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
I'm So Bored with the U.S.A
The Clash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He want to shoot some skag
He met it in Cambodia, but now
He can't afford a bag
Yankee dollar talk
To the dictators of the world
In fact it's giving orders
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
But what can I do?
Yankee detectives
Are always on the TV
'Cause killers in America work
Seven days a week
Never mind the stars and stripes
Let's print the Watergate Tapes
I'll salute the New Wave
And I hope nobody escapes
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
But what can I do?
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
But what can I do?
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
But what can I do?
Move up, Starsky
For the C.I.A.
Suck on Kojak
For the USA
The song "I'm So Bored with the U.S.A." by The Clash was recorded in 1977 and appeared on their eponymous debut album the same year. The song presents a scathing critique of the United States, including its military interventions in Southeast Asia and its political scandals. The lyrics reference the Vietnam War and the CIA's involvement in Cambodia, as well as the Watergate scandal that brought down President Nixon. The song's chorus repeats the titular phrase "I'm so bored with the U.S.A." and asks the question, "But what can I do?" suggesting a sense of frustration and helplessness.
The verses of the song focus on different aspects of U.S. culture that vocalist Joe Strummer finds dismaying. The opening verse describes a soldier who is addicted to drugs, having become hooked on "skag" (heroin) during his service in Cambodia. The next verse critiques U.S. foreign policy, suggesting that the government is subservient to dictators around the world. The verse after that takes aim at American crime shows, such as Starsky & Hutch and Kojak, which glorify violence and police brutality. The fourth verse expresses a desire to see the truth exposed, rather than the empty symbols of patriotism, suggesting that people should look beyond the American flag and instead focus on the Watergate tapes.
Overall, the song presents a bleak picture of the United States as a country that is corrupt, violent, and hypocritical. However, the song's repetition of the phrase "I'm so bored," suggests that this critique is not one of irredeemable despair but rather of disappointment, indicating that there is something more meaningful or engaging beyond the bland emptiness of American culture.
Line by Line Meaning
Yankee soldier
American soldiers fighting in foreign lands
He want to shoot some skag
Drug addiction problems among soldiers who have fought in Vietnam
He met it in Cambodia, but now
Cambodia was involved in the Vietnam War
He can't afford a bag
Drug addiction has ruined his life
Yankee dollar talk
American money financing corrupt foreign governments
To the dictators of the world
American governments enjoying trusting relationships with dictators worldwide
In fact it's giving orders
In this way, America is indirectly dictating other countries' policies
An' they can't afford to miss a word
These dictators are not willing to defy America's orders
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
The singer is fed up with America's politics and society
But what can I do?
The singer is powerless to affect any change
Yankee detectives
The glorified view of TV detectives is a sign of societal decline
Are always on the TV
Detective shows dominate TV programming
'Cause killers in America work
High crime rate and extensive murder stories on the news and in detective shows
Seven days a week
Crime never sleeps
Never mind the stars and stripes
Patriotic imagery is unimportant
Let's print the Watergate Tapes
The American people deserve to know the truth and corruption of their government
I'll salute the New Wave
Punk rock, a rebellious new movement, is the answer
And I hope nobody escapes
Everyone should be exposed to the punk rock message
Move up, Starsky
Slang term for the police, implies corruption within the force
For the C.I.A.
Suggests the C.I.A. is involved in this corruption
Suck on Kojak
Kojak was a popular TV detective, suggests that the public is too willing to be entertained by gross injustices
For the USA
The government, by extension, is also corrupt
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper Headon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Connor Ian Gorrie-Miller
Morgan Sheehy, I don't mean any offense, I'm just shocked that your a Canadian citizen who lives in Canada, and you actually think Canada is any better than the U.S.
Canada was Americanized decades ago. You live in a police state. I know, because I live here, too. I'm Canadian myself, born and raised in Ontario, about 45 minutes southwest of Toronto. I hate to be the one to have to tell you, but despite all the breathtaking natural beauty, epic scenery, abundant natural resources, free-ish healthcare (for now), and millions of wonderful people, we have a very corrupt government, we definitely have less rights and freedoms than U.S. citizens, and our current prime minister is a communist puppet who is destroying this country, squandering and stealing our tax dollars and natural resources.
