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 Fought the Law {From Rude Boy}
The Clash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I needed money 'cause I had none
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I left my baby and it feels so bad
She's the best girl that I ever had
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the
Robbin' people with a six-gun
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I lost my girl and I lost my fun
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I left my baby and it feels so bad
Guess my race is run
She's the best girl that I ever had
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the
The Clash's "I Fought the Law" is a punk anthem about facing consequences for breaking the law. The song starts with the singer breaking rocks in the hot sun, likely a reference to prison labor. The singer then expresses the motivation for breaking the law: the need for money. The chorus states twice, "I fought the law and the law won," solidifying the idea that breaking the law ultimately leads to punishment. The second verse further explores the consequences of the singer's actions, as he has lost his girl and his fun. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the theme that there are always consequences for actions.
The song was originally written and recorded by the Bobby Fuller Four in 1965, but it was The Clash's cover in 1979 that gained widespread popularity. The Clash's version of the song is often seen as a classic example of punk rebellion, as it embraces the idea of breaking the law but also acknowledges the consequences. The song's inclusion in The Clash's film "Rude Boy" further solidified its status as a punk classic.
Line by Line Meaning
Breakin' rocks in the hot sun
I was doing hard labor in the hot sun
I fought the law and the law won
I broke the law and was caught by authorities
I fought the law and the law won
I broke the law and was punished according to the law
I needed money 'cause I had none
I was in dire straits and needed money desperately
I fought the law and the law won
I took illegal measures to obtain money and was caught by authorities
I fought the law and the law won
I took illegal measures to obtain money and was punished according to the law
I left my baby and it feels so bad
I had to leave my loved one and it hurt deeply
Guess my race is run
I have probably reached the end of my journey
She's the best girl that I ever had
My loved one was the best person I ever had in my life
I fought the law and the law won
I was caught doing something wrong and punished accordingly
I fought the law and the
I was in defiance of the law and its authority
Robbin' people with a six-gun
I was committing armed robbery
I fought the law and the law won
I committed a violent crime and paid the price for it
I fought the law and the law won
I committed a criminal act and was punished according to the law
I lost my girl and I lost my fun
I lost my loved one and the joy I had in my life
I fought the law and the law won
I was punished by the authorities for breaking the law
I fought the law and the
I was in opposition to the law and its enforcement
I fought the law and the law won
I broke the law and was caught and punished for it
I fought the law and the law won
I was in defiance of the law and its consequences were imposed on me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SONNY CURTIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sam Mencia
They were as great as you think they were. Life changing, inspiring, set off music scenes in every city they played until Summer of 1979.
Nirvana, harDCore, U2 just a few bands they inspired.
History now judges them very favorably.
London Calling now competes as THE best lp of the Rock Era.
Up there with Revolver and Are U Experienced and Blonde on Blonde.
Told ya so back in 1979.
Be glad footage exists.
Many bands do not.
Pere Ubu, the CBGB early days and so on.
redhotchilifan98
I would give anything to have been alive during their prime and see them live
Edgewalker
I was alive but young and unaware
Terry Johnson
I was alive and in my prime and what I have to say I
Is don't beat yourself up for missing a show that was in. Different era it like me saying I saw Freddie win queen twice but I'm bummed I never saw Mozart live ...kn the other hand be really great full we have you tube and love DVDs Lap the bootlegs that you have access to and free ....my first concert without parents was KISS Ted Nugent Montrose with Sammy Hagar and Bob Ssuger and the silver bullet band Aug. 1976 I was 12 years old. If we missed a show back then you had to rely on someone telling you in detail about the show inn order to get a feel of what it was like and you better hope your guy was accurate in tell ing you what he saw
Im finding recordings from back then and some are not as I remembered and I was there so be really happy we have a dad a base we all can tap into and check things out instereo with video it's like having a time machine and please do me the favor if you see a Mozart concert on here or anywhere that someone posted please let me know a.s.a.p w4 hours per day because that would be a show all of us would be privileged to see sincevrgere were no camera or recording devices not just not allowed but not invented at the time...do you see my point? Rock on and don't forget to as...klots of questions
Anon Ymous
There was something about that moment: 1979, 70’s were a golden age for culture in so many ways, with new fresh voices in so many media asserting themselves with a self-conscious modernity, energy and sense of life and vigor. In Cinema there was Woody Allen, art Andy Warhol, and in musical theater you had edgy rock-focused musicals like “Little Shop of Horrors” (Woody Allen’s masterpiece “Manhattan” that year) all of which took styles that were developing through out that decade and reaching a kind of climax or maturity just as the decade ended. All of these artists seem like a culmination of something begun in the 60s, a spirit of rebellion elevating itself to a kind of high art, merging an earthy coarseness with refinement and maturity. The clash has this visceral aggression and rebelliousness to it, but hey wrote and performed as if reaching for “classic” status. It’s youthful but with an adult polish and elegance.
Sam Mencia
They were as great as you think they were. Life changing, inspiring, set off music scenes in every city they played until Summer of 1979.
Nirvana, harDCore, U2 just a few bands they inspired.
History now judges them very favorably.
London Calling now competes as THE best lp of the Rock Era.
Up there with Revolver and Are U Experienced and Blonde on Blonde.
Told ya so back in 1979.
Be glad footage exists.
Many bands do not.
Pere Ubu, the CBGB early days and so on.
Erik Rife
Why? Not even good
Thomas Kossnar
I am so damn happy I saw the Clash at the Aragon Brawlroom (Ballroom) in Chicago, 1981. The
show was so electric you could cut the energy with a knife. Greatest show I ever saw.
erik rust
Man, do you remember what they played? My stepdad saw 'em in Texas in '81, opening for Joe Ely, said they were energy personified. You lucky sumbitch. The Clash are vital.
John Cooper
I was supposed to see that tour in Detroit in March. Got in a car wreck, broke my jaw. Didn’t go. They never came again
Michael Bruns
Wow, my first concert was Metallica, with Cliff Burton, when the were really awesome!