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
Rudie Can’t Fail
The Clash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the route of the nineteen bus
Hear them sayin'
How you get a rude and a reckless?
Don't you be so crude and feckless
You been drinking brew for breakfast
We reply
I know that my life make you nervous
But I tell you that I can't live in service
Like the doctor who was born for a purpose
Rudie can't fail
I went to the market to realize my soul
What I need I just don't have
First they curse, then they press me till I hurt
We say Rudie can't fail
First you must cure your temper
Then you find a job in a paper
You need someone for a savior
Oh, Rudie can't fail
We reply
Now we get a rude and a reckless
We been seen lookin' cool an' speckless
We been drinking brew for breakfast
Rudie can't fail
I went to the market to realize my soul
'Cause what I need I just don't have
First they curse, then they press me till I hurt
Rudie can't fail
Okay! Okay!
So where you want to go today?
Hey boss man!
You're looking pretty smart
With your chicken skin suit
You think you're pretty hot
In the pork pie hat
Rudy can't fail
Rudy can't fail
Rudy can't fail
Rudy can't fail
Rudy can't fail
Rudy can't fail
Rudy can't fail
Rudy can't fail
Rudy can't fail
Rudy can't fail
Rudy can't fail
Rudy can't fail
Rudy can't fail
The Clash's "Rudie Can't Fail" is a song that represents the ska, punk-rock, and reggae fusion music genre that was so popular in the late 1970s. This song is about the Rudies, or the Rude Boys, Jamaican subculture that arose in the late 1960s. The Rudies were rough, working-class people who spent their money on good times and experiences, even if it meant they couldn't pay their bills. The first verse refers to the "nineteen bus" which was a public transportation route in London that ran through many working-class neighborhoods. The song's opening lines, "Sing, Michael, sing, on the route of the nineteen bus," invites the listener to join in a celebration of the Rudies' unconventional and carefree lifestyle that defied societal norms.
The chorus, "How you get a rude and a reckless? Don't you be so crude and feckless. You been drinking brew for breakfast. Rudie can't fail," speaks to the hedonistic lifestyle of the Rudies. The singer responds to the criticism of the Rudies by saying that they live their lives for themselves, even if it's not what other people deem "normal." They "can't live in service" to someone else's expectations. The line, "I went to the market to realize my soul," implies that the singer is trying to find meaning and purpose in his life by living like a Rudie. The Rudies lived in a way that was genuine to themselves and their culture, rather than conforming to society's expectations. In the end, the song's message is that the Rudies' way of life may be unconventional, but it's authentic, and that's what matters.
Line by Line Meaning
Sing, Michael, sing
On the route of the nineteen bus
Start singing, Michael, as we travel on the nineteen bus route
How you get a rude and a reckless?
Don't you be so crude and feckless
You been drinking brew for breakfast
Rudie can't fail
How did you become so rude and reckless? Don't behave so coarsely and irresponsibly, neither drink alcohol for breakfast. Rudie won't give up or surrender to life.
I know that my life make you nervous
But I tell you that I can't live in service
Like the doctor who was born for a purpose
Rudie can't fail
I understand that my lifestyle makes you uneasy, but it's not possible for me to lead a life of serving other people's expectations. I'm like a doctor who was meant for a higher purpose. Rudie won't give up.
I went to the market to realize my soul
What I need I just don't have
First they curse, then they press me till I hurt
We say Rudie can't fail
I visited the market to find my inner-self, but I don't have the things that are essential. At first, people may curse and criticize me, but they will keep pushing me until I give my best. But, Rudie won't surrender.
First you must cure your temper
Then you find a job in a paper
You need someone for a savior
Oh, Rudie can't fail
Initially, you have to control your anger; then, you could find a job in a publication company. You need someone to rescue you. Rudie can't fail.
Now we get a rude and a reckless
We been seen lookin' cool an' speckless
We been drinking brew for breakfast
Rudie can't fail
We may be rude and reckless, but we still look stylish and neat. Drinking beer for breakfast. Rudie will not give up.
