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
Jimmy Jazz
The Clash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I said, "he ain't here, but he sure went past
Oh, you're looking for Jimmy Jazz"
Satta Massagana for Jimmy Dread
Cut off his ears and chop off his head
Police come looking for Jimmy Jazz
Maybe put it down somewhere over the other side
See it gets to Jimmy Jazz, Jazz, say
Now tell the tale
Police come in they said
"Now, where's Jimmy Jazz?"
I said, "hmm, he was here but, uh, he said, he went out
Who is it they're lookin' for?"
Jimmy Jazz, Jazz, Jazz, Jazz eh
Satta Massagana for Jimmy Dread
Cut off his ears and they'll chop off his head
Oh, you're lookin' for
Jimmy Jazz, Jazz, Jazz, Jazz
What a relief
I feel like a soldier
Look like a thief
It's for the Jazz
Police come lookin' for the Jimmy Jazz
He came in and he went out
'Cause now they'll get him hanged for that
Jimmy Jazz, Jimmy Jazz
In fact
Don't you bother me, not anymore
I can't take this tale, oh, no more
It's all around
Jimmy Jazz, Jazz
Z, Z, Z, Z
J-A-Z-Z, Z, Z, Z
J-A-Z-Z, J-A-Z-Z
J-A-Z, Jimmy Jazz
And then it sucks
He said, "suck that"
So go look all around, you can try your luck, brother
And see what you found
But I guarantee you that it ain't your day
Your day, it ain't your day
Chop, chop
The Clash's "Jimmy Jazz" is a song about a man wanted by the police, and the lyrics tell a story of his friends trying to protect him from the law. The song starts with the police coming to search for Jimmy Jazz and the singer telling them that he is not there but has already left. Later in the song, the lyrics mention Jimmy Dread, who has had his ears cut off and his head chopped off. This suggests the police are becoming more violent in their search for the wanted men.
The chorus of "Jimmy Jazz" focuses on getting a message to Jimmy Jazz. The singer acknowledges that Jimmy Jazz might be hiding and suggests that the message be left "somewhere over the other side" to ensure it gets to him. In the ending verse, the singer begs for the police to stop bothering him and mentions that the name Jimmy Jazz is on everyone's lips.
Overall, "Jimmy Jazz" is a political song with a hidden meaning in its lyrics. It uses the story of a wanted man as a metaphor for the oppression and violence perpetrated by the state.
Line by Line Meaning
Police walked in for Jimmy Jazz
The police arrived looking for Jimmy Jazz
I said, "he ain't here, but he sure went past
Oh, you're looking for Jimmy Jazz"
I told them he wasn't here but they missed him, and asked if they were after Jimmy Jazz
Satta Massagana for Jimmy Dread
Cut off his ears and chop off his head
Police come looking for Jimmy Jazz
Satta Massagana is for Jimmy Dread; if caught he would be dealt with brutally. The police are after Jimmy Jazz
So if you're gonna take a message 'cross this town
Maybe put it down somewhere over the other side
See it gets to Jimmy Jazz, Jazz, say
If you're taking a message to Jimmy Jazz, take it to the other side of town and ensure he gets it
Now tell the tale
Police come in they said
"Now, where's Jimmy Jazz?"
I said, "hmm, he was here but, uh, he said, he went out
Who is it they're lookin' for?"
