Like those of many songs by the Clash, the lyrics of "Straight to Hell" decry injustice. The first verse refers to the shutting down of steel mills in Northern England and the alienation and racism suffered by immigrants despite their attempts to integrate into British society. The second verse concerns the abandonment of children in Vietnam who were fathered by American soldiers during the Vietnam War. The third verse contrasts the American Dream as seen through the eyes of an Amerasian child with a dystopian vision of American reality. The final verse considers the plight of immigrants throughout the world. Due to this difficult subject material, as well as the slow, aching beat, the song is one of the most downbeat tracks in the Clash's history.
The reference to "Amerasian Blues" describes the abandonment of children fathered by American soldiers stationed in Vietnam during the Vietnam War: an Amerasian child is portrayed as presenting an absent American father, "papa-san," with a photograph of his parents, pleading with his father to take him home to America. The child's plea is rejected. "-san" being a Japanese rather than Vietnamese honorific that was used by US troops in Vietnam who referred to Vietnamese men and women especially older men and women and "mama-san" and "papa-san".
When Strummer sings of a "Volatile Molotov" thrown at Puerto Rican immigrants in Alphabet City as a message to encourage them to leave, he is referring to the arson that claimed buildings occupied by immigrant communities – notably Puerto Rican – before the neighborhood was subject to gentrification. Hence, the ironic reference to "dead-head," the removal of dead flowers to encourage further blooming, at the end of the verse.
The last line of the song, "King Solomon never lived 'round here," condenses at least three attributes associated with the biblical figure of King Solomon: his love of dance (thus referring back to the singing and dancing of immigrants throughout the song), his purported wisdom and justice, and finally the promise of a return from exile to a land or, as Strummer would suggest, a world of peace and prosperity.
The song, whose full version lasted 7 minutes (which can be found on the Clash on Broadway box set or Rat Patrol from Fort Bragg (bootleg) - the double album that Combat Rock was going to be), had a lingering violin background that distinguished it from most other Clash songs.
Covers and samples
Straight to Hell was covered by Heather Nova and Moby for Burning London: The Clash Tribute, as well as by Hot Club de Paris, and Strummer's god-daughter Lily Allen.
The music for the song has also been sampled by M.I.A. for "Paper Planes".
Also, Jakob Dylan and Elvis Costello performed a cover of the song on Costello's show Spectacle: Elvis Costello With... Dylan and Costello talked about Joe Strummer on the show. Jakob is a big fan of Joe Strummer and The Clash.
The song has been refashioned by Mick Jones, featuring Lily Allen, for the War Child - Heroes Vol.1, released in the UK on February 16, 2009, and in the U.S. on February 24, 2009 by Astralwerks. Allen's godfather was Joe Strummer.
The song has also been covered by American Punk Rock band The Menzingers.
Straight to Hell
The Clash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How's about a British jig and reel?
Speaking King's English in quotation
As railhead towns feel the steel mills rust
Water froze
In the generation
Clear as winter ice
This is your paradise
There ain't no need for ya
There ain't no need for ya
Go straight to hell, boys, go straight to hell, boys
Wanna join in a chorus
Of the Amerasian blues?
When it's Christmas out in Ho Chi Minh City
Kiddie say papa papa papa papa pappa-san, take me home
See me got
Photo photo photograph of you and mamma mamma mamma-san
Of you and mamma mamma mamma-san
Let me tell you 'bout your blood, bamboo kid
It ain't Coca-Cola, it's rice
Straight to hell
Go straight to hell boys
Go straight to hell
Go straight to hell boys
Oh Papa-san
Please take me home
Oh Papa-san
Everybody, they wanna go home
So Mamma-san says
You want to play mind-crazed banjo
On the druggy-drag ragtime U.S.A.?
In Parkland International
Ha, junkie-dom U.S.A
Where pro-caine proves the purest rock man groove
And rat poison
The volatile Molotov says
Straight to hell
Can you really cough it up loud and strong?
