The group was named for the squat where they lived together: 101 Walterton Road, Maida Vale, although it was for a time rumoured that they were named for "Room 101", the infamous torture room in George Orwell's novel 1984. The novel was later to become something of a manifesto for the political element of the punk rock movement.
The 101'ers were supported by the Sex Pistols at the Nashville Room on 3 April 1976, and this is when Strummer claimed he saw the light and got involved in the punk scene.
Joe Strummer commented on this event in the Don Letts documentary Westway to the World on the end of the 101'ers by saying "5 seconds into their (the Pistols') first song, I knew we were like yesterday's paper, we were over."
By the time their debut single was released in 1976, Joe Strummer was in The Clash and the band were no more. Clive Timperley later joined The Passions, Dan Kelleher went to The Derelicts and Richard Dudanski went on to work with The Raincoats and Public Image Limited. Tymon Dogg worked with Strummer briefly in The Clash (playing on one track on Sandinista!) and later, in The Mescaleros.
Their recorded output was initially limited to one single. However, by 1981, interest in The Clash was at its height and a second single and a compilation album Elgin Avenue Breakdown was released. Several of the tracks on the latter album were live recordings, and there is no evidence that the band ever conceived of these recordings as a full length album.
Before his death in 2002, Joe Strummer had been planning to re-release Elgin Avenue Breakdown, complete with previously unreleased tracks that would encompass everything the band ever recorded. The project was completed with the help of Strummer's widow Lucinda Tait and former drummer Richard Dudanski, and released in May, 2005 via Astralwerks in the US and EMI in Europe.
Band Line-Up
* John "Woody" Mellor (Joe Strummer) - Guitar, Vocals
* Clive "Evil C" Timperley - Lead Guitar
* Marwood Chesterton aka " Mole" - Bass (replaced Jan 76 by Dan Kelleher)
* Dan Kelleher - Bass, Additional Guitar Oct 75-Jan 76,
* Richard "Snakehips" Dudanski - Drums
* Simon Cassell (Big John) - Sax
* Alvaro Peña-Rojas - Sax
* Antonio Narvaez - Drums
* Julian Yewdall - Vocals, Harmonica
* Patrick Nother - Bass (1st gig)
* Martin Stone - Lead Guitar (final gig)
* Tymon Dogg -
Letsagetabitarockin
The 101'ers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why can't we do it tonight?
Don't wanna go home still a-knockin'
Tonight it wouldn't seem right
My thirst is a bitch
My side's got a stitch
I'm ready to drop
But I don't wanna stop
'Cause rockin' the the knocking
Of the beating in my vein
Is heightening the frightening
So life don't seem the same
Don't need the poking toking
Of the snuff-it-stuff-it game
To get a sheet of lightning
For the inside of my brain
Letsagetabitarockin
It's only rolling while we can
I think I'm through with all the talking
My tongue's been getting out of hand
I tried everything
To make my nerves sing
Scientifically now
If you wanna know how
'Cause rockin' to the knocking
Of the beating in my vein
Is heightening the frightening
So life don't seem the same
Don't need the poking toking
Of the snuff-it-stuff-it game
To get a sheet a lightning
For the the inside of my brain
Letsagetabitarockin
Just to hear my girl sigh
Makes me jelly in the middle
Better than any pill you buy
My thirst is a bitch
My side's got a stitch
I'm ready to drop
But I don't wanna stop
'Cause rockin' to the knocking
Of the beating in my vein
Is heightening the frightening
So life don't seem the same
Don't need the poking toking
Of the snuff-it-stuff-it-game
To get a sheet of lightning
For the inside of my brain
Wow-wow-wow-wow!
The 101'ers's song "Letsagetabitarockin" is a classic rock tune that explores the invigorating power of music to uplift and energize. The lyrics capture the excitement of a night out on the town, with the singer feeling restless and eager to let loose on the dance floor. With lines like "My thirst is a bitch" and "My side's got a stitch," the song emphasizes the physicality of the experience, with the music propelling the listener to keep moving and keep dancing.
The chorus of the song highlights the liberating effect of rock and roll, with the singer exclaiming that "rockin' to the knocking of the beating in my vein" heightens the senses and makes life feel more intense. The song rejects more artificial means of enhancement, such as drugs and alcohol, and celebrates the natural high that comes from losing oneself in the music. It's a jubilant anthem that celebrates the power of rock and roll to unite and excite people from all walks of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Letsagetabitarockin
Let's go out and have a good time by dancing to some music
Why can't we do it tonight?
Why can't we go out and dance to some music tonight?
Don't wanna go home still a-knockin'
I don't want to go home while I still feel energetic
Tonight it wouldn't seem right
It wouldn't be appropriate to go out dancing tonight
My thirst is a bitch
I'm really thirsty
My side's got a stitch
I have a painful cramp in my side
I'm ready to drop
I'm exhausted
But I don't wanna stop
But I don't want to stop having a good time
'Cause rockin' the the knocking
Because dancing to the beat of the music
Of the beating in my vein
Of the rhythm that makes my heart beat faster
Is heightening the frightening
Is intensifying the feeling of excitement
So life don't seem the same
So life feels different and more exciting
Don't need the poking toking
I don't need drugs or other stimulants
Of the snuff-it-stuff-it game
To feel the same effects as dancing to music
To get a sheet of lightning
To get a sudden feeling of excitement
For the inside of my brain
In my mind
It's only rolling while we can
We should dance and have fun while we still can
I think I'm through with all the talking
I'm done talking and ready to dance
My tongue's been getting out of hand
I've been talking too much and need to stop
I tried everything
I've tried all sorts of things to feel good
To make my nerves sing
To feel excited and energized
Scientifically now
Based on scientific evidence
If you wanna know how
If you're wondering how to feel the same way
Just to hear my girl sigh
Just hearing my girlfriend's sigh makes me happy
Makes me jelly in the middle
Makes me feel really good inside
Better than any pill you buy
Better than any drug you can buy
Wow-wow-wow-wow!
Expressing amazement and pleasure
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Clive Timperley, Daniel Kelleher, Joe Strummer, Marwood Chesterton, Michael Foote, Richard Nother
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind