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
The Prisoner
The Clash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
North of Watford junction
We get in but we don't have fun
An' we leave before the truncheons
So it's back to watch the day to day
Saga of working people
Hanging out the washing and clipping coupons
And generally being decent
Johnny too bad meets johnny be good
In the Charing Cross Road
That's the only thing that happened today
Says the west end jungle code
And all the Germans and all the French
Jam themselves down the tube
And re-enact the second world war
While the rude boys get rude!
And I look to my left
And I look to my right
And I'm looking for a man
I'm looking for a sign
I don't want to be the prisoner
The prisoner lives in Camden Town
Selling revolution
The prisoner loads his tracking arm up
With self-disillusion
Your mother does the washing up
Your old man digs the garden
You're only free to dodge the cops
An' bunk the train to stardom
"The Prisoner" is a song by The Clash that delves into the mundane and monotonous lives of the working class individuals who are aimlessly floating through their daily routines. The song opens up with the prisoner who meets the Muppet hi-fi north of Watford junction. The Muppet is a representation of the music industry - a frivolous and superficial entity that the prisoner seemingly comes across. He enters this world but does not enjoy it and quickly leaves before he can be reprimanded by law enforcement. The singer then reiterates the fact that the prisoner goes back to watching the day-to-day saga of working people, hanging up washing and clipping coupons - highlighting the humdrum nature of existence.
Later in the song, Johnny Too Bad meets Johnny Be Good in Charing Cross Road, which is the only interesting encounter that occurs in the West End Jungle. This can be viewed as a metaphor for the fact that in the urban jungle, there is a severe lack of excitement, and being law-abiding citizens is the only means to survive. The song also refers to the Germans and French re-enacting the second world war while the rude boys get rude, which further emphasizes the idea that existence is uneventful, and individuals end up venting their frustration by being rude to others.
The final verse of the song takes a more hopeful note, where the prisoner is depicted as someone living in Camden Town, selling revolution. This can be understood as an allegory for the prisoner finally breaking free from the mundanity of society and fighting for change. The prisoner loads his tracking arm up with self-disillusion, highlighting that to break free from the system, one must first disillusion themselves from the ideologies that the society at large imposes. The song concludes with a statement that one is only free to dodge the cops and bunk the train to stardom, implying that true freedom only comes from shirking societal norms.
Line by Line Meaning
The prisoner meets the Muppet hi-fi
The prisoner encounters the absurdity of modern society
North of Watford junction
In the northern part of London's metropolitan area
We get in but we don't have fun
Society offers us shallow entertainment but leaves us feeling unfulfilled
An' we leave before the truncheons
We avoid getting beaten and arrested by the police
So it's back to watch the day to day
Returning to our daily routine
Saga of working people
The monotonous lives of those who have to work just to survive
Hanging out the washing and clipping coupons
Performing menial tasks to save a few pennies
And generally being decent
Trying to live a respectable life despite the difficult circumstances
Johnny too bad meets johnny be good
The contrast between good and bad in society
In the Charing Cross Road
On a busy street in central London
That's the only thing that happened today
There was nothing significant or exciting to report
Says the west end jungle code
According to the slang of the young people in the West End
And all the Germans and all the French
People from all nationalities
Jam themselves down the tube
Crowding onto the London Underground
And re-enact the second world war
Behaving as if they were fighting a war again
While the rude boys get rude!
The rebellious young people act out against authority
And I look to my left
Taking notice of one's surroundings
And I look to my right
Observing the other people around
And I'm looking for a man
Searching for someone to connect with
I'm looking for a sign
Hoping for some kind of guidance or direction
I don't want to be the prisoner
Not wanting to be confined by the restrictions of society
The prisoner lives in Camden Town
Describing a specific location for someone who feels restricted by society
Selling revolution
Trying to change the oppressive system that they live in
The prisoner loads his tracking arm up
Preparing oneself to fight against the oppressors
With self-disillusion
Realizing that the cause they're fighting for may not be as pure as they hoped
Your mother does the washing up
Describing the traditional gender roles that society imposes
Your old man digs the garden
Portraying the notion of the patriarchal head of the household
You're only free to dodge the cops
Being limited in one's freedom by having to avoid authority
An' bunk the train to stardom
Trying to escape the mundane and find a way to make it big
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOE STRUMMER, MICK JONES, PAUL SIMONON, TOPPER HEADON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind