Living in Fame
The Clash Lyrics


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So you've got to live up to your name
Or else I'll put you to shame, listen!

If you say you a selector
You a fe have good selection
A-and I say if you say you a de special
Man I say I want to know your potential
You a say you a madness
You a say you a de best
But when I put you 'pon you feet
A-some a-some a say you can't play de beat

And I hear you say a Clash a you ruler
Say a Clash sound cooler, eh!
Say a Clash sound sweeter
And now-a-days man a measure mile in a meter, eh!

Live up to your name
Or else you die in shame
A-and a so me say fe live up to your name
A so me tell you say you die in shame

Some a dem a bodysnatcher
Some a dem a barracuda, eh!
But who a know fe me Jah Jah
Fe me Jah a me creator, eh!

Flying saucers, rock-and-roll
Natty Dread a fe be in control
It's all in the whirlwind
I say you've gone with the blockhead

A-and I say me say dat some a dem a Sex Pistol
Nipple erectors
A so me tell you set dem still up on a corner
An a who on a farm
And I'll tell you 'bout the X-generation
Me know dem a victimed
'Cause dem no know fe me sweet Jah Jah, eh!

Clash a you ruler
Say a Clash sound cooler
A-and I tell you say a Clash sound sweeter
And now-a-days man measure mile in a meter
A none a dem deh measure gallon in a liter
And I tell you say me know dem a cheat ya

'Cause when you living inna fame
You got to live up to your name
Or else a suffer and you die inna shame
And I tell you say it's all in the game, eh!

Some a say dem a selector
Dem a fe have good selection
Or else deh moving in the wrong direction
And deh no know dis a reggae vibration
A-and a so me say a Clash a you ruler
And dis ya one a say it a musically cooler, eh!

Me say fe live up to your name
Or else you suffer and you die inna shame
'Cause when you living inna fame
A so me tell you say it's all in the game

And so me talkin' about
Specials and Madness beats,
Big body snatcher, selector, eh!

Flying saucers, rock-and-roll
See you gone in the whirlwind
A-and I tell you say, a you a de blockhead
And some will tell you dat you dreader than dread

And a-some a say a Clash a you ruler
See a Clash sound cooler, aaaye!
Clash sound sweeter
Man a measure mile in a metre, eh!

When you living inna fame
You got to live up to your name
Or else you suffer and you die inna shame
It's all in the game, eh!

This is the game of life
We no wa' no strife
Game of life
We no wa' no strife, no no

Don't, no no no no





Fuckin' hell Mickey

Overall Meaning

These lyrics of The Clash's song 'Living in Fame' are about the need to live up to one's name, especially in the context of music and fame. The song begins by saying that if you are a selector, you must have good selection, and if you claim to be special, you must show your potential. The song then goes on to criticize those who claim to be the best but cannot play the beat. The lyrics reflect the pressure and competition that comes with being a musician in the public eye.


Throughout the song, The Clash expresses their views on the music industry and criticizes those who cheat or deceive their way to fame. The lines "Flying saucers, rock-and-roll, Natty Dread a fe be in control" reflect the band's interest in reggae music and lyrics that address political and social issues. The song ends with a call to live up to your name and play the game of life with no strife.


Overall, 'Living in Fame' is a commentary on the importance of authenticity and real talent in the music industry. It highlights the idea that fame can be a double-edged sword - it can bring success and opportunities, but also comes with a great deal of pressure and scrutiny.


Line by Line Meaning

If you say you a selector You a fe have good selection A-and I say if you say you a de special Man I say I want to know your potential
If you claim to be a DJ, you must have an excellent selection of music. And if you claim to be special, I want to see your true potential.


You a say you a madness You a say you a de best But when I put you 'pon you feet A-some a-some a say you can't play de beat
You claim to be insane and the best DJ, yet when I give you the opportunity to prove yourself, some people say you can't play the beat.


And I hear you say a Clash a you ruler Say a Clash sound cooler, eh! Say a Clash sound sweeter And now-a-days man a measure mile in a meter, eh!
I hear you saying that The Clash is superior, cooler and sweeter. Nowadays, people measure distance in meters instead of miles.


Live up to your name Or else you die in shame A-and a so me say fe live up to your name A so me tell you say you die in shame
You must live up to your reputation or else you will have to face public embarrassment. That's why I say you should live up to your name because if you don't, you will die in shame.


Some a dem a bodysnatcher Some a dem a barracuda, eh! But who a know fe me Jah Jah Fe me Jah a me creator, eh!
Some people are thieves and predators, but only Jah (God) knows who I truly am and who created me.


Flying saucers, rock-and-roll Natty Dread a fe be in control It's all in the whirlwind I say you've gone with the blockhead
Alien spacecraft, rock music and Rastafarianism are becoming more popular. But if you're naive and foolish, you're going with the wrong crowd.


