Rock The Casbah
Clash Lyrics
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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-standing
On the radiator grille
Shareef don't like it
Rock the Casbah, rock the Casbah
Shareef don't like it
Rock the Casbah, Rock the Casbah
By order of the prophet
We ban that boogie sound
Degenerate the faithful
With that craazy 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 Shareef had cleared the square
They began to wail
Shareef don't like it
Rock the Casbah, rock the Casbah
Shareef don't like it
Rock the Casbah, Rock the Casbah
Now, over at the temple
Oh, they really pack 'em in
The in-crowd say it's cool
To dig this chanting thing
But as the wind changed direction
Then the temple band took five
The crowd caught a wiff
Of that crazy Casbah jive
Shareef don't like it
Rock the Casbah, rock the Casbah
Shareef don't like it
Rock 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 Shareef was chauffeured outta there
The jet pilots tuned to the cockpit radio blare
As soon as the Shareef was outta their hair
The jet pilots wailed
Shareef don't like it
Rock the Casbah, rock the Casbah
Shareef don't like it
Rock the Casbah, Rock the Casbah
Shareef don't like it, he thinks it's not kosher
Rock the Casbah, rock the Casbah
Shareef don't like it, fundementally can't take it
Rock the Casbah, Rock the Casbah
Shareef don't like it, you know he really hates it
Rock the Casbah, rock the Casbah
Shareef don't like it, really, really hates it
The lyrics to The Clash's "Rock the Casbah" tell the tale of a king who has banned music in his country, claiming that it "degenerates the faithful." Despite this, the citizens continue to play their music and rock out, much to the disapproval of the king, who goes to great lengths to stop them. The term "Casbah" refers to the citadel or fortified part of a North African city, often associated with a marketplace or bazaar.
The song is particularly notable for its use of irony and satire. The Clash used the metaphor of the disapproving king to comment on the oppressive nature of many governments, particularly in the Middle East. At the same time, they used humor to make their point, such as portraying the muezzin (who calls the faithful to prayer) standing on the radiator grille of a Cadillac.
The lyrics can also be interpreted as a commentary on the power of music to bring people together and create social change. Despite the king's attempts to suppress music, the citizens continue to play it, even in the face of military intervention. This is particularly powerful given The Clash's reputation as a politically conscious band.
Line by Line Meaning
Now the king told the boogie men
The king commands his men to stop playing a type of music called raga.
You have to let that raga drop
The king wants the music to stop.
The oil down the desert way
Has been shakin' to the top
The oil in the desert is being excavated and is selling very well.
The Sheik he drove his Cadillac
He went a-cruisin' down the ville
The muezzin was a-standing
On the radiator grille
A wealthy man in a Cadillac drove through town with a religious figure on his car.
Shareef don't like it
Rock the Casbah, rock the Casbah
Shareef don't like it
Rock the Casbah, Rock the Casbah
The Shareef dislikes the music being played and wants it to stop.
By order of the prophet
We ban that boogie sound
Degenerate the faithful
With that craazy Casbah sound
The prophet has forbidden a type of music and believes it corrupts the followers' beliefs.
But the Bedouin they brought out the electric camel drum
The local guitar picker got his guitar-picking thumb
As soon as the Shareef had cleared the square
They began to wail
Despite the ban, some people continue to play music and enjoy it after the Shareef comes around the area.
Now, over at the temple
Oh, they really pack 'em in
The in-crowd say it's cool
To dig this chanting thing
But as the wind changed direction
Then the temple band took five
The crowd caught a wiff
Of that crazy Casbah jive
People are attracted to chanting in the temple, but when the wind changes direction, they are exposed to the controversial Casbah music.
The king called up his jet fighters
He said you better earn your pay
Drop your bombs between the minarets
Down the Casbah way
The king instructs the fighters to drop bombs near the area of the controversial music.
As soon as the Shareef was chauffeured outta there
The jet pilots tuned to the cockpit radio blare
As soon as the Shareef was outta their hair
The jet pilots wailed
After the Shareef left, the pilots played the music they wanted to listen to.
Shareef don't like it, he thinks it's not kosher
Rock the Casbah, rock the Casbah
Shareef don't like it, fundamentally can't take it
Rock the Casbah, Rock the Casbah
Shareef don't like it, you know he really hates it
Rock the Casbah, rock the Casbah
Shareef don't like it, really, really hates it
The Shareef really dislikes the music and believes it goes against his values.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOE STRUMMER, MICK JONES, TOPPER HEADON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rocksparadox
azzouz hassan
If you're that young, let me teach you about the lyrics :
''Sharia , intelligent people don't want it''
''Pedophile imam don't like it, fuck the fatwa, fuck the fatwa''
''Mohamed was a murderous child- rapist, fuck mohamedans , fuck mohamedans''
Sounds about right, YES !?
@oldskoolmusicforever0724
WHO ELSE JUST RANDOMLY WANTED TO WATCH AND LISTEN TO ROCK THE CASBAH
@alicescott5462
Me
@kimberlytaylor8550
Same.
@catcookie6726
Me!
@claudiomarinocandianeto5684
ay
@elroyh9able
yep
@sillyk6688
It’s ridiculous how much a mood lifter this song is.
@kostisdedes4175
True
@SUGAR_XYLER
😄 Yeah, my 95 year old aunt is dancing with her cat
@rbtraitor8699
Ikr?