Atom Tan
The Clash Lyrics
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Been a multiple shooting (Downtown at the bank)
Reluctantly the panic (Begins to catch fire)
But it did not affect (The steady sale of jun)
Oh, the state office looked (it looked like Hollywood)
With make-up bleeding (all over the cracks)
Woah, he blew his lines (facing the cameras)
He suffered the first (all-live heart-attack)
Oh, you've caught an even atom tan
The motor-cyanide (cyanide suicide)
He finally found (the brick wall in his life)
Shining up his engine (he dressed right up for it)
At the top of the speedo (he crumpled the bike)
There's plenty people runnin' (runnin' for cover)
Hoping at best (to hold off all the rest)
Onw last stand (at the bunker fire)
Machine gun (and pitchfork and breast)
Oh, you've caught an even atom tan
But it isn't so easy (so easy for lovers)
Chained, love-stained (at the top of the tower)
The pink hearse is leaving (at funeral speed)
Driving your heart (away with the flowers)
All night I waited (I waited for a horseman)
And his ever-faithful (his Indian friend)
I'm not the only one (of the caped crusader fan club)
Watching the sky (for mankind's friend)
Oh, you've caught an even atom tan
The Clash's song "Atom Tan" appears to be a commentary on the current state of society in America at the time the song was released, particularly with regard to the corporate world and the government. The first verse mentions how corporations have stopped promoting fast food, but despite that, there was still a multiple shooting that happened downtown at a bank. The panic begins to spread, but it does not affect the sale of junk food. The state office looked "like Hollywood," which could imply that it was all for show or that the government's actions were not genuine. The individual who was supposed to speak on camera blew his lines and suffered a heart attack. This could also be an allusion to how politicians would fake or manipulate information to portray a certain image, and how it affected their health and well-being.
The second verse shifts focus to an individual who has decided to take their own life by crashing their motorcycle ("motor-cyanide") into a brick wall. Plenty of people are running and hoping to avoid the chaos that follows, but the singer is determined to stand their ground and defend what they believe is right. The third and final verse talks about love and the obstacles that lovers face. The imagery of the pink hearse leaving at "funeral speed" suggests heartbreak and sorrow. The singer waits for a horseman and his faithful Indian friend, which could be a reference to The Lone Ranger and Tonto, both of whom were symbols of justice and righteousness. There is a sense of hope for a better future, as the singer watches the sky "for mankind's friend," possibly hoping for some kind of savior or hero to come to the rescue.
Line by Line Meaning
Now, the corporations stopped (Stopped pushing fast food)
The corporations have finally stopped aggressively advertising and promoting unhealthy fast food options
Been a multiple shooting (Downtown at the bank)
There have been several people shot at the bank downtown
Reluctantly the panic (Begins to catch fire)
People are starting to panic despite their attempts to remain calm
But it did not affect (The steady sale of jun)
The panic did not affect the steady sales of cheap, low-quality items
Oh, the state office looked (it looked like Hollywood)
The state office has become so extravagant that it now looks like something out of a Hollywood movie
With make-up bleeding (all over the cracks)
Despite its luxurious appearance, the state office is still full of flaws and problems
Woah, he blew his lines (facing the cameras)
The actor made a mistake while performing in front of the camera
He suffered the first (all-live heart-attack)
As a result of his mistake, he suffered a heart attack right there on set
Oh, you've caught an even atom tan
Somehow, you managed to catch radiation from an atom bomb blast
The motor-cyanide (cyanide suicide)
Someone has committed suicide by ingesting cyanide
He finally found (the brick wall in his life)
He has finally come to the realization that he has reached the end of his road
Shining up his engine (he dressed right up for it)
He is preparing himself and his engine for something important
At the top of the speedo (he crumpled the bike)
He pushed the bike to its limits, causing it to crumple and break
There's plenty people runnin' (runnin' for cover)
People are running for cover to avoid danger
Hoping at best (to hold off all the rest)
The people are trying their best to fend off their attackers
One last stand (at the bunker fire)
The people are making a final stand against their attackers at the bunker fire
Machine gun (and pitchfork and breast)
The attackers are using various weapons to overpower their victims
Oh, you've caught an even atom tan
You have somehow caught radiation from an atom bomb blast
But it isn't so easy (so easy for lovers)
Love is not always easy
Chained, love-stained (at the top of the tower)
Love can bind a person and leave them feeling stained and trapped
The pink hearse is leaving (at funeral speed)
A pink hearse is driving away quickly from a funeral
Driving your heart (away with the flowers)
The hearse is taking away your heart along with the flowers
All night I waited (I waited for a horseman)
I waited all night for someone to come and save me
And his ever-faithful (his Indian friend)
The person who comes to save me has an Indian friend who is always by his side
I'm not the only one (of the caped crusader fan club)
I am not the only person who is a fan of the caped crusader (Batman)
Watching the sky (for mankind's friend)
We are all looking up in the sky, hoping for someone to come and help mankind
Oh, you've caught an even atom tan
You have somehow caught radiation from an atom bomb blast
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOE STRUMMER, MICK JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@johnb5482
Combat Rock...the soundtrack of many roadtrips.
@carlosnyce6524
Muito bom
@jorgeriostillit6487
Classic 💥👍🎵
@alanchriston6806
Fabulous The CLASH
😊🏴☠️🥃
@samcelia1200
Awesome vid!
@elizabradley4797
If they could only see nyc today totally true
@zentropy8533
all live heart attack
@robbriggs2277
An Atom Tan in what you get when you're surrounded by 5G cell towers all day.
@symoncook3829
Atomic set up?
@milquetoastmusic
Good song. Pointless video.