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
Bank Robber
The Clash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But he never hurt nobody
He just loved to live that way
And he loved to steal your money
Some is rich, and some is poor
That's the way the world is
But I don't believe in lying back
So we came to jazz it up
We never loved a shovel
Break your back to earn your pay
An' don't forget to grovel
The old man spoke up in a bar
Said I never been in prison
A lifetime serving one machine
Is ten times worse than prison
Imagine if all the boys in jail
Could get out now together
Whadda you think they'd want to say to us?
While we was being clever
Someday you'll meet your rocking chair
'Cause that's where we're spinning
There's no point to want to comb your hair
When it's grey and thinning
Run rabbit run
Strike out boys, for the hills
I can find that hole in the wall
And I know that they never will
The Clash's song Bank Robber is about a father who was a bank robber but never hurt anyone. He loved to steal money and live his life the way he wanted to. The lyrics highlight the divide between the rich and poor and how some people have to work hard to earn a living while others resort to stealing to fulfill their needs. The song suggests that lying back and accepting your fate is not a solution and one must strive to make things better for themselves.
The song also talks about how a lifetime serving one machine is worse than prison. It questions the idea of working for someone else and giving up your freedom in return for a paycheck. The old man speaks up in a bar and reminds everyone that they are not born to serve someone else's dream. The song imagines what the boys in jail would want to say if they were to get out and meets those who had the privilege of being clever and not having to resort to stealing to make a living.
Overall, Bank Robber is a song that tries to highlight the struggles of the working class and how some people will resort to extreme measures to fight against the system. It suggests that one must take control of their life and not rely on others to make things happen for them.
Line by Line Meaning
My daddy was a bank robber
My father had stolen from banks before to make a living.
But he never hurt nobody
However, he had never harmed anyone while robbing the banks.
He just loved to live that way
He loved the thrill and excitement of being a bank robber.
And he loved to steal your money
He enjoyed stealing from people's savings.
Some is rich, and some is poor
Some people are wealthy, while others are not.
That's the way the world is
That is simply the reality of our society.
But I don't believe in lying back
But I refuse to just accept that as my fate.
Sayin' how bad your luck is
Or pretend that my bad luck is the only reason I am not wealthy.
So we came to jazz it up
So we decided to spice things up a bit.
We never loved a shovel
We did not enjoy hard physical labor.
Break your back to earn your pay
Working extremely hard just to earn a meager wage.
An' don't forget to grovel
Bowing down to authority and sucking up in order to climb the economic ladder.
The old man spoke up in a bar
An elder man spoke out while at a bar.
Said I never been in prison
He proclaimed that he had never been incarcerated.
A lifetime serving one machine
Spending your days working tirelessly for one company.
Is ten times worse than prison
Can be much more unbearable than actually being locked up.
Imagine if all the boys in jail
Just imagine if all incarcerated individuals were suddenly freed.
Could get out now together
If they could unite and escape from confinement simultaneously.
Whadda you think they'd want to say to us?
What do you think they would say to the rest of society?
While we was being clever
While the rest of us were thinking we were being smart and successful.
Someday you'll meet your rocking chair
Everyone will eventually grow old and retire.
'Cause that's where we're spinning
That is the ultimate destination for every person's life.
There's no point to want to comb your hair
There is no use in being vain and worried about one's appearance.
When it's grey and thinning
When their hair has become thin and gray with age.
Run rabbit run
The person getting chased has to run faster to avoid being caught.
Strike out boys, for the hills
Abandon your previous way of life and run away to completely start over elsewhere.
I can find that hole in the wall
I am capable of finding an opening in the wall, such as a doorway or a window.
And I know that they never will
And I am certain that those pursuing me will not be able to catch me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOE STRUMMER, MICK JONES, PAUL SIMONON, TOPPER HEADON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@leokimvideo
The Clash had that magic touch to incorporate many styles of music with strong messages in the lyrics. Today's music is rubbish in comparison
@opsec5150
Exactly
@zenamcclusky
I feel so glad to have been in my youth when the clash were doing their thing.....even the cars in the video remind me if freer times....much freer....no CCTV, no automatic car checks.....
it was wooohooooooooooo.....and it was feckin ace
@katybertalmann7679
I'll always love them and I'm way to old.❤
@stewartsmotorcycles.315
I was fortunate enough to see The Clash live, on more than one occasion in the 70's, & early 80's. They were so much more than Punks, which is what a lot of people assumed they were.
One of the most underrated bands that the UK has ever produced in my opinion, & Bankrobber is one of their smoothest tracks.
R.I.P. Joe.
@user-nl5ne9zb7x
Вау! Привет из Украины ☮️☮️☮️
@juliephillips3374
yeah! saw them a few times back in the day. incredible
@rocky3268
@@user-nl5ne9zb7x Greetings from Wales UK 💯🙏🏻🏴✌🏻
@antoniorambaldi8493
I've seen them more than once, too. The first one was in Milan, summer 1980, Sandinista tour, the last one at Fair Deal, Brixton, July 1982. An also after Mick Jones was sacked I saw them in Milan, but they weren't the Clash anymore IMO
@mwara2444
Yeah, it's funny they were inspired by several different music styles and tried to culminate them all into one.
And they took it on to big audio dynamite where they really would put all sorts of music into one track with just combinations merge together