The American style politics, corporatization, the privatization of our public and government industries, institutions, etc. started in AT LEAST the 80's, under Pierre Trudeau's "leadership". It was finalized in the early 90's with NAFTA (the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement) which was Pierre Trudeau's big project that he championed, supported and campaigned for. It shouldn't be very surprising that Trudeau had a lot to do with NAFTA getting passed in Canada. I dont know if you were around back then (early 90s) but hundreds of millions of hardworking middleclass citizens lost their jobs all across Canada and the US, when all the corporations and big companies shut down all of their factories and plants in Canada and the USA, and moved their operations to Mexico, where these huge companies and corporations could pay their workers MUCH less and where there isn't as many environmental laws, fair trade laws, human rights laws, workplace safety laws, workers rights, workers unions, and ethical business practices. Which equals WAY MORE money for the heads of these corporations and their investors, and a lot less money for the people who actually do the work. That was the outcome of the "NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT". The puppetmasters- the elite, the heads of corporation and industry, the military industrial complex, the Federal Reserve, banking cartels, etc. who are probably mostly all members of a handful of families, or are at least members of the same or related secret societies and initiatory orders, the so called "illuminati" or illuminated ones, aha 😆
But seriously, Canada is not any better than the States. There is so many more people in the US compared to Canada. We have a fraction of the population of the USA. And we have more land, Canada is the 2nd largest country in the world (the 1st/ largest being Russia). Less people and way more spread out. America has a much larger population and is a smaller, so theres a lot more people packed into smaller areas. The USA has a large number of massive metropolitan cities all across its 52 (?) States. Canada has a lot smaller cities, with smaller populations. The only cities in Canada that are even comparable to large US cities are Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, and maybe Winnipeg, Montreal and Ottawa. But still, none of those have a population anywhere near that of, say, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles or Washington, D.C.
So of course theres more crime and more bullshit- more shootings, more poverty, more violence, more gangs, more bigger drug epedemics, bigger overfilled prisons, a greater numbee of inmates/ adults in prison custody, and, of course, WAY MORE corruption.
You hear about more crime and corruption, in the USA, because there is more happening in the US. More of everything, good and bad.
But comparing Canada's and America's negative aspects, things like crime statistics, drug use statistics, police corruption statistics, violence, shootings, corrupt government, etc. BY POPULATION SIZE (actually, and mathematically [LOL!], taking into account the mass difference in population between the two neighboring countries) I'm sure Canada is hardly any better, if not worse. Gun laws aside (I'm not getting into that, that's a whole other can of worms 🤐), Canada has a lot less rights and freedoms, more government overreach, and taxe rates in Canada are insanely high, just like in England.
The Queen, the the royal family, still have way too much power of this country and its policies. and its citizens have been utterly fooled and brainwashed by the Canadian government and media to think that they are free. Canadians don't know any better, because Canadian has always been a secret police state, and a dancing puppet for England. . The USA fought for, and won, their independence from the Crown, England, and the incestuous royal family. We did not, we fought with and for England, and we are a British Colony. Our system of government, the way voting and elections work here, the whole process is a farce. The USA has a much more democratic style of government, a better election process. Better rights, freedoms and laws. Canada is a joke. You cant do anything here without somebody, or some group, or some authority interfering. You need a permit for absolutely everything, even cutting a branch off of your own tree on your own property you have to pay the government (city) money, they need a cut out of absolutely EVERYTHING it seems. Everything is designed for the government to get as much as our money as possible. Tickets. You get a ticket for everything. And if you dont pay it off right away it goes up and up, destroys your credit. If you dont pay your tickets they will take your drivers license away. The whole justice system, the courts, cops, its all desgined to take your money. Its so hard to provide for a family in Canada nowadays. Back in the day 1 working parent could provide for his whole family, wife and 3 or 4 kids. Now, its hard for one person to support themselves. Everyone is poor, struggling, stressed out, expecting the economy to get worse..
Canada was Americanized a long time ago, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I feel the truth is important to tell.
Connor Ian Gorrie-Miller
Morgan Sheehy, I don't mean any offense, I'm just shocked that your a Canadian citizen who lives in Canada, and you actually think Canada is any better than the U.S.
Canada was Americanized decades ago. You live in a police state. I know, because I live here, too. I'm Canadian myself, born and raised in Ontario, about 45 minutes southwest of Toronto. I hate to be the one to have to tell you, but despite all the breathtaking natural beauty, epic scenery, abundant natural resources, free-ish healthcare (for now), and millions of wonderful people, we have a very corrupt government, we definitely have less rights and freedoms than U.S. citizens, and our current prime minister is a communist puppet who is destroying this country, squandering and stealing our tax dollars and natural resources.
