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
Long Time Jerk
The Clash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As they were dancing in the evening
And the light shone through the trees
This girl my eye was following
Asked the band to play her a beat
Singin' she'd do that long time jerk
Ohhh your heart
Now my heart will burst
Oh no
Ah, but it took me back to that wonderland
I witnessed long ago
Babbling words of preachers
Sayin'- "Don't bury me no more"
Ohh...
And I've forgotten how to worry
And I don't know how to run
Against the odds I realize
This struggle could be won!
We dance
Long time jerk
She did it to me first
Ohhh my heart
With that long time jerk
Ah! Say..... Do that long time jerk.
Bring on those tapes from the past
They make you look better in a mirror
Feel that long time jerkin'
Between the taker and the giver
Feel that...
Long time jerk
She hit me where it hurts
Oh I felt my heart
Now my heart will burst
I've forgotten how to worry
And I don't know how to run
Against the odds I realize
This struggle could be fun!
Oh, through lanes and streets and houses
And reversing rush of time
She made me re-invent the world
Before inventing time
(Before inventing time)
Long time jerk
Oh, she hit me where it hurts
Ohhhhh my heart
Long time jerk
Long, long, long, long, long
Long time
Long time jerk
The Clash's song Long Time Jerk is a vivid account of a night at a party or a gig. The lyrics suggest that the lead singer had his eye on a girl who requested that the band play a beat for her to dance to. This event seems to have taken him back to a time of wonder and amazement of the music and performance he witnessed in the past. He couldn't help but join in the dancing and soon found himself caught up in the moment, forgetting his worries and struggles. The chorus refers to the long time jerk, which is likely a dance that the girl is performing, and she hit the singer hard enough that he felt his heart would burst, but he realizes he is having fun and that the struggle could be won. The song ends with a line about the girl making him reinvent the world before inventing time.
In many ways, Long Time Jerk is about the cathartic nature of music and its ability to lift us from our day-to-day problems. The verses are filled with the singer's observations of the party or gig, and the chorus is dominated by the long time jerk dance and how it makes him feel. The final verse is, perhaps, the most telling, as the singer reflects on the impact of the girl, the importance of music, and the power of the moment.
In conclusion, The Clash's Long Time Jerk is a perfect example of how music can touch our hearts and lift us from our troubles. It is a song that celebrates the joy of dancing and the power of movement and music.
Line by Line Meaning
Gonna scrape the trouble off my boots!
I am going to leave my problems behind.
As they were dancing in the evening
The singer witnessed people dancing at night.
And the light shone through the trees
The light was passing through the tree branches.
This girl my eye was following
The singer was observing a particular girl.
Asked the band to play her a beat
The girl requested a song from the band.
Singin' she'd do that long time jerk
The girl was going to perform a dance known as 'the long time jerk.'
She hit me where it hurts
The girl's performance strongly affected the singer's emotions.
Ohhh your heart
The singer's heart was affected.
Now my heart will burst
The singer's heart was deeply touched.
Ah, but it took me back to that wonderland
The experience reminded the singer of a happy past memory.
I witnessed long ago
The happy memory took place in the singer's past.
Babbling words of preachers
Preachers were speaking without making sense.
Sayin'- "Don't bury me no more"
The preachers were requesting to not being deep into something they disliked.
Ohh...
The singer is expressing a sound without lyrics.
And I've forgotten how to worry
The singer has learned how to not stress out.
And I don't know how to run
The singer is not trying to avoid situations anymore.
Against the odds I realize
Despite the awkward situation, the singer thought this could be a good experience.
This struggle could be won!
The situation they are in can be handled.
We dance
Everyone is dancing together.
Bring on those tapes from the past
The singer wants to revisit memories of the past by listening to music tapes.
They make you look better in a mirror
Memories have an effect on our self-perception.
Feel that long time jerkin'
The singer was feeling the rhythm of the song.
Between the taker and the giver
The emotions exchanged between the people.
Long time jerk
The audience was watching the dance called the 'long time jerk.'
She did it to me first
The girl started dancing before the singer.
Ohhh my heart
Again, the emotions were strong.
With that long time jerk
The girl was dancing a 'long time jerk.'
Ah! Say..... Do that long time jerk.
The singer is requesting the girl to dance again.
I've forgotten how to worry
The singer repeated that they have learned how not to stress.
And I don't know how to run
The singer is emphasizing their new mindset of not running away from problems.
Against the odds I realize
This line is repeated with the same meaning.
This struggle could be fun!
The situation they are in is enjoyable.
Oh, through lanes and streets and houses
The dancer and singer get lost in the moment while dancing through various places.
And reversing rush of time
Time was not a factor while they were dancing.
She made me re-invent the world
The girl's dancing brought the singer into a positive state of mind.
Before inventing time
This line describes the state of utter joy and mental relaxation the singer reached.
Long time jerk
This line is repeated with the same meaning.
Oh, she hit me where it hurts
This is repeated with the same meaning.
Ohhhhh my heart
This is repeated with the same meaning.
Long time jerk
This line is repeated with the same meaning.
Long, long, long, long, long
The word 'long' is repeated multiple times for effect.
Long time
This line is repeated multiple times for effect.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOE STRUMMER, MICK JONES, PAUL SIMONON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lovepeaceandsoulfullrighto9053
My favorite of their songs, actually. Among other great songs, I loved this the most. It is the most unusual
@chadergeist
This song is the B-Side to the USA 45 RPM single of Rock The Casbah.
@lovepeaceandsoulfullrighto9053
@@chadergeist I know ! I had the record. It was the only way I heard it!! Love it!!!
@KY-gc7ql
@@chadergeist I have it 1982 manufactured
@coolconfuzer
Paul wrote this one. For the win!
@damienlindsay4569
Walk straight through the gates of heaven Joe !
@toastyPredicament
This is a fine song.
@kentborges5114
THE FUTURE IS UNWRITTEN...R.I.P JOHN MELLOR !
@lovepeaceandsoulfullrighto9053
No one can understand what a 15 year old black chick diggied this at this time. I don’t know, maybe not. I didn’t know many people who hearedn
@mr.skinskull3148
Love this.