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
17 This Is England
The Clash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are they howling out or doing somebody harm
On a catwalk jungle somebody grabbed my arm
A voice spoke so cold it matched the weapon in her palm
This is England
This knife of Sheffield steel
This is England
Time on his hands freezing in those clothes
He won't go for the carrot
They beat him by the pole
Some sunny day confronted by his soul
He's out at sea, too far off, he can't go home
This is England
What we're supposed to die for
This is England
And we're never gonna cry no more
Black shadow of the Vincent
Falls on a Triumph line
I got my motorcycle jacket
But I'm walking all the time
South Atlantic wind blows
Ice from a dying creed
I see no glory
When will we be free
This is England
We can chain you to the rail
This is England
We can kill you in a jail
The British boots go kick them
Got 'em in the head
Police ain't watchin'
The newspapers been read
Who cares to protest
A (???) in the eye like a flare
Out came the batons and
The British warned themselves
This is England
The land of (il)legal dances
This is England
Land of a thousand stances
This is England
This knife of Sheffield steel
This is England
This is how we feel
This is England
This is England
The Clash's song "This is England" depicts a society that is oppressive, violent, and chaotic. The opening lines suggest that the world is a human factory farm, where the powerful take advantage of the vulnerable. The lyrics create an image of a bleak world, where people are prone to violence, and no one is safe. The chorus emphasizes the intensity of the song's message, with lines like "This is England, this knife of Sheffield steel, this is England, this is how we feel." The song is a reflection of the social, economic, and political climate of England at the time, and the frustration of a generation who felt marginalized and disillusioned.
The second verse of the song is particularly powerful. The lyrics speak to the experience of the working class, who are struggling to survive in a world that offers them nothing. The singer is frozen in his clothes, unable to move forward or backwards. He's confronted by his soul, but he's too far out at sea to know which way to turn. The verse is a metaphor for the experience of the working class, who are trapped, unable to move forward or escape their circumstances.
The final verse of the song suggests a society in decline, where the British boots are used to kick people in the head, and the police are complicit in violence. The newspapers have been read, and there is no one to protest. The verse speaks to a sense of despair and powerlessness, and the chorus reminds us that this is England, a land of illegal dances and a thousand stances.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear a gang fire on a human factory farm
I heard gunshots from a prison, which feels like a factory farming humans.
Are they howling out or doing somebody harm
I'm unsure whether the people inside are fighting against their captors or hurting each other.
On a catwalk jungle somebody grabbed my arm
In this society where status is everything, someone forcibly stopped me, which represents the predatory nature of this place.
A voice spoke so cold it matched the weapon in her palm
The person who stopped me was emotionless and spoke with a demeanor as deadly as her weapon.
This is England
The country we're in right now is England.
This knife of Sheffield steel
The dangers and violence of this place are evident, with Sheffield steel knives being used as weapons.
This is how we feel
Our emotions and attitudes are shaped by our environment, and this is how we feel in England.
Time on his hands freezing in those clothes
A man is stuck with no options, freezing in his current circumstances.
He won't go for the carrot
Despite there being a reward, he won't take it because he knows it won't lead to any real improvement in his situation.
They beat him by the pole
He gets physically assaulted by those in power whenever he tries to push against the system.
Some sunny day confronted by his soul
One day, he'll face his fears and confront the demons inside him.
He's out at sea, too far off, he can't go home
The man is too far away from where he wants to be to ever make it back home.
What we're supposed to die for
As citizens, we are expected to die for our country, but what is really worth dying for?
And we're never gonna cry no more
We won't break down and suffer as a result of this society anymore.
Black shadow of the Vincent
The black ghost of the Vincent motorcycle haunts us.
Falls on a Triumph line
This negative energy permeates the entire transportation system, including the Triumph motorcycles.
I got my motorcycle jacket
I have my armor to protect me from the ugliness of England.
But I'm walking all the time
Even with my armor, I can only walk away from the problems. I can't overcome them.
South Atlantic wind blows
The harsh reality of this place chills me to the bone.
Ice from a dying creed
The beliefs and values that shaped England are dying and are only leaving behind coldness.
I see no glory
I can't find anything good about this place.
When will we be free
When do we get to escape this oppressive society?
We can chain you to the rail
As a way to maintain control, we have the ability to trap you and hold you down in any way we see fit.
We can kill you in a jail
We have the power to take someone's life while they're in our custody.
The British boots go kick them
The British authorities are willing to use violence and aggression to maintain order.
Got 'em in the head
The violence inflicted on the citizens has long-lasting, negative effects on their entire being.
Police ain't watchin'
The authorities who are supposed to protect us are turning a blind eye to the suffering we're going through.
The newspapers been read
The media is complacent with the status quo and doesn't report on the atrocities that happen every day.
Who cares to protest
No one wants to fight for what's right anymore, and apathy is allowing the oppressive system to continue without any opposition.
A (???) in the eye like a flare
A sharp, fiery pain is felt when someone gets hit in the eye with a projectile like a flare.
Out came the batons and
The authorities resort to violence at the first sign of unrest.
The British warned themselves
The authorities' violent and manipulative tactics don't just hurt the citizens; they will eventually hurt themselves as well.
The land of (il)legal dances
The oppressive society tries to regulate and control every aspect of people's lives, even down to what they're allowed to dance to.
Land of a thousand stances
Despite the attempts to control expression, people still come up with all sorts of ways to stand out and express themselves.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bernard Rhodes, Joe Strummer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@adrianhughes8514
Joe was such a gracious man, so humble and yet so talented.
@nseight
This is England track........visuals are so wonderfully put together & at points gave me real chills / shivers down my spine....thank yo so much for sharing* now to continue listening to the rest of the compilation :-) x
@garydunning9363
I've always liked this song,maybe 2 more off the album as well but Joe's writing as sharp as ever.
@philgraham1538
My favourite song off the album Clash M2 ❤
@veryrancid3128
Love this record.. still treasure it!
@kathleenwoolever1547
when music blew you away!!!! love this song....brilliant ;)
@zacharycat
This song always makes me miss wonderful England. I really need to go back and visit again, it's been so long.
@stuwarwick8508
its not bloody wonderful - its awful.
@stephenhall151
@@thatsnotmyname6677 we're you from ?
@thatsnotmyname6677
@@stephenhall151 im from nigeria