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
What
The Clash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm not who I want to be
I tired spot cream an' I tried it all
I'm crawling up the wall
What's my name, name, name
I tried to join a ping-pong club
I got nicked, fighting in the road
The judge didn't even know
What's my name, name, name
Dad go pissed so I got clocked
Couldn't hear the Tannoy so he lost the lot
Offers mum a bribe through the letter box
Drives you fucking mad
Now, I'm round the back of your house at night
Peeping in the window, are you sleeping tight?
I laugh at your locks with my celluloid strip
An' you won't know who came
What's my name, name, name
What's my name, name, name
The lyrics of The Clash's What's My Name describe the internal struggle of the singer, who is unhappy with who he is. He has tried everything to fix himself, including acne medications and joining clubs, but nothing has made him into the person he wants to be. He is frustrated and desperate, which is why he is "crawling up the wall." The repeated question "What's my name?" indicates his lack of identity and uncertainty about who he is.
The lyrics continue to describe the singer's unsuccessful attempts to fit in, whether it's trying to join a ping-pong club or getting arrested in a fight. The line "The judge didn't even know" highlights how insignificant his actions are in the grand scheme of things. The mention of the singer's dad getting drunk and losing a bet adds to the chaos of the song, particularly as he tries to bribe the singer's mother through the letterbox.
The final verse is particularly unsettling, with the singer peeping through the window of someone's house at night. His statement "An' you won't know who came" adds to the sense of unease and suggests that he could become a danger to others. Overall, the lyrics of What's My Name convey a sense of anger, desperation and lost identity.
Line by Line Meaning
What the hell is wrong with me?
I am not happy with who I am and I cannot seem to find out why. I do not feel like myself.
I'm not who I want to be
I am not living up to my own expectations and desires for myself.
I tired spot cream an' I tried it all
I have tried every solution I know of to help me become the person I want to be, but nothing seems to be working.
I'm crawling up the wall
I am feeling anxious and restless, as though I cannot escape my current situation.
What's my name, name, name
I am questioning my identity and uncertain of who I truly am.
I tried to join a ping-pong club
I attempted to join a group or community that interested me, but was rejected.
Sign on the door said "all full up"
The group or community I wanted to join was already at capacity and could not accept new members.
I got nicked, fighting in the road
I got arrested for getting into a fight in public.
The judge didn't even know
The judge presiding over my case did not understand or care about my situation.
Dad go pissed so I got clocked
My dad got drunk and caused some trouble, which caused problems for me as well.
Couldn't hear the Tannoy so he lost the lot
My dad was unable to hear an announcement over a loudspeaker and as a result, missed out on something important.
Offers mum a bribe through the letter box
My dad attempted to bribe my mother by slipping money or something of value through the mail slot in the door.
Drives you fucking mad
This type of behavior is incredibly frustrating and can drive a person to their breaking point.
Now, I'm round the back of your house at night
I have started engaging in creepy and potentially illegal behavior, such as sneaking around someone's property at night.
Peeping in the window, are you sleeping tight?
I am spying on someone through their window and watching them sleep, which is a huge invasion of privacy.
I laugh at your locks with my celluloid strip
I feel superior and clever for being able to pick a lock with a piece of plastic or other material.
An' you won't know who came
I am intentionally being sneaky and secretive, leaving the person unaware of my presence or actions.
What's my name, name, name
The question of my true identity still haunts me, and I am still searching for a sense of self.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper Headon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Fernando Palavicini
It's up to you not to heed the call-up
'N' you must not act the way you were brought up
Who knows the reasons why you have grown up?
Who knows the plans or why they were drawn up?
It's up to you not to heed the call-up
I don't want to die!
It's up to you not to hear the call-up
I don't want to kill!
For he who will die
Is he who will kill
Maybe I want to see the wheat fields
Over Kiev and down to the sea
All the young people down the ages
They gladly marched off to die
Proud city fathers used to watch them
Tears in their eyes
There is a rose that I want to live for
Although, God knows, I may not have met her
There is a dance an' I should be with her
There is a town - unlike any other
It's up to you not to hear the call-up
'N' you must not act the way you were brought up
Who give you work an' why should you do it?
At fifty five minutes past eleven
There is a rose...
Yeah!
William R. Mize
My Father died in Vietnam in Nov 66 and I was born in Feb 67. Sandanista! Was first Clash album I bought Summer of 1980 I was 13. Songs like this spoke to my sorrow and anger that no one around me seamed to understand. The Only Band that Mattered! For me a very true statement.
geysa lagos
Forza amigo!!from Southamerica Chile
Marc Hillis
Sorry about your dad.
888strummer
Sorry about your dad and yes this is a great anti-war song from the Only Band That Mattered!
david beaulieu
You can also ear the song "19" from Paul Hardcastle
Peter Frawley
Touching story man.
Walter Enright
"Maybe I want to see the wheat fields, Over Kiev and down to the sea"
Joe Strummer, still relevant in 2022.
Marco K.
😥
PoleVaultPaul
Agreed. Still very much relevant today. Particularly now following the draft in Russia with many young Russians taking the advice of Joe Strummer and choosing not to heed the call up.
John
He always is