A-and I say me say dat some a dem a Sex Pistol Nipple erectors A so me tell you set dem still up on a corner An a who on a farm And I'll tell you 'bout the X-generation Me know dem a victimed 'Cause dem no know fe me sweet Jah Jah, eh!
Some people are punks and perverts without any morals. I would rather have them removed from society. And let me tell you about the X-generation, they are victims because they don't know the goodness of Jah (God).


Clash a you ruler Say a Clash sound cooler A-and I tell you say a Clash sound sweeter And now-a-days man measure mile in a meter A none a dem deh measure gallon in a liter And I tell you say me know dem a cheat ya
The Clash are the kings of music and they sound cooler and sweeter than anyone else. Nowadays, people measure distance in meters instead of miles and nobody measures liquid volume in gallons. I tell you, these people are cheating us.


Some a say dem a selector Dem a fe have good selection Or else deh moving in the wrong direction And deh no know dis a reggae vibration A-and a so me say a Clash a you ruler And dis ya one a say it a musically cooler, eh!
Some say they are DJs, but they need to have a good selection of music or else they will end up in the wrong direction. And they don't know the true essence of reggae music. That's why I say The Clash are the best and this song proves it.


When you living inna fame You got to live up to your name Or else you suffer and you die inna shame And I tell you say it's all in the game, eh!
When you become famous, you must live up to your reputation or else you will lose respect and dignity. This is the game of life and if you can't keep up, you will suffer identity loss.


This is the game of life We no wa' no strife Game of life We no wa' no strife, no no Don't, no no no no Fuckin' hell Mickey
Life is like a game and we don't want any conflict or struggle. We don't want to fight or argue with anyone. So don't start any trouble, Mickey.




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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Some John Doe

So you've got to live up to your name
Or else I'll put you to shame, listen!

If you say you a selector
You a fe have good selection
A-and I say if you say you a de special
Man I say I want to know your potential

You a say you a madness
You a say you a de best
But when I put you 'pon you feet
A-some a-some a say you can't play de beat

And I hear you say a Clash a you ruler
Say a Clash sound cooler, eh!
Say a Clash sound sweeter
And now-a-days man a measure mile in a meter, eh!

Live up to your name
Or else you die in shame
A-and a so me say fe live up to your name
A so me tell you say you die in shame

Some a dem a bodysnatcher
Some a dem a barracuda, eh!
But who a know fe me Jah Jah
Fe me Jah a me creator, eh!

Flying saucers, rock-and-roll
Natty Dread a fe be in control
It's all in the whirlwind
I say you've gone with the blockhead

A-and I say me say dat some a dem a Sex Pistol
Nipple erectors
A so me tell you set dem still up on a corner
An a who on a farm
And I'll tell you 'bout the X-generation
Me know dem a victimed
'Cause dem no know fe me sweet Jah Jah, eh!

Clash a you ruler
Say a Clash sound cooler
A-and I tell you say a Clash sound sweeter
And now-a-days man measure mile in a meter
A none a dem deh measure gallon in a liter
And I tell you say me know dem a cheat ya

'Cause when you living inna fame
You got to live up to your name
Or else a suffer and you die inna shame
And I tell you say it's all in the game, eh!

Some a say dem a selector
Dem a fe have good selection
Or else deh moving in the wrong direction
And deh no know dis a reggae vibration
A-and a so me say a Clash a you ruler
And dis ya one a say it a musically cooler, eh!

Me say fe live up to your name
Or else you suffer and you die inna shame
'Cause when you living inna fame
A so me tell you say it's all in the game

And so me talkin' about
Specials and Madness beats,
Big body snatcher, selector, eh!

Flying saucers, rock-and-roll
See you gone in the whirlwind
A-and I tell you say, a you a de blockhead
And some will tell you dat you dreader than dread

And a-some a say a Clash a you ruler
See a Clash sound cooler, aaaye!
Clash sound sweeter
Man a measure mile in a metre, eh!

When you living inna fame
You got to live up to your name
Or else you suffer and you die inna shame
It's all in the game, eh!