The American style politics, corporatization, the privatization of our public and government industries, institutions, etc. started in AT LEAST the 80's, under Pierre Trudeau's "leadership". It was finalized in the early 90's with NAFTA (the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement) which was Pierre Trudeau's big project that he championed, supported and campaigned for. It shouldn't be very surprising that Trudeau had a lot to do with NAFTA getting passed in Canada. I dont know if you were around back then (early 90s) but hundreds of millions of hardworking middleclass citizens lost their jobs all across Canada and the US, when all the corporations and big companies shut down all of their factories and plants in Canada and the USA, and moved their operations to Mexico, where these huge companies and corporations could pay their workers MUCH less and where there isn't as many environmental laws, fair trade laws, human rights laws, workplace safety laws, workers rights, workers unions, and ethical business practices. Which equals WAY MORE money for the heads of these corporations and their investors, and a lot less money for the people who actually do the work. That was the outcome of the "NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT". The puppetmasters- the elite, the heads of corporation and industry, the military industrial complex, the Federal Reserve, banking cartels, etc. who are probably mostly all members of a handful of families, or are at least members of the same or related secret societies and initiatory orders, the so called "illuminati" or illuminated ones, aha 😆
But seriously, Canada is not any better than the States. There is so many more people in the US compared to Canada. We have a fraction of the population of the USA. And we have more land, Canada is the 2nd largest country in the world (the 1st/ largest being Russia). Less people and way more spread out. America has a much larger population and is a smaller, so theres a lot more people packed into smaller areas. The USA has a large number of massive metropolitan cities all across its 52 (?) States. Canada has a lot smaller cities, with smaller populations. The only cities in Canada that are even comparable to large US cities are Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, and maybe Winnipeg, Montreal and Ottawa. But still, none of those have a population anywhere near that of, say, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles or Washington, D.C.
So of course theres more crime and more bullshit- more shootings, more poverty, more violence, more gangs, more bigger drug epedemics, bigger overfilled prisons, a greater numbee of inmates/ adults in prison custody, and, of course, WAY MORE corruption.
You hear about more crime and corruption, in the USA, because there is more happening in the US. More of everything, good and bad.
But comparing Canada's and America's negative aspects, things like crime statistics, drug use statistics, police corruption statistics, violence, shootings, corrupt government, etc. BY POPULATION SIZE (actually, and mathematically [LOL!], taking into account the mass difference in population between the two neighboring countries) I'm sure Canada is hardly any better, if not worse. Gun laws aside (I'm not getting into that, that's a whole other can of worms 🤐), Canada has a lot less rights and freedoms, more government overreach, and taxe rates in Canada are insanely high, just like in England.
The Queen, the the royal family, still have way too much power of this country and its policies. and its citizens have been utterly fooled and brainwashed by the Canadian government and media to think that they are free. Canadians don't know any better, because Canadian has always been a secret police state, and a dancing puppet for England. . The USA fought for, and won, their independence from the Crown, England, and the incestuous royal family. We did not, we fought with and for England, and we are a British Colony. Our system of government, the way voting and elections work here, the whole process is a farce. The USA has a much more democratic style of government, a better election process. Better rights, freedoms and laws. Canada is a joke. You cant do anything here without somebody, or some group, or some authority interfering. You need a permit for absolutely everything, even cutting a branch off of your own tree on your own property you have to pay the government (city) money, they need a cut out of absolutely EVERYTHING it seems. Everything is designed for the government to get as much as our money as possible. Tickets. You get a ticket for everything. And if you dont pay it off right away it goes up and up, destroys your credit. If you dont pay your tickets they will take your drivers license away. The whole justice system, the courts, cops, its all desgined to take your money. Its so hard to provide for a family in Canada nowadays. Back in the day 1 working parent could provide for his whole family, wife and 3 or 4 kids. Now, its hard for one person to support themselves. Everyone is poor, struggling, stressed out, expecting the economy to get worse..
Canada was Americanized a long time ago, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I feel the truth is important to tell.
Father Funk
Never been a more perfect time to listen to this song
laura lee
that's why I looked it up.
Helen Ayres
The illegally wandering are loving the UK .
LETSFUCKONTHEMOON
Bob Skrandel BLM
MML
Lol
Poodz
Yep, sick of US politics and issues being imported here and forced for no reason.
TPHVICTIMS
I’m going on 70 years old.
Heard this when it first aired. Still love it.
Let It Be Known
That's awesome!!! People told me when i was young that i would outgrow this type of music. Well, I'm 44 now and i STILL love it!!! It goes to show that it doesn't matter how old you get,if you TRULY love the music you listen too, you NEVER stop listening to it👍👍👍
TPHVICTIMS
@Let It Be Known , Stick with it 👍🏻
Let It Be Known
@TPHVICTIMS You too!👍