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In 1977 I hope I go to heaven
Cause I been too long on the dole
And I can't work at all
Danger stranger
You better paint your face
No Elvis, Beatles, or the Rolling Stones
In 1977
In 1977
Knives in West Eleven
Lent so lucky to be rich
Sten guns in Knightsbridge
Danger stranger
You better paint your face
No Elvis, Beatles or the Rolling Stones
In 1977
In 1977
You're on the never never
You think it can't go on forever
But the papers say it's better
I don't care 'cause I'm not all there
No Elvis, Beatles or the Rolling Stones
In 1977
Sod the jubilee
In 1978
In 1979
Stayed in bed
In 1980
In 1981
The toilet don't work
In 1982
In 1983
Here come the police
In 1984
Cause I been too long on the dole
And I can't work at all
Danger stranger
You better paint your face
No Elvis, Beatles, or the Rolling Stones
In 1977
In 1977
Knives in West Eleven
Lent so lucky to be rich
Sten guns in Knightsbridge
Danger stranger
You better paint your face
No Elvis, Beatles or the Rolling Stones
In 1977
In 1977
You're on the never never
You think it can't go on forever
But the papers say it's better
I don't care 'cause I'm not all there
No Elvis, Beatles or the Rolling Stones
In 1977
Sod the jubilee
In 1978
In 1979
Stayed in bed
In 1980
In 1981
The toilet don't work
In 1982
In 1983
Here come the police
In 1984
Lyrics submitted by SexieSadie
Track duration: 01:40
"1977" as written by Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper Headon
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Better paint your face means that color doesn't matter - that all youth are in the same boat.
That no neighborhoods - no matter how exclusive (Knightsbrige) would be immune from violence.
Also, the term ''danger stranger'' goes back to Iggy & The Stooges' Gimme Danger.
The song doesn't seem to be about The Beatles, The Stones or Elvis. Elvis wasn't dead yet, and The Stones were still rockin'. The problem was that the youth couldnt't relate to the music they made at that point. Elvis and the Stones were decadent superstars in those years.
The lyrics aren't so much about dismissing all previous rock acts, as acknowledging that fact that none of them held any relevance to young people at the time. The punk generation simply couldn't relate to them or their songs.