Radio One
Mikey Dread and the Clash Lyrics
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There's a tower in the heart of London
With a radio station right at the top
They don't make the city beat
They're making all the action stop
A long time ago there were pirates
Beaming waves from the sea
But now all the stations are silenced
Want to tell your problems?
Phone in from your bedsit room
Having trouble with your partner?
Let us all in on the news
If you want to hear a record
Get the word from Aiden Day
He picks all the hits to play
To keep you in your place all day
Capital Radio
In tune with nothing
Don't touch that dial
Don't touch that dial
Don't touch that dial...
The opening line of "Yes, it's time for the Dr. Goebbels show!" is a reference to Paul Joseph Goebbels, who was Adolf Hitler's Minister of Propaganda. This line casts a dark shadow on the song, which is proceeded by a commentary on radio culture in London. The tower in the heart of London with a radio station right at the top is a reference to the iconic BT Tower, which dominated the skyline in the 1970s. The second and third lines of the verse refer to the power that radio stations have in shaping popular culture. In this verse, the Clash is suggesting that the government has a hand in controlling the content of the airwaves.
The next few lines are a nostalgic look back at pirate radio stations that were popular before the government began to regulate radio stations. These pirate radio stations broadcasted from ships at sea to avoid government regulations, and were notorious for playing experimental music. The protests against the government regulations of these pirate radio stations paved the way for a new relationship between radio and popular culture. The rest of the song is devoted to highlighting different aspects of commercial radio, which the Clash sees as a tool for controlling the populace. Overall, Radio One is a biting critique of the power of mass media to shape culture.
Line by Line Meaning
Yes, it's time for the Dr. Goebbels show!
The radio station is being likened to the propaganda machine of the Nazis during WWII, led by Joseph Goebbels.
There's a tower in the heart of London
With a radio station right at the top
The London city has a tall tower which houses a radio station at the very top.
They don't make the city beat
They're making all the action stop
The radio station is said to be making the city calm instead of maintaining its energy and pace.
A long time ago there were pirates
Beaming waves from the sea
But now all the stations are silenced
'Cause they ain't got a government license
In the past, unlicensed pirate radios from ships on the seas illegally broadcasted music but are now shut down, and new radio stations require a government license to operate.
Want to tell your problems?
Phone in from your bedsit room
Having trouble with your partner?
Let us all in on the news
The radio station invites people to air their personal problems on air for everyone to listen to.
If you want to hear a record
Get the word from Aiden Day
He picks all the hits to play
To keep you in your place all day
Aiden Day is said to be the one in charge of playing the top hits of the time to keep their listeners occupied all day, instead of truly engaging with their lives.
Capital Radio
In tune with nothing
The radio station is said to be aligned with nothing, suggesting that it lacks the ability to contribute to the overall mood and energy of the city.
Don't touch that dial
Don't touch that dial
Don't touch that dial...
The song concludes with a repeated phrase, urging the listener not to change the radio station despite its shortcomings.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOE STRUMMER, MICK JONES, PAUL SIMONON, TOPPER HEADON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind