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
Stay Free
The Clash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never took no shit from no one, we weren't fools
The teacher says we're dumb
We're only having fun
We piss on everyone
In the classroom
When we got thrown out I left without much fuss
Down Streatham on the bus
You always made me laugh
Got me in bad fights
Play me pool all night
Smokin' menthol
I practiced daily in my room
You were down the crown planning your next move
Go on a nicking spree
Hit the wrong guy
Each of you get three
Years in Brixton
I did my very best to write
How was butlins?
Were the screws too tight?
When you lot get out
Were gonna hit the town
We'll burn it fuckin' down
To a cinder
'Cause years have passed and things have changed
And I move anyway I want to go
I'll never forget the feeling I got
When I heard that you'd got home
An' I'll never forget the smile on my face
'Cause I knew where you would be
An' if you're in the crown tonight
Have a drink on me
But go easy...step lightly...stay free
The lyrics to The Clash's song Stay Free are about two friends who grew up together, causing trouble in school and getting kicked out. The song is based on a true story about two of the band's close friends, Mick and Paul Simonon. The song speaks to the bonds of friendship, and how even though things may change and lead friends down different paths, the memories and love between them will always remain.
The first lines of the song immediately establish the playful and rebellious nature of the two friends. They didn't take any shit from anyone, especially not their teacher who labeled them as "dumb." Instead, they chose to have fun and "piss on everyone" in the classroom. The rest of the verse talks about their weekend activities, such as dancing and playing pool, all while smoking menthol cigarettes.
The second verse takes a darker turn as one of the friends gets involved in stealing, gets caught, and ends up in jail. The other friend continues on, trying to make something of themselves, and wondering how their incarcerated friend is doing. The chorus, "Stay free", serves as a reminder to always be true to oneself, no matter what life may throw at us.
Overall, the song Stay Free celebrates the strength of friendship and serves as a love letter from Joe Strummer to his friend, Paul Simonon. It's a vivid reminder of the power of music to connect us to others and to immortalize those precious moments of life.
Line by Line Meaning
We met when we were in school
We first got to know each other during our schooling days
Never took no shit from no one, we weren't fools
We were always confident enough not to tolerate any disrespect from anyone and we were not foolish either
The teacher says we're dumb
Our teacher called us stupid
We're only having fun
We were just having a good time
We piss on everyone
We didn't care what anyone thought of us
In the classroom
This happened in the school classroom
When we got thrown out I left without much fuss
When we got expelled, I didn't make a big deal out of it
An' weekends we'd go dancing
On weekends, we would go out to dance
Down Streatham on the bus
We would take the bus to Streatham for our weekend dancing
You always made me laugh
You had a great sense of humor that always entertained me
Got me in bad fights
You once got me into some serious troubles
Play me pool all night
We would spend the whole night playing pool
Smokin' menthol
We used to smoke menthol cigarettes together
I practiced daily in my room
I used to practice playing music in my room every day
You were down the crown planning your next move
You were at the Crown pub strategizing your next activity
Go on a nicking spree
You went stealing things
Hit the wrong guy
You made a mistake and attacked the wrong person
Each of you get three
As a result, each of you got sentenced to three years in prison
Years in Brixton
You served your sentence at Brixton prison for those years
I did my very best to write
During that period, I wrote to you frequently
How was Butlins?
I asked about your experience over at Butlins
Were the screws too tight?
I also inquired if you were being tightly monitored
When you lot get out
Upon your release from the prison
Were gonna hit the town
We would celebrate by going out together
We'll burn it fuckin' down
We would party hard and have a great time
To a cinder
We would enjoy ourselves immensely until nothing else is left
'Cause years have passed and things have changed
Time has passed, and things have evolved and shifted
And I move anyway I want to go
I do what I want and go anywhere I desire
I'll never forget the feeling I got
I will always remember the excitement I felt
When I heard that you'd got home
When I found out you had come back home
An' I'll never forget the smile on my face
I cannot forget the broad smile on my face
'Cause I knew where you would be
Because I knew exactly where you would be
An' if you're in the crown tonight
If you're at the Crown pub tonight
Have a drink on me
Have a drink on my behalf
But go easy...step lightly...stay free
Enjoy, but do not harm anyone; be cautious, and please stay out of trouble
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOE STRUMMER, MICK JONES, PAUL SIMONON, TOPPER HEADON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@KahTomazzoS.E.P
"Stay Free"
we met when we were in school
never took no shit from no one, we weren't fools
the teacher says we're dumb
we're only having fun
we piss on everyone
in the classroom
when we got thrown out i left without much fuss
an' weekends we'd go dancing
down streatham on the bus
you always made me laugh
got me in bad fights
play me pool all night
smokin' menthol
i practised daily in my room
you were down the crown planning your next move
go on a nicking spree
hit the wrong guy
each of you get three
years in brixton
i did my very best to write
how was butlins?
were the screws too tight?
when you lot get out
were gonna hit the town
we'll burn it fuckin' down
to a cinder
cos years have passed and things have changed
and i move anyway i wanna go
i'll never forget the feeling i got
when i heard that you'd got home
an' i'll never forget the smile on my face
'cos i knew where you would be
an' if you're in the crown tonight
have a drink on me
but go easy...step lightly...stay free
🖤
@theflyingspaniard6881
Came for London Calling, stayed for everything
@YesOkayButWhy
This^ for no reason or all of them at once, this song just made cry. The Clash meant and will always mean the world to people like you and I.
@IanSilk
2 years on since the old man passed away. This was the outro song at his funeral. Go easy old man, stay free. Love you loads, and always will.
@killbot_factory
Stay Free -- a song about love between two dear friends who drifted apart. Nobody was better than the Clash...nobody! ❤️
@adampoe2797
Right?
Always dedicated to a long time friend
I've reunited with
@chiaramuoio2588
I totally agree❤ Nobody like The Clash ever
@davewhiteford6511
My mate Malc RIP mate ...xxxx
@dantissink7104
So very true
@TobinHolz
My brother Pete. R.I.P. I'll never hear this song and not think about him.
@leokimvideo
One of the greatest storytelling songs in rock