This is the game of life
We no wa' no strife
Game of life
We no wa' no strife, no no

Don't, no no no no

Fuckin' hell Mickey



Catiline Matrix

So you've got to live up to your name
Or else I'll put you to shame, listen

If you say you a selector
You a fe have good selection
A-and I say if you say you a the special
Man, I say I want to know your potential
You a say you a madness
You a say you a the best
But when I put you upon you feet
A-some a-some a say you can't play de beat.
And I hear you say a Clash a you ruler
Say a Clash sound cooler, eh
Say a Clash sound sweeter
And now-a-days man a measure mile in a meter, eh

Live up to your name
Or else you die in shame
A-and a so me say fe live up to your name
A so me tell you say you die in shame
Some a dem a bodysnatcher
Some a dem a barracuda, eh
But who a know fe me Jah Jah
Fe me Jah a me creator, eh
Flying saucers, rock-and-roll
Natty Dread a fe be in control
It's all in the whirlwind
I say you've gone with the blockhead
A-and I say me say that some a dem a Sex Pistol
Nipple erectors
A so me tell you set dem sp [?] man a gone
An [?] farm
And I'll tell you about the X-generation
Me know dem a victimed
Because dem no know fe me sweet Jah Jah, eh
Clash a you ruler
Say a Clash sound cooler
A-and I tell you say a Clash sound sweeter
And now-a-days man measure mile in a meter
A none a dem deh measure gallon in a litre
And I tell you say me know them a cheat you

Because when you living in a fame
You got to live up to your name
Or else a suffer and you die in a shame
And I tell you say it's all in the game, eh

Some a say them a selector
Dem a fe have good selection
Or else deh moving in the wrong direction
And they no know this a reggae vibration
A-and a so me say a Clash a you ruler
And dis you one a say it a musically cooler, eh
Me say we live up to your name
Or else you suffer and you die in a shame
Because when you living in a fame
A so me tell you say it's all in the game
And so me talking about
Specials and madness beats
Big body snatcher, [?], eh
Flying saucers, rock-and-roll
See you gone in the whirlwind
A-and I tell you say, a you a the blockhead
And some will tell you that you dreader than dread

(Chorus 1)

When you living in a fame
You got to live up to your name
Or else you suffer and you die in a shame
It's all in the game, eh

This is the game of life
We no want no strife
Game of life
We no want no strife, no no
Don't, no no no no

Fucking hell Mikey



All comments from YouTube:

Dump

Amo esta Banda❤️

ELDR

This is so wonderful! It can be challenging to keep going with our own creative pursuits, but this is definitely an inspiration for my music.

bigmarty11288

Your music is probably diggity dank. Keep doing it with love

Reinaldo Leopoldino

Excelente 😃

1998 VoDKa

Love this

TV circus 310

Hell' o Clash .... The live in mass x ! 😆

Some John Doe

So you've got to live up to your name
Or else I'll put you to shame, listen!

If you say you a selector
You a fe have good selection
A-and I say if you say you a de special
Man I say I want to know your potential

You a say you a madness
You a say you a de best
But when I put you 'pon you feet
A-some a-some a say you can't play de beat

And I hear you say a Clash a you ruler
Say a Clash sound cooler, eh!
Say a Clash sound sweeter
And now-a-days man a measure mile in a meter, eh!

Live up to your name
Or else you die in shame
A-and a so me say fe live up to your name
A so me tell you say you die in shame

Some a dem a bodysnatcher
Some a dem a barracuda, eh!
But who a know fe me Jah Jah
Fe me Jah a me creator, eh!

Flying saucers, rock-and-roll
Natty Dread a fe be in control
It's all in the whirlwind
I say you've gone with the blockhead

A-and I say me say dat some a dem a Sex Pistol
Nipple erectors
A so me tell you set dem still up on a corner
An a who on a farm
And I'll tell you 'bout the X-generation
Me know dem a victimed
'Cause dem no know fe me sweet Jah Jah, eh!

Clash a you ruler
Say a Clash sound cooler
A-and I tell you say a Clash sound sweeter
And now-a-days man measure mile in a meter
A none a dem deh measure gallon in a liter
And I tell you say me know dem a cheat ya

'Cause when you living inna fame
You got to live up to your name
Or else a suffer and you die inna shame
And I tell you say it's all in the game, eh!

Some a say dem a selector
Dem a fe have good selection
Or else deh moving in the wrong direction
And deh no know dis a reggae vibration
A-and a so me say a Clash a you ruler
And dis ya one a say it a musically cooler, eh!

Me say fe live up to your name
Or else you suffer and you die inna shame
'Cause when you living inna fame
A so me tell you say it's all in the game

And so me talkin' about
Specials and Madness beats,
Big body snatcher, selector, eh!

Flying saucers, rock-and-roll
See you gone in the whirlwind
A-and I tell you say, a you a de blockhead
And some will tell you dat you dreader than dread

And a-some a say a Clash a you ruler
See a Clash sound cooler, aaaye!
Clash sound sweeter
Man a measure mile in a metre, eh!

When you living inna fame
You got to live up to your name
Or else you suffer and you die inna shame
It's all in the game, eh!

This is the game of life
We no wa' no strife
Game of life
We no wa' no strife, no no

Don't, no no no no

Fuckin' hell Mickey

James Stoltzfus

Thank you

leonie Gray

miriã borges

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