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
thegunsofbrixton
The Clash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How you gonna come?
With your hands on your head
Or on the trigger of your gun
When the law break in
How you gonna go?
Shot down on the pavement
You can crush us
You can bruise us
But you'll have to answer to
Oh, the guns of Brixton
The money feels good
And your life you like it well
But surely your time will come
As in heaven, as in hell
You see, he feels like Ivan
Born under the Brixton sun
His game is called survivin'
At the end of the harder they come
You know it means no mercy
They caught him with a gun
No need for the Black Maria
Goodbye to the Brixton sun
You can crush us
You can bruise us
But you'll have to answer to
But oh-the guns of Brixton
When they kick at your front door
How you gonna come?
With your hands on your head
Or on the trigger of your gun
You can crush us
You can bruise us
Yes, even shoot us
But oh-the guns of Brixton
Shot down on the pavement
Waiting in death row
His game is called survivin'
As in heaven as in hell
You can crush us
You can bruise us
But you'll have to answer to
Oh, the guns of Brixton
Oh, the guns of Brixton
Oh, the guns of Brixton
Oh, the guns of Brixton
The Guns of Brixton is a song by British punk rock band, The Clash. The song was written by bass player, Paul Simonon, who also provides lead vocals. The song was included in their landmark album "London Calling," released in 1979. The song is a social commentary on the state of society, particularly focusing on the Brixton area of London, where the band members grew up.
The song talks about a person's choice of action when faced with danger. The lyrics are about police brutality and how the oppressed people respond to it. The song asks the listener whether they will come out with their hands on their head or on the trigger of their gun when their front door is kicked open. The lyrics also emphasize that the violence and oppression meted out to people can only go on for so long before they fight back, and those who subject people to violence will pay the price for their actions. The lyrics, "Shot down on the pavement, waiting in death row" emphasizes the inevitability of violence, and that it can't be avoided.
Line by Line Meaning
When they kick at your front door
When the authorities come to your home suddenly and rudely
How you gonna come?
How will you respond?
With your hands on your head
Submitting to their authority
Or on the trigger of your gun
Fighting back with violence
When the law break in
When the authorities commit illegal or unjust actions
How you gonna go?
What will be your fate?
Shot down on the pavement
Killed on the street
Or waiting on death row
Imprisoned and awaiting execution
You can crush us
You may oppress and harm us
You can bruise us
You may injure and hurt us
But you'll have to answer to
But there will be consequences for your actions
Oh, the guns of Brixton
Referring to the violent uprising and resistance in the Brixton area of London
The money feels good
The financial reward for participating in oppressive actions can be tempting
And your life you like it well
Enjoying the privileges and benefits of being in a position of power
But surely your time will come
There will be a reckoning for your actions
As in heaven, as in hell
There will be consequences in the afterlife as well
You see, he feels like Ivan
There is a person who identifies with the struggles of the working class
Born under the Brixton sun
Raised in poverty and oppression in the Brixton area of London
His game is called survivin'
His goal is simply to survive in a hostile environment
At the end of the harder they come
Referencing the film about Jamaican social and political struggles, and how they must fight to survive
You know it means no mercy
The authorities will show no mercy or compassion
They caught him with a gun
The authorities arrested him for possessing a weapon
No need for the Black Maria
No need for a police van to transport the prisoner, as they expect him to be killed
Goodbye to the Brixton sun
Leaving behind the life in the Brixton area, Either by escaping or dying
Yes, even shoot us
Even using deadly force against us
Oh, the guns of Brixton
Again referring to the violent resistance in Brixton
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL SIMONON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@raptor8970
When they kick at your front door
How you gonna come?
With your hands on your head
Or on the trigger of your gun?
When the law break in
How you gonna go?
Shot down on the pavement
Or waiting in death row
You can crush us
You can bruise us
But you'd have to answer to
Oh, the guns of Brixton
The money feels good
And your life you like it well
But surely your time will come
As in heaven, as in hell
You see, he feels like Ivan
Born under the Brixton sun
His game is called survivin'
At the end of "The Harder They Come"
You know it means no mercy
They caught him with a gun
No need for the Black Maria
Goodbye to the Brixton sun
You can crush us
You can bruise us
But you'll have to answer to
oh, the guns of Brixton
When they kick at your front door
How you gonna come?
With your hands on your head
Or on the trigger of your gun?
You can crush us
You can bruise us
And even shoot us
But oh, the guns of Brixton
Shot down on the pavement
Waiting in death row
His game was survivin'
As in heaven as in hell
You can crush us
You can bruise us
But you'd have to answer to
Oh, the guns of Brixton
Oh, guns of Brixton
Oh, guns of Brixton
Oh, guns of Brixton
@ikedaleo
the bass riff is heavenly
@jennprickly1455
I was born to hear the clash's bass riffs
@KarenThomas763
every one of my favorite songs has a great bass line. took me 40 years to realize I am a bass head, always have been.
@mordecaif
We need a bass boosted version
@aestheticaltwat
All hail the dub bass!
@LeGrandeOrange
Simonon’s greatest moment!
@MichaelSheffield-ox8yd
Possibly the greatest rock album ever. Every song a gem.
@karlmorris-xz6iq
if you like this you might like my brothers music. His name is Stu Morris and 'She has a Car' is a good song by him.
@HipnoDark
One of them. Its a top 10 imho
@tizianoschena4999
Agree