The Leader
The Clash Lyrics

Atom secrets, secret leaflet
Refers to the confidential information that governments hold, often relating to nuclear weaponry and communicated through covert communication methods.

Have the boys found the leak yet?
Asks whether any individuals have been identified as having leaked confidential information to the public or other organizations.

The molehill sets the wheel in motion
Small developments or actions can have major consequences and set a chain of events in motion.

His downfall picks up locomotion
The leader's downfall, whether it be through their own actions or external factors, progresses rapidly once it has begun.

The people must have something good to read on a Sunday
Suggests that the masses need to be entertained or given interesting information, even on a day of rest, to prevent them from becoming restless or discontented with their daily lives.

The leader's wife takes a government car
The partner of the leader utilizes government resources for their own benefit or personal needs.

In the dark to meet her minister
Meetings or activities are being conducted in secret or outside of standard operating hours.

But the leader never leaves his door ajar
The leader is cautious and does not allow for any breaches in security or potential threats to their position.

As he swings his whip from the Boer War
The leader is authoritative and willing to use their power to maintain control or assert dominance, possibly referencing past colonial conflicts.

He wore a leather mask for his dinner guests
The leader is willing to engage in hedonistic or unusual behavior that may be viewed as immoral or taboo.

Totally nude and with deep respect
The leader is unafraid to display themselves in a vulnerable or intimate manner, yet still commands respect or deference from others.

Proposed a toast to the votes he gets
The leader values their public image and seeks to maintain or increase their support among the electorate or general population.

The feeling of power and the thought of sex!
The leader is motivated by both the desire for control and sexual gratification, and these two impulses may intertwine or influence each other.

Now the girl let the fat man touch her
A woman, potentially a mistress or female associate of the leader or one of their ministers, is engaging in sexual activity with an older, overweight man.

Vodka fumes and the feel of a vulture
The sexual encounter is accompanied by unpleasant or unsavory elements, such as the smell of alcohol and the imagery of a predatory bird.

The driver waited in the embassy car
Another individual with lower status or position, such as a chauffeur, is waiting in a vehicle outside a location where more important individuals are engaging in private activities.

The fat man's trap was set for capture
This older, overweight man was potentially lured into a compromising situation by the woman, and may be marked for potential consequences or capture by other individuals aware of the situation.

So the girl let the thin man touch her
The woman may be engaging in sexual behavior with multiple partners, or may have differing preferences or standards for her sexual encounters.

Mixing questions, drunken laughter
The individuals present are likely consuming alcohol while engaging in conversation, with some discussion being unserious or not pertinent to any true business or governmental affairs.

The ministry car was waiting there
Another individual, in this case a member of the ministry or government, is awaiting access or involvement in the activities of those present.

A minister knows his own affair
Those involved in government or leadership positions may be aware of or have some complicity in various moral or unethical affairs or behaviors.