Jimmy Jazz, Jazz, Jazz, Jazz eh
The police arrived asking for Jimmy Jazz, but he had just left. The artist plays ignorant and asks who they're looking for
Satta Massagana for Jimmy Dread
Cut off his ears and they'll chop off his head
Oh, you're lookin' for
Jimmy Jazz, Jazz, Jazz, Jazz
The punishment for Jimmy Dread would be severe. The police are still looking for Jimmy Jazz
What a relief
I feel like a soldier
Look like a thief
It's for the Jazz
The singer feels relief, but also looks suspicious due to the situation regarding Jimmy Jazz
Police come lookin' for the Jimmy Jazz
He came in and he went out
'Cause now they'll get him hanged for that
Jimmy Jazz, Jimmy Jazz
The police are actively searching for Jimmy Jazz, and he is now in danger of being caught and punished
In fact
Don't you bother me, not anymore
I can't take this tale, oh, no more
It's all around
Jimmy Jazz, Jazz
The artist is tired of being bothered about Jimmy Jazz and the situation surrounding him
Z, Z, Z, Z
J-A-Z-Z, Z, Z, Z
J-A-Z-Z, J-A-Z-Z
J-A-Z, Jimmy Jazz
And then it sucks
He said, "suck that"
The song spells out the name Jimmy Jazz in various ways before taking a crude turn
So go look all around, you can try your luck, brother
And see what you found
But I guarantee you that it ain't your day
Your day, it ain't your day
Chop, chop
If the police continue to search for Jimmy Jazz, they won't have any luck today
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper Headon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stephencoomer5692
Police walked in for Jimmy Jazz
I said, "he ain't here, but he sure went past
Oh, you're looking for Jimmy Jazz"
Satta Massagana for Jimmy Dread
Cut off his ears and chop off his head
Police come looking for Jimmy Jazz
So if you're gonna take a message 'cross this town
Maybe put it down somewhere over the other side
See it gets to Jimmy Jazz, Jazz, say
Now tell the tale
Police come in they said
"Now, where's Jimmy Jazz?"
I said, "hmm, he was here but, uh, he said, he went out
Who is it they're lookin' for?"
Jimmy Jazz, Jazz, Jazz, Jazz eh
Satta Massagana for Jimmy Dread
Cut off his ears and they'll chop off his head
Oh, you're lookin' for
Jimmy Jazz, Jazz, Jazz, Jazz
What a relief
I feel like a soldier
Look like a thief
It's for the Jazz
Police come lookin' for the Jimmy Jazz
He came in and he went out
'Cause now they'll get him hanged for that
Jimmy Jazz, Jimmy Jazz
In fact
Don't you bother me, not anymore
I can't take this tale, oh, no more
It's all around
Jimmy Jazz, Jazz
Z, Z, Z, Z
J-A-Z-Z, Z, Z, Z
J-A-Z-Z, J-A-Z-Z
J-A-Z, Jimmy Jazz
And then it sucks
He said, "suck that"
So go look all around, you can try your luck, brother
And see what you found
But I guarantee you that it ain't your day
Your day, it ain't your day
Chop, chop
@mrdomofan56
The sound of that opening guitar lick along with the bass just before the drums kick in is just... unreal
@eblisongrun
Un-real for sure. You got that right.
@stephenwivverP
Unreal..? I'd say perfection.! JAZZ.. JIMMY JAZZ. 👌👏👏👏
@Mr.MT3
I just went back to hear it a 2nd time, cause man, you are so right. Freaking mystical man. They were the best. Love!
@johnnyssik
Are you high? lol
@Mr.MT3
@@johnnyssik not yet but that's a good idea!
@starchmonkey
This song makes me super emotional, I don't know why. The opening lick? The whistling? The horn section? Joe's singing?
A lifetime of memories on this one.
@b3xwat
it's because he sounds like he's choking back tears of [whatevr] and in that sultry one-of-a kind vocal punky sound as he charms the pants offaya (ladies I mean) with his enthusiastic passionate self-tamed growl-sing?
@nathanhess8989
I remember when I was 16 years old back in like '08 and I was at the local grocery store to visit my gf at the time who was a cashier. There was a CD display near the registers which had a bunch of classic albums including London Calling. I knew Train in Vain from the NCAA 06 soundtrack and heard great things about the album. I decided to buy it and see if the rest of the album held up. After hundreds of listens later, here I am 12 years later reminiscing about it on Youtube. London Calling is the greatest album ever written and you can't convince me otherwise.
@uziuchiha3342
NCAA 06 had such a great soundtrack. It introduced me to so much good music and bands.