So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new.
This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus.
Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness".
The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy.
And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns)
There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.
The sirens' risin'
There's a distant blues dance on a crowded street
The temperature's a-risin'
Soon you're gonna be runnin' down
Those burnin' streets, come on
The century that's hardly on its feet
And the late news breaks early
Does the sun rise from the west or from the east?
An' it takes every day to be survivin' in the city
London is burnin' don't tell the Queen
Somebody tried to speak garage and they burnt down Bethnal Green
Piccadilly's yearning, like a reggae beat
Soon you're gonna be runnin' down
Those burnin' streets, come on
And you're waitin' for your flag to be unfurled
And the late news breaks early
So how should life be lived around the world?
(If London is burnin')
An' it takes every day to be survivin' in the city
Ready to face that dawn with no pity, come on!
Yeah, ah-come on (London is burnin')
Yeah, ah-come on (London is burnin')
(Soon you're gonna be run down)
(Soon you're gonna be run down)
Those burnin' streets, come on!
Does the universal cop have a beat?
And the late news breaks early
Did you ever buy that bar on Lucky Street?
An' it takes every day to be survivin' in the city
Ready to face that dawn with no pity, come on!
Yeah, ah-come on (London is burnin')
Yeah, ah-come on (London is burnin')
Too many guns in this damn town
At the supermarket, you gotta duck down
Baby flak jackets on the merry-go-round
(London is burnin')
There's too many guns in this damn town
(London is burnin')
Baby flak jackets on the merry-go-round
(London is burnin')
Too many guns in this damn town
(London is burnin')
Baby flak jackets on the merry-go-round
(London is burnin')
There's a distant blues dance on a crowded street
The temperature's a-risin'
Soon you're gonna be runnin' down
Those burnin' streets, come on
The century that's hardly on its feet
And the late news breaks early
Does the sun rise from the west or from the east?
An' it takes every day to be survivin' in the city
London is burnin' don't tell the Queen
Somebody tried to speak garage and they burnt down Bethnal Green
Piccadilly's yearning, like a reggae beat
Soon you're gonna be runnin' down
Those burnin' streets, come on
And you're waitin' for your flag to be unfurled
And the late news breaks early
So how should life be lived around the world?
(If London is burnin')
An' it takes every day to be survivin' in the city
Ready to face that dawn with no pity, come on!
Yeah, ah-come on (London is burnin')
Yeah, ah-come on (London is burnin')
(Soon you're gonna be run down)
(Soon you're gonna be run down)
Those burnin' streets, come on!
Does the universal cop have a beat?
And the late news breaks early
Did you ever buy that bar on Lucky Street?
An' it takes every day to be survivin' in the city
Ready to face that dawn with no pity, come on!
Yeah, ah-come on (London is burnin')
Yeah, ah-come on (London is burnin')
Too many guns in this damn town
At the supermarket, you gotta duck down
Baby flak jackets on the merry-go-round
(London is burnin')
There's too many guns in this damn town
(London is burnin')
Baby flak jackets on the merry-go-round
(London is burnin')
Too many guns in this damn town
(London is burnin')
Baby flak jackets on the merry-go-round
(London is burnin')
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
Ave Grave
Thee More Shallows
Thee More Shallows
Jesse with the long hair....
Robert Earl Keen, Jr.
Robert Earl Keen, Jr.
Classic love story true to his western tx roots. One of my favorites as a story, but I think there are alot of songs that are amazing not even listed on this site. I guess I should figure out how to add them, because I have about 8 REK cd's.
The Spy
Doors, The
Doors, The
Like a lot of the other comments are saying, I think this mainly about voyeurism. If the song was about his girlfriend, then why would he use the word spy. If you are a spy it means you shouldn't be caught, that is kind of the whole point, and if you are a voyeur, the whole point of the pleasure you get from it, is the fact that the other people don't know you are watching them. See a bit of a connection there?
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Not sure when anybody will read this But I’ll have a go. This has always been one of my favorites from Streetcore, which is definitely some of Joe’s finest work. In the Mescalero years his lyrics show this wise and almost father-like attitude toward his listener. I think Joe saw how crazy the world was becoming and knew we had to get ready.
“London is burnin’, don’t tell the Queen”, seems like a casual self-quote - an inside joke between himself and his fans. Now that he’s older the lyrics change meaning to an idea of, “Yes, it’s still burning, and it’s only getting worse because no one’s trying to put it out.”
No one seems to know the right lyrics for the next line. I don’t believe “speak garage” means anything, so although it sounds correct I wanna find the real lyric. Right now I read the line, “Somebody tried to speak out and then they burned down Bethnal Green”
I’ve read before that the 9/11 attacks really affected Joe and I think you can sense it here. Ramshackle Day Parade talks about the event, but Burnin’ Streets is about how culture, politics, and the whole world was changing at the time. I can’t even imagine what he’d have to say about 2018. God bless Joe Strummer.