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“London Calling” is a song by the British punk rock band The Clash. It was released as a single from the band’s 1979 double album London Calling. This apocalyptic, politically charged rant features the band’s famous combination of reggae basslines and punk electric guitar and vocals.
Writing and recording
The song was written by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones. The title alludes to the BBC World Service’s station identification: “This is London calling …”, that was used during World War II, often in broadcasts to occupied countries.
The lyrics reflect the concern felt by Strummer about world events with the reference to “a nuclear error” to the incident at Three Mile Island, which occurred earlier in 1979. Joe Strummer has said: “We felt that we were struggling about to slip down a slope or something, grasping with our fingernails. And there was no one there to help us.”
The line “London is drowning / And I live by the river” comes from concerns that if the River Thames flooded, most of central London would drown, something that led to the construction of the Thames Barrier. Strummer’s concern for social violence is evident through the lines “we ain’t got no swing/ except for the ring of that truncheon thing”. This is perhaps a reference to the London riots at the time. Social criticism also features through references to the effects of casual drug taking: “we ain’t got no high / except for that one with the yellowy eyes”.
Writing and recording
The song was written by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones. The title alludes to the BBC World Service’s station identification: “This is London calling …”, that was used during World War II, often in broadcasts to occupied countries.
The lyrics reflect the concern felt by Strummer about world events with the reference to “a nuclear error” to the incident at Three Mile Island, which occurred earlier in 1979. Joe Strummer has said: “We felt that we were struggling about to slip down a slope or something, grasping with our fingernails. And there was no one there to help us.”
The line “London is drowning / And I live by the river” comes from concerns that if the River Thames flooded, most of central London would drown, something that led to the construction of the Thames Barrier. Strummer’s concern for social violence is evident through the lines “we ain’t got no swing/ except for the ring of that truncheon thing”. This is perhaps a reference to the London riots at the time. Social criticism also features through references to the effects of casual drug taking: “we ain’t got no high / except for that one with the yellowy eyes”.
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Shouts
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DonPinguin wrote:
Great song :D
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BreOl wrote:
Aaahh, the original...finally....*thumbs up*
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badwickedzoot wrote:
I <3 the bass line... oh Paul....
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shortbuzzrider wrote:
Epic shizz. Can't wait to move to London.
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patgoud wrote:
I don't know this version.........
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Scarlett1991 wrote:
<3
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sionborg wrote:
RIP JOE !!
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darilick420 wrote:
What's this shit ?
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OLink9 wrote:
WTF?!
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caliboy1956 wrote:
The Clash were exciting to listen to and see... I remember more of a hard driving Beat coming from this song with an echo to it...(Reverb)
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gasperpunk wrote:
buen tema :)
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MangeMunch wrote:
I cannot tell if this version is an early prototype or a drugged out later experiment. I am leaning toward the former. In any event, the mange is yummy!
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grimnir1305 wrote:
I just heard the new remastered version of the song on the radio today .... well, it's a capital crime
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brooklynboy99 wrote:
this doesn't sound like The Clash to me.....
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SNH_SNH_SNH wrote:
Great song.
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gungh0 wrote:
Clash are cool as hell ! Great song.
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X_PunkRocker_X wrote:
Definitely one of the best punk songs ever written.
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Sonjaya705 wrote:
the clash are just awesome :0
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beaumaster wrote:
This song is up there!
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MaRouLiTa_1008 wrote:
I live by the river....
The Clash
London Calling
full track
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Recent Activity
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