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
Silicone on Sapphire
The Clash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who holds the key that winds up Big Ben?
Silicone on Sapphire
Connection
My prerogative is zero
When is your start
What is your data
Databus
I'm pushing your breakpoints
Anytime Mike
Know my subroutine
Motorola exorsizer
Modem connecting
In sync
Buffer
Handshaking
Throughput
Mnemonic code
I have your sentences right
Go ahead
Macro command
Yes
This is my micro instruction
Improper request
Output failed
Request debug
Improper request
Request debug
System debug freeze
Your memory is volatile
Freeze
Log ? add this is my address bus
Log add
Kill
Kill
?
Rub out
You're on system interconnect
You are typing into my memory
Shift, shift, shift
That's better
Now my decoder
I request your zero variable storage
I am a Texas Instrument
Clear, overrun
My zero positive
Truth table
Connection
Give me your input
Vector interrupt
Erase function
Vector interrupt
Go to RAM, Go to RAM
Go yourself
Go to RAM
I take it back?
Your memory is volatile
Your inputs, are deprived
Save, save
Erase bridge?
Go to outputs
Large scale integration
No source statements
Give me, give me flowchart
All died on call? databus
Hardware, firmware
Inhibit, inhibit, overflow
Yes. Hardwired logic. Machine language
Connection deprived by request, request
Parallel operation
Give me push count stack
I must have your address first
Take your datalog recharge
Hello, hello
System debug freeze
Clear restore and exit
Exit all done
The lyrics of The Clash's "Silicone on Sapphire" seem to be a conversation between two operators discussing computer processes and maintenance. The lyrics are full of computer programming terminology and jargon, such as "data bus," "macro command," "mnemonic code," and "hardware firmware." The song presents a futuristic, sci-fi-like world in which machines and technology rule.
The first few lines of the song, "Have you ever asked yourself/Who holds the key that winds up Big Ben?" seem to suggest that the song is about the power and control that machines have over our lives. The reference to Big Ben, one of London's most iconic landmarks, suggests that even the most powerful human creations are subject to the control of machines.
The conversation between the two operators in the song highlights the complexity and intricacy of computer systems. The lyrics suggest that the operators are debugging the system and trying to prevent errors from occurring. The lines "Improper request/Output failed/Request debug" suggest that there is a problem with the system that needs to be fixed.
Overall, "Silicone on Sapphire" seems to be a commentary on the increasing influence of technology and machines in our lives. The lyrics highlight the power and complexity of computer systems, and suggest that we may soon be living in a world where machines are in control.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you ever asked yourself
Have you ever wondered
Who holds the key that winds up Big Ben?
Who controls a significant aspect of a system?
Silicone on Sapphire
A vague reference to technology or computer hardware
Connection
Linking or synchronizing two systems
My prerogative is zero
I have no control over the situation
When is your start?
When does your system begin?
What is your data?
What information are you working with?
Databus
The pathway through which data travels within a system
I'm pushing your breakpoints
I'm trying to identify issues in your system
Anytime Mike
Some action is possible at any moment
Know my subroutine
Understand the specific process or task I perform
Motorola exorsizer
Likely a reference to a computer processor brand
Modem connecting
Two systems linking together
In sync
Operating in harmony or working correctly together
Buffer
A temporary space for data storage
Handshaking
A communication process between two systems to establish a connection
Throughput
The amount of data processing or transferred within a system
Mnemonic code
An abbreviation or memory aid used in programming
I have your sentences right
The system's program or instruction set is functioning accurately
Go ahead
Permission to proceed
Macro command
A series of steps taken to accomplish a larger task
Yes
An affirmative response
This is my micro instruction
A specific action or command being executed within a system
Improper request
An invalid or incorrect command or action
Output failed
A problem with getting data or results from the system's output
Request debug
Asking for assistance in identifying issues within the system's code or functions
System debug freeze
Halting or stopping the system for purposes of evaluation or troubleshooting
Your memory is volatile
Data is lost when the system is powered down or reset
Freeze
Stop all processes and wait for further instruction
Log ? add this is my address bus
Unclear what this line means
Log add
Add something to data being collected or assessed
Kill
Terminating a process or system
Rub out
Erasing or removing something
You're on system interconnect
Connected to an interlinking system
You are typing into my memory
Someone is entering data into the system's memory
Shift, shift, shift
Adjusting or changing something quickly and repeatedly
That's better
An improvement has been made
Now my decoder
Referring to a decoding program or system
I request your zero variable storage
Asking for information from a specific area where data is temporarily stored
I am a Texas Instrument
A reference to a computer processor brand
Clear, overrun
Deleting data that overflows a predetermined storage limit
My zero positive
A reference to a specific data storage location
Truth table
A logical representation of data or operations
Give me your input
Asking for information or data as input in a process
Vector interrupt
Directing system processes to a specific code or sequence of instructions
Erase function
Removing or clearing certain data or programs
Go to RAM, Go to RAM
Accessing data stored in a random access memory (RAM) location
Go yourself
Not clear what this phrase means in-context
Take your datalog recharge
Suggesting finding new or more relevant data to improve a process
Hello, hello
Request for attention or response
Clear restore and exit
Exiting the system after performing necessary tasks and restoring default settings
Exit all done
The system has completed its tasks and is now finished
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOE STRUMMER, MICK JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
La Caseteca
himno de mi corazon!!
Colin Asay
One of the best clash songs in my ears
1998 VoDKa
Love the clash
Mondo Bizarro
Easy to guess that Mick Jones was behind all those experiences in this album 🙂
Ivo Zen y los Prodigios🌈
Guau!¡!🙃
jgw3000
Have you ever asked yourself who holds the key that winds up Big Ben?
JazNazz
Tron 1982 should have been based on this song to give the "program" characters a script.
miriã borges
♡
Applemask
I Am a Texas Instrument
Segi gise
Oooooooooooooh sandinistaaa