From their earliest days as a band, The Clash stood apart from their peers with their musicianship as well as their lyrics, the passionate, left-wing political idealism in the lyrics by frontman Joe Strummer and guitarist Mick Jones contrasting with the lyrical nihilism of the Sex Pistols and the musical minimalism of the Ramones. Their 1979 album 'London Calling' is considered by critics as one of the greatest albums in the history of rock music. Rolling Stone declared it the best album of the 80s.
The Clash's attitude and style, as much as their music, has influenced countless bands, both within and outside the sphere of punk rock. Often lauded as "the only band that matters," The Clash were canonized as rock saints even before they broke up. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the class of 2003. Their first five albums, ('The Clash', 'Give 'Em Enough Rope', 'London Calling', 'Sandinista!', and 'Combat Rock') to this day, continue to earn a great deal of interest from rock fans and artists alike.
Mick Jones went on to form Big Audio Dynamite after being fired from The Clash, and he more recently has produced albums by artists such as The Libertines and Babyshambles. In 2004, he formed Carbon/silicon with musician Tony James (of Generation X and Sigue Sigue Sputnik fame). Exploring various genres such as alternative rock and electronic music, he continues to collaborate with other modern groups such as Gorillaz.
Joe Strummer went on to form and front Joe Strummer and the Latino Rockabilly War and then Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros. He also had a notable solo career that involved work in films and other endeavors, often earning critical acclaim. He died on December 22, 2002, the victim of an un-diagnosed congenital heart defect. Mourned by countless punk fans, his life has been subject to several tributes and was memorialized in the 2007 documentary 'Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten'.
Bass player Paul Simonon went on to form Havana 3 A.M., a group that released a self-titled album in 1991, yet he decided to quit music in the early 90s in favour of becoming an artist. In 2006, he returned to music as bass player in a musical project together with singer-songwriter Damon Albarn. The project is often referred to as The Good, The Bad & The Queen, the name of the groups first recorded album that came out in 2007. In terms of his paintings, his well-received work notably was in an exhibition at Thomas Williams Fine Art in London.
Drummer Topper Headon released a solo album, 1986's 'Waking Up', before leaving the music business to become a taxi driver and escape the heroin addiction that cost him his legacy in The Clash. Over the years, he's had sporadic involvement in various music-related endeavors, such as being a key part of the aforementioned 'The Future Is Unwritten' film. He's currently residing in the seaside town of Dover, England.
Members:
1976 Original line-up
Joe Strummer – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Mick Jones – lead guitar, backing vocals
Keith Levene – lead guitar
Paul Simonon – bass guitar, backing vocals
Terry Chimes – drums, percussion
1977
Joe Strummer – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Mick Jones – lead guitar, backing vocals
Paul Simonon – bass guitar, backing vocals
Terry Chimes – drums, percussion
1977-1982 Classic line-up
Joe Strummer – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Mick Jones – lead guitar, backing vocals
Paul Simonon – bass guitar, backing vocals
Topper Headon – drums, percussion
1982-1983
Joe Strummer – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Mick Jones – lead guitar, backing vocals
Paul Simonon – bass guitar, backing vocals
Terry Chimes – drums, percussion
1983
Joe Strummer – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Mick Jones – lead guitar, backing vocals
Paul Simonon – bass guitar, backing vocals
Pete Howard – drums, percussion
1983-1986 Final line-up
Joe Strummer – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Nick Sheppard – lead guitar, backing vocals
Vince White – lead guitar
Paul Simonon – bass guitar, backing vocals
Pete Howard – drums, percussion
1-2 Crush on You
The Clash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Guys on the corner they were laughin' at me
But I don't mind if they see it all
You know I gotta come clean
I gotta come clean
I got a crush on you
My mind don't need it but my body do
Although we're only strangers
They don't need to know
I gotta cum clean, I gotta cum clean
Ooh, I got a crush on you
I want to get serious right away
One-two, I got a crush on you
What you doin' today or any other day?
One-two, I got a crush on you
Just one look and I go insane
One-two, I got a crush on you
Your daddy never comes to get you
Cause lives so far away
But his I-talian chauffeur shows up every day
But I'll get you in the corner, I'll get you all
alone
I gotta cum clean, I gotta come clean
I got a crush on you
One-two, I got a crush on you
One-two, I got a crush on you
One-two, I got a crush on you
I said one-two
I got a crush on you
Why should I get a crush on yet?
The Clash's song "1-2 Crush on You" is a song about a young person's crush on someone they see in the school canteen. The lyrics describe the singer's feelings toward this person and the difficulty they face in hiding their feelings from their peers. The opening line sets the scene of a school canteen, with other students watching and laughing at the singer. Despite this, the singer admits that they "gotta come clean" and confess their crush.
The song then goes on to describe the physical desire that the singer feels for this person, saying that their "mind don't need it but [their] body do". They acknowledge that they are strangers to each other, but the singer doesn't care and wants to pursue a relationship anyway. The chorus repeats the phrase "one-two, I got a crush on you", emphasizing the urgency and intensity of the singer's emotions.
The second verse introduces a bit of backstory about the person the singer is crushing on. Their father is absent from their life, but they have an Italian chauffeur who shows up to pick them up every day. The singer envisions getting this person alone in a corner to confess their feelings.
Overall, the song captures the overwhelming feelings of a teenage crush and the desire to be close to someone despite potential obstacles. It's a catchy, up-tempo track that highlights The Clash's ability to blend punk, rock, and pop influences to create a unique sound.
Line by Line Meaning
Standing in a queue of a school canteen
I am currently waiting in a line for food at my school's cafeteria
Guys on the corner they were laughin' at me
Some guys nearby were laughing at me, possibly because of my appearance or because they find me amusing
But I don't mind if they see it all
I don't care if those guys see that I have a crush on someone
You know I gotta come clean
I need to be honest
I gotta come clean
I need to be honest
I got a crush on you
I have a strong feeling of admiration and attraction towards you
My mind don't need it but my body do
I may not need to have a crush on you mentally, but my body desires you
A little bit of loving and attention for you
I want to show you some affection and attention
Although we're only strangers
We haven't really met or talked before
They don't need to know
I'm hoping to keep my feelings for you private for now
Ooh, I got a crush on you
I am really into you
I want to get serious right away
I want to start a serious relationship with you immediately
One-two, I got a crush on you
I am emphasizing again that I have a crush on you
What you doin' today or any other day?
I am asking if you are free to spend time with me today or any other day
Just one look and I go insane
You have such an impact on me that even just looking at you could drive me crazy
Your daddy never comes to get you
Your father doesn't come pick you up, likely because he lives too far away
Cause lives so far away
He lives too far away to pick you up himself
But his I-talian chauffeur shows up every day
However, his Italian chauffeur comes to pick you up every day instead
But I'll get you in the corner, I'll get you all alone
I will find a way to talk to you privately, away from everyone else
One-two, I got a crush on you
Once again, I am reiterating that I have a crush on you
Why should I get a crush on yet?
This line is not present in the song
One-two, I got a crush on you
I am repeating for emphasis that I am crushing on you
One-two, I got a crush on you
I am once again emphasizing my feelings toward you
One-two, I got a crush on you
One last time, I am making it clear that I have a crush on you
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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