Drug-Stabbing Time
The Clash Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Drug stabbing time
Well I got working on the Ford line
A paying off the big fine
Drug stabbin' time

Drug stabbin' time
Is from nine to nine
Nobody wants a user
Nobody needs a loser
So kick him out that door
An' don't answer it no more

Drug stabbin' time
It's a Greenwich Mean Time
Your friends all hate each other you think
You've got another
But who's at the door?
Don't answer it no more

Drug stabbin' time
In a bedroom crime
There's a tape recording on a telephone line
An' it's ringin' from the floor
So don't answer it no more

Now I was lying in my room
It was raining drugs all afternoon
I hear this car pull up outside
Comes to a stop like, skreeee

Someone's in a hurry
'N someone better worry
'Cos these four guys all had on their feet
A pair of black shoes shining and neat
I thinks

Black shoes on
No that's bad news
Here they come charging up the stairs alright
Sonny just tell us where

Drug stabbin' time
Don't ask me mate
Working on the ford line




Paying off the big fine
Drug stabbin' time

Overall Meaning

The Clash's song Drug-Stabbing Time is a reflection of the dark subculture of drug addiction in London in the late 1970s, where the drug scene was rampant and heroin addiction was becoming an increasing problem. The lyrics are grim, describing the consequences of drug addiction - the alienation from society, the financial burden of fines, and the potential for violent crime. The phrase "drug-stabbing time" implies an imminent danger connected to drug use, as wasting away on drugs leads to danger and may result in a violent end.


The song describes three different scenarios. The first is the Ford line, where the singer is described as working hard to pay off a big fine. However, the singer knows that the man’s money is going towards drugs, and he warns of the consequences of drug addiction. The second scenario is set at 9 pm, which is implied to be "drug-stabbing time". The message is clear - people who do drugs are not welcome by society, and they are likely to be kicked out or even worse. In the third scenario, the singer is lying in his room listening to tapes of telephones, hearing the sound of car engines, and knowing that something bad is going to happen.


Line by Line Meaning

Drug stabbing time
A warning that it is time to get high, but be careful because there are risks involved.


Well I got working on the Ford line
I started working on the assembly line for Ford to make money.


A paying off the big fine
I'm using the money I make from working to pay off a large fine I owe.


Drug stabbin' time
A reminder that it's time to get high.


Drug stabbin' time
A warning that it's dangerous to use drugs from 9am to 9pm.


Nobody wants a user
No one wants to be associated with someone who uses drugs.


Nobody needs a loser
No one wants to be around someone who is constantly losing due to drug use.


So kick him out that door
If someone is using drugs, escort them out of your life.


An' don't answer it no more
Do not let them back into your life or answer their calls.


Drug stabbin' time
A reminder that drug use is happening all the time.


It's a Greenwich Mean Time
This is happening in every location around the globe.


Your friends all hate each other you think
Your friends that are using drugs are constantly fighting.


You've got another
You think you have another friend to replace those that are using drugs.


But who's at the door?
You are worried that the people at the front door are the drug users trying to get back in.


Don't answer it no more
Make sure you do not let them back in your life.


Drug stabbin' time
Time for more drug use.


In a bedroom crime
Drug use often leads to criminal activity taking place in the bedroom.


There's a tape recording on a telephone line
There is likely evidence of the criminal activity on a phone tap.


An' it's ringin' from the floor
The person on the other line is calling from the ground floor.


So don't answer it no more
Make sure you don't answer the phone because it could be incriminating.


Now I was lying in my room
I was resting in my room.


It was raining drugs all afternoon
There were plenty of drugs available and being used throughout the long afternoon.


I hear this car pull up outside
A car has just pulled up outside my door.


Comes to a stop like, skreeee
It comes to a screeching halt.


Someone's in a hurry
The people in the car are in a rush.


N someone better worry
This should make us all concerned.


'Cos these four guys all had on their feet
The car contains four dangerous individuals.


A pair of black shoes shining and neat
They are all wearing polished black shoes that indicate they mean business.


I thinks
I am guessing what their intention is.


Black shoes on
The black shoes are a bad sign.


No that's bad news
This indicates that something bad is about to happen.


Here they come charging up the stairs alright
The dangerous individuals are coming to your room to cause harm.


Sonny just tell us where
The men want to know about drugs and where to find them.


Drug stabbin' time
A reminder to use drugs, despite the dangerous situation.


Don't ask me mate
I do not have any information for them and do not want to get involved.


Working on the ford line
I am currently working on the assembly line for Ford.


Paying off the big fine
I am using the money from working to slowly pay off a large fine that I owe.


Drug stabbin' time
Despite the danger, it's time to use drugs.




Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOE STRUMMER, MICK JONES, PAUL SIMONON, TOPPER HEADON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

jeff

Most underrated Clash track

Diego Guerrero

My favorite anti-drug song. 🀘

bug Green

I love this song because it sounds like if a gang fight was written into The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Aaron Madrigal

I'm currently addicted to this song

Aaron Madrigal

So catchy

Wm Senior

An Oldie but a Goodie. Such sentimental memories.

Ociel Garcia

Just the right amount of cowbell

Kryss The Alien

πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚

GriefTourist

Magnificent long live the Clash

Zzz Zzz

The clash one of my favorite bands R.I.P Joe Strummer rocken forever blessings to everyone and Mick Jones Paul Simonon Topper Headon and
All the rest of the band of the clash God bless Everyone forever Golden Thank you Clash

More Comments

More Versions