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
Overpowered by Funk
The Clash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No-one knocking at your door, funk out
Overpowered by funk, funk out
It's combatative, repetitive
Don't life just funk you out?
Asinine, stupefying
Can the clone-line dry you out?
Part of the swarming mass, funk out
Scared of the human bomb, funk out
Overpowered by funk, funk out
Buy dog food, rogue elephants
Tarzan on a ticker tape
Ooo-ooh
Breakfast cereals
You know you can't escape
Overpowered by funk
Don't you love our Western ways?
Car crashed by funk
Don't you love our Western ways?
Benny Goodman, trial by jury
A phone box-full of books
"It's morning, you know!"
Dustcarts at sunrise
No-one gets off the hooks
Car crashed
Food for the hungry millions, funk out!
Home for the floating people, funk out!
Over-drunk on power
This is a message from Futura, don't prophisize the future
I liven up the culture because I'm deadly as a vulture
I paint on civilization, I had this realization
It's environmentally wack, so presenting my attack
You know, I'll brighten up your shack
I'm down by law and that's a fact
Just give me a wall, any building, dull or tall
I spray clandestine night subway
I cover with red-purple on top of grey, hey
No slashing cause it ain't the way, the T.A. blew forty mil' they say
We threw it down by night and they scrubbed it off by day
OK tourists, picture frame, tickets here for the graffiti train
Funk power
Over-and-out
Funk-funk-funk, funk-funk-funk-funk-funk
Funk-funk-funk, funk-funk-funk-funk-funk, ha
Funk power, ha!
Funk power
The lyrics to The Clash's song "Overpowered by Funk" criticize the all-encompassing nature of funk music and the culture surrounding it. The song begins with the line "If you ain't reggae for it, funk out," which suggests that if you do not possess a particular affinity for the funk genre or culture, then you should exit the scene. The singer goes on to describe the overwhelming and repetitive nature of funk music, referring to it as "asinine" and "stupefying." There is also a reference to the swarming masses, as those who have fallen under the "funk" spell become nothing more than part of the crowd. The idea of being "overpowered" by the genre is referenced several times throughout the song.
The second verse of the song seems to be a criticism of Western consumerist culture. The line "buy dog food, rogue elephants; Tarzan on a ticker tape" is a metaphorical representation of the absurdity of the Western capitalist lifestyle. The singer also references a phone box full of books, which could suggest the consumption of knowledge by people who believe themselves to be intellectual or cultured. However, ultimately, everyone is "overpowered by funk," meaning that they are also consumed by consumer culture, despite any attempts to avoid it.
Line by Line Meaning
If you ain't reggae for it, funk out
If you're not ready for this music style, don't even try to enjoy it.
No-one knocking at your door, funk out
No one is forcing you to listen to this music, so if you don't like it, you can leave.
Overpowered by funk, funk out
This music is so intense, it can be overwhelming to some.
It's combatative, repetitive
The rhythm of the music is aggressive and keeps repeating itself.
Don't life just funk you out?
Isn't life already hard enough without this intense kind of music?
Asinine, stupefying
This music is dumb and numbing to the mind.
Can the clone-line dry you out?
The mass-produced, repetitive nature of this music can be draining to the soul.
Part of the swarming mass, funk out
By listening to this music, you're just a small part of the crowd that enjoys it.
Slugged by the new increase, funk out
This music is getting more popular and louder, which can be overwhelming to some.
Scared of the human bomb, funk out
This intense music can make you feel like a ticking time bomb, ready to explode.
Buy dog food, rogue elephants
Life is full of random and unexpected things, like buying dog food when you encounter rogue elephants.
Tarzan on a ticker tape
This line is meant to be nonsensical, to show how absurd life can be.
Breakfast cereals, you know you can't escape
Even the most mundane things in life, like breakfast cereals, are always present and unavoidable.
Don't you love our Western ways? Car crashed by funk
This line is criticizing the Western culture and how it can lead to disastrous consequences when combined with this intense music.
Benny Goodman, trial by jury, a phone box-full of books, 'It's morning, you know!', dustcarts at sunrise, no-one gets off the hooks, car crashed
These lines are meant to be random and nonsensical, highlighting the chaotic nature of life and our inability to escape its mundane routines.
Food for the hungry millions, funk out! Home for the floating people, funk out!
This line is celebrating the positive aspects of life, by providing food for the hungry and homes for those without.
Over-drunk on power
Some people can become too intoxicated with their own influence and control over others.
This is a message from Futura, don't prophisize the future
This line is spoken by street artist Futura, warning against making predictions about the future.
I liven up the culture because I'm deadly as a vulture
Futura sees himself as a powerful force, capable of influencing culture like a vulture preys on its victims.
I paint on civilization, I had this realization
Futura's art is an expression of his understanding of society and culture.
It's environmentally wack, so presenting my attack
Futura's art is a reaction to the negative impact of modern society on the environment.
You know, I'll brighten up your shack
Futura sees his art as a way of bringing beauty and light to even the darkest places.
I'm down by law and that's a fact
Futura follows his own set of rules and principles when creating his art, which are non-negotiable.
Just give me a wall, any building, dull or tall
Futura is willing to paint on any surface, no matter how boring or challenging it may be.
I spray clandestine night subway, I cover with red-purple on top of grey, hey
Futura's art is often done under the cover of darkness, and he likes using bright colors to make it pop.
No slashing cause it ain't the way, the T.A. blew forty mil' they say
Futura does not believe in destroying the work of others, even if he disagrees with it. He refers to the Transit Authority spending money on cleaning up graffiti.
We threw it down by night and they scrubbed it off by day
Futura and other street artists often create art under the cover of darkness, only for it to be removed the following day by authorities.
OK tourists, picture frame, tickets here for the graffiti train
This line is poking fun at how street art has become a tourist attraction, with people paying money to see it and take pictures of it.
Funk power, over-and-out
This music is so powerful that it can overwhelm you, but it's also something that can be turned off and left behind.
Funk-funk-funk, funk-funk-funk-funk-funk
This is a catchy, rhythmic chant that celebrates the power of funk music.
Ha! Funk power
This line is an exclamation of the incredible energy and strength of funk music.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOE STRUMMER, MICK JONES, TOPPER HEADON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dylanthewolfo9243
One of the great tracks on the album! I absolutely love the melody and the lyrics
@BARTFUNKBASS
That Bass!!!
@hansschjlberg172
Great percussion by Topper!
@baerhomburg6447
Your absolutely right. With so many layers of greatness this song has and the surprising testimonial of futura and all that it’s easy overlook the drive in all this and that is certainly Headon providing this for what was world class global band
@attilatoth1051
Futuristic BRUTAL-FUNK! Incredible from a punk-band! Captivating, endless rythm-power! It's just from The Clash!
@myfrestuff3453
"Funk Power! Over and out!" - Futura
@lucrativefugitive
probably the most underrated combat rock song
3:34
@jeffreyisler3667
It's funky as hell....over and out!
@bikecaptain8015
Copy. One Nation.
@timothyryan6018
Simply on Fire... The Clash are awsome