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
Bankrobber
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
And that's the way the world is
But I don't believe in laying back
So he came to jazz it up
Never learned to shovel
Break your back to earn our pay
Don't forget to grovel
My daddy was a bank robber
But he never hurt nobody
He just loved to live that way
And he loved to take your money
He's gone now
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
Oh
Hey, my daddy was a bank robber
But he never hurt nobody
He just loved to live that way
And he loved to steal your money
So he came to jazz it up
We never learned to shovel
Break your back to earn your pay
And don't forget to grovel, hey
Get away, get away, get away, get away, get away, get away, get away
My daddy was a bank robber
But he never hurt nobody
He just loved to live that way
And he loved to steal your money
Hey
Run, rabbit run
Brrrp, strike out boys, for the hills
I can find that hole in the wall
I know that they never will
Daddy was a bank robber
But he never hurt nobody
He just loved to live that way
The Clash's "Bankrobber" is a song that tells the story of a man whose father was a bank robber. The singer emphasizes that his father did not hurt anyone during his robberies, but he loved the thrill of the heist and the cash that came along with it. The lyrics contrast the lives of those who are rich and those who are poor and the way society treats them differently. The singer refuses to accept complacency and encourages people to take action if they're unhappy with their circumstances.
The second verse focuses on an older man who admits he has never committed a crime or been to prison, but he feels trapped by the monotony of working for a machine that never stops. The chorus repeats the singer's statements about his father, highlighting that he never wanted to hurt anyone, but he did want to live life on his own terms. The final verse presents a somber, fatalistic view of life, with the singer warning that everyone will eventually grow old and become unable to care for themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
My daddy was a bank robber
The singer's father was a bank robber
But he never hurt nobody
Despite being a bank robber, the singer's father never physically harmed anyone
He just loved to live that way
The singer's father enjoyed his life of crime and the thrill of the chase
And he loved to steal your money
The artist's father was motivated by the financial gain from robbing banks
Some is rich, and some is poor
The world is divided into those who have wealth and those who do not
And that's the way the world is
The singer accepts this divide as an inherent part of life
But I don't believe in laying back
The singer is proactive and refuses to be passive about their situation
Sayin' how bad your luck is
The artist does not make excuses for their circumstances
So he came to jazz it up
The artist's father sought to increase the excitement level of their criminal pursuits
Never learned to shovel
The artist's father was not interested in doing manual labor to earn a living
Break your back to earn our pay
The singer is critical of the idea of having to work extremely hard to make a living
Don't forget to grovel
The artist thinks people should not have to demean themselves to get ahead in life
He's gone now
The singer's father is dead or no longer in their life
The old man spoke up in a bar
An elderly man made a statement in a drinking establishment
Said "I never been in prison
The old man claims to have never been incarcerated
A lifetime serving one machine
The old man is critical of the idea of working a monotonous job for one's entire life
Is ten times worse than prison"
The old man believes that living a life of servitude to a machine is more oppressive than being in prison
Imagine if all the boys in jail
The singer is envisioning a scenario where all incarcerated men are released simultaneously
Could get out now together
The singer suggests that the prisoners unite and take action
Whadda you think they'd want to say to us?
The artist wonders what the prisoners would say to those who have not been incarcerated
While we was being clever
The artist implies that non-incarcerated people are not being clever enough with their lives
Someday you'll meet your rocking chair
The artist is warning that one day everyone will be old and frail
'Cause that's where we're spinning
The singer is suggesting that aging and slowing down is an unavoidable part of life
There's no point to want to comb your hair
The artist is saying that being concerned with one's appearance is irrelevant in old age
When it's grey and thinning
The singer is specifically referencing hair becoming thin and grey with age
Hey, my daddy was a bank robber
The singer reiterates that their father was a bank robber
But he never hurt nobody
The singer emphasizes that their father did not harm anyone
He just loved to live that way
The artist attributes their father's criminal lifestyle to a personal preference
And he loved to take your money
The artist rephrases that their father enjoyed robbing banks to gain wealth
Run, rabbit run
The singer gives a directive to someone to run away quickly, using a phrase that could also be interpreted as encouraging caution
Brrrp, strike out boys, for the hills
The singer is expressing a sense of urgency to a group of people, telling them to escape as quickly as possible
I can find that hole in the wall
The artist is confident in their ability to locate a certain way out
I know that they never will
The artist is suggesting that whoever they are fleeing from will not be able to find them
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