I went to the market to realize my soul
'Cause what I need I just don't have
First they curse, then they press me till I hurt
Rudie can't fail
I visited the market to discover myself, but I don't have what I need. At first, people may curse and criticize me, but they will keep pushing me until I give my best. But, Rudie won't give up.
So where you want to go today?
Hey boss man!
You're looking pretty smart
With your chicken skin suit
You think you're pretty hot
In the pork pie hat
Rudy can't fail
Rudy can't fail
Rudy can't fail
Rudy can't fail
Rudy can't fail
Rudy can't fail
Rudy can't fail
Rudy can't fail
Rudy can't fail
Rudy can't fail
Rudy can't fail
Rudy can't fail
Where do you want to go today? Hey boss man! You're looking dapper in your chicken-skin suit. You're presumptuous about your pork pie hat. Rudy won't give up.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOE STRUMMER, MICK JONES, PAUL SIMONON, TOPPER HEADON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@brijones
Now, sing, Michael, sing
On the route of the nineteen bus
We hear them sayin'
How you get a rude and a reckless?
Don't you be so crude and feckless
You been drinking brew for breakfast
Rudie can't fail (no, no)
We reply
I know that my life make you nervous
But I tell you I can't live in service
Like the doctor who was born for a purpose
Rudie can't fail (ok)
I went to the market to realize my soul
What I need I just don't have (oh no)
First they curse, then they press me 'til I hurt
They say, Rudie can't fail
First you must cure your temper
Then find a job in a paper
You need someone for a savior
Rudie can't fail
We reply
Now we get a rude and a reckless
To be seen lookin' cool an' speckless
And drinking brew for breakfast
Rudie can't fail (no, no, no)
I went to the market to realize my soul
'Cause what I need I just don't have
First they curse, then they press me 'til I hurt
Rudie can't fail
Okay! Okay!
So where you want to go today?
Hey, boss man!
You're looking pretty smart
(Chicken skin suit) with your chicken skin suit
You think you're pretty hot
(Pork pie hat) In the pork pie hat
Rudie can't fail
Rudie can't fail
Rudie can't fail
Rudie can't fail
Rudie can't fail
Rudie can't fail
Rudie can't fail
Rudie can't fail
Rudie can't fail
Rudie can't fail
Rudie can't fail
Rudie can't fail
@joeymanson2222
Its like four days from another anniversary of losing Joe Strummer in our musical world.
I was blessed and so impressed when i saw him preform this cut with the Mescaleros.
He was supprting Global a Go Go ....house of blues Anaheim.
Amazing show. Joey Ramone had just passed i remeber and they covered Blitzkrieg Bop?
I got so wasted that night. Remeber like %95 of it all. Tymon Dogg was talking to young Punkx outside before the show and....drank a lot of free Patron after the show and tried to get a threesome together with my girl amd her gf.
Missed it by that much.
The tequila was from some schmuck buying my old lady and her gfs drinks .
Pirates life.
RIP Joe
@erlineandrews
I love the way Joe says "Sing, Michael, sing!" at the beginning. Two different vocal styles that complemented each other wonderfully. 🙂
@kloggmonkey
this was the first record i ever bought and i remember thinking it was a 'greatest hits' album, seeing as every track was an absolute hit.
@lekkerlekkerleslie
I had the same thought! Also because it sounded quite deverse I suppose?
@larsvargas8479
The album is number 8 on the Rolling Stone magazine top 500 albums of all time...
@plate1014
london calling is a very good album
@jkm3297
haha yup
@2nd_snideelf144
No filler there. American rock bands would do that. Get one or two hit tracks and put it on an album with filler crap music. So that a rock band might have a whole album of good music, but they spread that music out over several albums to make good money from loyal fans.
@zawarski
Hands down, the album I would want if I was stuck on an island.
@stephenwarburton9741
I agree.
@stalehansen2341
I would prefer a boat. That being said, I have been a Clash-fan since London Calling in 1980. And yes, I know your not stuck on an island if you have a (sail) boat.