Three Card Trick
The Clash Lyrics


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Patriots of the wasteland torching two hundred years
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
Blood inside a fountain pen wrote you out of life again
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

Overall Meaning

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
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