The immigrants, they wanna sing all night long
It could be anywhere
Most likely could be any frontier any hemisphere
In no-man's-land
There ain't no asylum here
King Solomon he never lived 'round here
Straight to hell, boys
Go straight to hell, boys
Go straight to hell, boys
Go straight to hell, boys
Oh, papa-san, please take me home
The Clash's Straight to Hell is a song that reflects on the experiences of immigrants, specifically the Amerasian children who were abandoned in Vietnam after the war. The song talks about different forms of exploitation and oppression experienced by immigrants in Western societies. The first verse talks about the decline of industrial towns in Britain and how the survivors are forced to endure a bleak, desolate landscape where homes, jobs, and dreams have faded away. The lyrics suggest that immigrants are not welcome in these towns, and their unique cultures and talents are often dismissed or ridiculed by the indigenous people.
The second verse shifts to Vietnam, where the poet speaks of the Amerasian children abandoned by their American fathers. The song asks listeners to imagine spending Christmas in Ho Chi Minh City and hearing children crying for their absent fathers. The lyrics suggest that the war in Vietnam was not fought for noble reasons and that the poor Viet Cong and their children paid a heavy price. The reference to Coke and rice suggests that American culture is slowly but surely erasing the traditional ways of life of the Vietnamese.
The third verse talks about drug addiction in America and how it destroys the lives of unsuspecting young people who want nothing except to have a good time. The song suggests that the lure of drugs is too powerful and that many young people are unable to escape. The song ends with the plea of a child looking for his father, who is probably dead, and an immigrant family yearning to go back home.
Line by Line Meaning
If you can play on the fiddle
If you have the skills to manipulate or deceive
How's about a British jig and reel?
Would you like to engage in a frivolous activity?
Speaking King's English in quotation
Pretending to be something you're not
As railhead towns feel the steel mills rust
Depicting the decay of industrial towns
Water froze in the generation
Progress has stalled, and the future looks bleak
Clear as winter ice
Obvious and apparent
This is your paradise
This is the world we've created
There ain't no need for ya
You aren't welcome here
Go straight to hell, boys, go straight to hell, boys
You're not wanted here, leave
Wanna join in a chorus
Would you like to join the group?
Of the Amerasian blues?
Sing about the struggle of growing up mixed race
When it's Christmas out in Ho Chi Minh City
In the midst of war, it's just another day
Kiddie say papa papa papa papa pappa-san, take me home
Children just want to be with their families
See me got
Look at what I have
Photo photo photograph of you and mamma mamma mamma-san
A reminder of home
Let me tell you 'bout your blood, bamboo kid
Let me educate you about your heritage
It ain't Coca-Cola, it's rice
You are not American, you are Asian
Straight to hell
You don't belong here
Oh Papa-san
Father figure
Please take me home
Bring me back to where I belong
Everybody, they wanna go home
Everyone just wants to be where they belong
You want to play mind-crazed banjo
Do you want to engage in meaningless activity?
On the druggy-drag ragtime U.S.A.?
In a country that idolizes drugs and an unsustainable lifestyle?
In Parkland International
No place in particular
Ha, junkie-dom U.S.A
Drug addiction is rampant
Where pro-caine proves the purest rock man groove
Where drugs are the fuel for the music scene
And rat poison
Something that's supposed to kill, used recklessly
The volatile Molotov says
Disruptive and explosive actions will cause change
Can you really cough it up loud and strong?
Do you have the courage to speak truth to power?
The immigrants, they wanna sing all night long
Those who come here are just looking for an escape
It could be anywhere
This could happen in any country
Most likely could be any frontier any hemisphere
It's likely going on all over the world
In no-man's-land
In a place of indifference and unknown identity
There ain't no asylum here
No protection or refuge for the vulnerable
King Solomon he never lived 'round here
Leadership is not present in this world
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper Headon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chaneymichaels
I used to love playing this on the juke box back when the MIA paper planes song was popular... everyone got all excited and then confused. hahah. Love The Clash
@gersonmejia7719
HAHAHAHAHAHAH THE BEST
@bigbananadealer846
i just added this to my party playlist yesterday, cant wait to test it out haha
@manuelcollao7238
This is the generation that is disappointed in war, poverty, and the evil of FUCKIN politics,,
@tomallen5837
You need to play that now more than ever. And why is it the Clash songs are more relevant during war times? The answer is obvious...
Peace everyone!
@mikethecommoner
They're both incredible songs
@daviddorger6916
40 years later and the musical arrangement for this song is still a mind blower. Joe was a rare talent
@AHMspadina
Yes the rhythm is really cool
@PatC-pi1jq
I love Joe here, now, then ❤
@BlastinRope
my favorite part of youtube is the hyberbolic comments made by poor no nothings