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, even though it was released near the end of 1979 at first (technically, Jan 1980, in the United States).
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. This was officially confirmed in 2003, when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Their five big albums from their heyday ('The Clash', 'Give 'Em Enough Rope', 'London Calling', 'Sandinista!', and 'Combat Rock') continue to earn a great deal of interest from rock fans into the new millennium.
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
Three Card Trick
The Clash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dragging my spirit back into the dungeon again
Bring back crucification cry the moral death's head legion
Using steel nails manufactured by the slaves in Asia
You won't fall for that law and order is a baton in the rib
You won't fall for that just like your mummy and your daddy did
Who knows any better than to kick and scratch under English weather
From a chain gang to the mill.
The mill that sits on top of the hill
The fog drowned towns arr gonna have to fade
The wrong side of the a scissor blade
You won't fall for that law and order is a baton in the rib
You won't fall for that just like your mummy and your daddy did
I'll eat my hat I'm gonna be sick
They own the pack while we play the three card trick
Don't you remember the place
Where we hid the ace?
Yeah not thick but slick
Now we all gotta play the three card trick
In The Clash's song "Three Card Trick," the band critiques the political state of the world and the treatment of the working class. The lyrics paint a bleak picture of the current state of affairs, with "Patriots of the wasteland torching two hundred years." The patriots may be referencing the politicians who claim to be serving the people but are in fact only serving themselves. These politicians are "dragging my spirit back into the dungeon again," implying that they are holding the people down.
The song references the "moral death's head legion" who call for crucifixion. This could be interpreted as the religious or societal forces that seek to oppress the voices of dissent. The use of steel nails manufactured by Asian slaves highlights the exploitation of globalization.
The song then turns to the idea that law and order are artificial constructs that are used to subdue and control the masses. The line, "You won't fall for that law and order is a baton in the rib," suggests that the authorities use force to maintain control. The final line, "They own the pack while we play the three card trick," implies that the people are being played by those in power, much like a card trick.
Line by Line Meaning
Patriots of the wasteland torching two hundred years
The people who are supposed to take care of this land are instead destroying it for their own gain
Dragging my spirit back into the dungeon again
The oppressive system is constantly bringing the singer down, making them feel trapped and powerless
Bring back crucification cry the moral death's head legion
Those in power want to bring back cruel and painful punishment as a way to control the population
Using steel nails manufactured by the slaves in Asia
The people who are suffering and being exploited in other parts of the world are the ones creating the materials that the oppressors use to control others
You won't fall for that law and order is a baton in the rib
The system uses law and order as a way to control and oppress people, but the artist sees through this facade and knows they won't be fooled
You won't fall for that just like your mummy and your daddy did
The singer is certain that they won't make the same mistake as their parents who may have supported the oppressive system
Blood inside a fountain pen wrote you out of life again
The people in power are using their authority to write others out of existence, and ignoring the value of human life
Who knows any better than to kick and scratch under English weather
No one knows the struggle of surviving under oppressive conditions better than the people in England
From a chain gang to the mill.
The oppressive system is like a chain gang, making people feel trapped and enslaved, and then forcing them to work in mills under brutal conditions
The mill that sits on top of the hill
The oppressors have all the power and can easily see and control the people below them
The fog drowned towns are gonna have to fade
The oppression and mistreatment of people in these towns can't go on forever, and eventually things will have to change
The wrong side of the a scissor blade
Being on the wrong side of power and control means that people's lives are constantly being cut short
I'll eat my hat I'm gonna be sick
The situation is so outrageous, the singer can't believe it and feels physically ill
They own the pack while we play the three card trick
Those in power have all the advantages and control the game, while others are forced to play with limited options and few resources
Don't you remember the place
The singer is trying to remind others of a time when they had more power, or at least some hope
Where we hid the ace?
The artist is asking if others remember a time when they had an advantage or a way to beat the system
Yeah not thick but slick
The artist is saying that they aren't stupid, but rather they are clever and able to outsmart the oppressors
Now we all gotta play the three card trick
Everyone is now forced to play the same unfair game and try to make the best of a bad situation
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BERNARD RHODES, JOE STRUMMER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind