@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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 11
Ain't 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 11
Ain't 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
1977 Lyrics as written by Mick Jones Joe Strummer
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
The title seems to refer to the song titles of The Stooges' songs 1969 and 1970. 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.
It's often overlooked that Strummer had previously been playing a lot of covers in his retro pub band the 101ers. "No Elvis, Beatles or the Rolling Stones" may be partly a reference to him now starting again with something new and original. That and punk posturing!
Times are changing
Nice Orwell reference at the end.
strummer was hugely influenced by orwell if orwell had been born 50 yrs later and had picked up a gtr instead of a pen he would have written
somtehing about england
interesting how elvis is mentioned, since elvis died in 77.
I think it was more referring to his lack of activity recording, not a fan of his so just guesswork on this but think at the time he's not have recorded for a few years and would have been spending most of his time working in Vegas.
the song's not about celebrating the death of Elvis, but the irrelevance of every rock act that came before the Clash and the punk wave of 77. Considering the stylistic expansiveness of the band's future discography, these lyrics weren't 100% earnest; as such they stand almost completely alone among Clash songs.
written in 77 but still relavent today the feeling that all hope is lost and u hate your life and whats around u love the clash!!!!!!
Actually, this song was written and first performed in 1976, which, as you may note, was before Elvis death. <br /> <br /> 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.
Great song, for sure about how get over the old and go in with the new punk wave. And yeah, still fits today, least to me.
A statement about the convoluted world of the UK in the 70s. More Orwellian than anything else. Beatles, Stones & Elvis were rendered useless by the less than ideal subsistence of the U.K. youth and terrible economy. The song is an alarm to wake up and retake control of your own life. 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.
One of the best songs from their early days.
Always liked the “1984” ending to reference Orwell. Also interesting that the song’s sudden ending at 1984 -sorta- predicts the end of the band’s career