock the Casbah!
Sasha2001 wrote:
Nope, that pretty much sums the song up. Danceable agitprop, and back in the day it was absolutely guaranteed to fill the dance floors at leftie gigs. My second fave from the Clash, behind The Magnificent Seven.
You lost a lot of cred with this statement. This song succeeds on so many levels.
1. Catchy as hell
2. A good beat that you can dance to.
3. Ironic, political, and socially aware lyrics (the trifecta)
4. Rocks pretty hard
5. From a legendary album/band
Am I missing any others?
1. Catchy as hell
2. A good beat that you can dance to.
3. Ironic, political, and socially aware lyrics (the trifecta)
4. Rocks pretty hard
5. From a legendary album/band
Am I missing any others?
Nope, that pretty much sums the song up. Danceable agitprop, and back in the day it was absolutely guaranteed to fill the dance floors at leftie gigs. My second fave from the Clash, behind The Magnificent Seven.
bobcat1963 wrote:
...roger that!!
thanks bill for my daily shot of CLASH!
...roger that!!
trailhub wrote:
Yes!
Might be their most commercially successful song, and a great one at that, but I'm saving my 10's for their even better stuff (like about half the songs on London Calling)
Yes!
I think this suffers from its popularity. It's better than I remember it being.
YEP!
It's somewhat ironic that the killer intro riff here was composed by Topper playing around on a piano one day before a rehearsal, and it went on to be their most "remembered song". And Mr. Headon was subsequently then sacked for his hopeless drug addiction right before the triumphant '82 tour featuring this song and album.
This cut was HUGE for good reason. Topical, clever and rockin'. At least an 8.
mikeatlarge wrote:
I'm not sure how much '80s alternative music you'd heard, but the majority of it was quite danceable.
80's alternative you can actually dance to. One of their better tracks.
I'm not sure how much '80s alternative music you'd heard, but the majority of it was quite danceable.
80's alternative you can actually dance to. One of their better tracks.
frigging classic babes
Might be their most commercially successful song, and a great one at that, but I'm saving my 10's for their even better stuff (like about half the songs on London Calling)
holborne wrote:
By "single," I trust you mean a song actually released as a single (as opposed to the common use of the term to mean simply "song from one of their albums")?
When has anyone who knows anything about music ever used the word "single" in the second sense? : \
By "single," I trust you mean a song actually released as a single (as opposed to the common use of the term to mean simply "song from one of their albums")?
When has anyone who knows anything about music ever used the word "single" in the second sense? : \
You lost a lot of cred with this statement. This song succeeds on so many levels.
1. Catchy as hell
2. A good beat that you can dance to.
3. Ironic, political, and socially aware lyrics (the trifecta)
4. Rocks pretty hard
5. From a legendary album/band
Am I missing any others?
1. Catchy as hell
2. A good beat that you can dance to.
3. Ironic, political, and socially aware lyrics (the trifecta)
4. Rocks pretty hard
5. From a legendary album/band
Am I missing any others?
Another great song from a great group.
Stingray wrote:
Unbelievable comment!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree wholeheartedly. Take a look at the list of great songs this guy rates very lowly. I think he likes to push buttons and I've let him push mine.
Unbelievable comment!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree wholeheartedly. Take a look at the list of great songs this guy rates very lowly. I think he likes to push buttons and I've let him push mine.
sirdroseph wrote:
Unbelievable comment!!!!!!!!!!!
A bad song made worse from overplay.
Unbelievable comment!!!!!!!!!!!
Would most certainly be a hit in 2011 as well!
10% for me, Puff Daddy...
10% for me, Puff Daddy...
A bad song made worse from overplay.
This is my moneymaking jam!
Fu@%ing the gas pump .......... good story Bill 
Simple, classic tune and nice!
bobcat1963 wrote:
Cheers to that!
thanks bill for my daily shot of CLASH!
Cheers to that!
bobcat1963 wrote:
Indeedy: somehow one needs that . . .
thanks bill for my daily shot of CLASH!
Indeedy: somehow one needs that . . .
fredriley wrote:
I must be getting way old, because I've never come across the second meaning
. So yes, I do mean a released single, and one I want played at my wake.
I guess "singles" are a thing of the past; I hadn't come across that second meaning either.
I must be getting way old, because I've never come across the second meaning
. So yes, I do mean a released single, and one I want played at my wake. I guess "singles" are a thing of the past; I hadn't come across that second meaning either.Sounds more like "Empty the cats box, empty the cats box"
ozzie wrote:
Not a classic?
I don't even mind Combat Rock as an album, although it's not a classic.
Not a classic?
holborne wrote:
I must be getting way old, because I've never come across the second meaning. So yes, I do mean a released single, and one I want played at my wake.
By "single," I trust you mean a song actually released as a single (as opposed to the common use of the term to mean simply "song from one of their albums")?
I must be getting way old, because I've never come across the second meaning
. So yes, I do mean a released single, and one I want played at my wake. This doesn't come even remotely close to anything from Sandanista! or London Calling, but when they felt they had to produce a Top 40 Pop Song, such as it was, it was a killer. Joe Strummer, RIP.
Soooo worn and bad aged......
Enough about yourself already. Let's talk about the music instead.