What are we gonna do now?
Taking off his turban, they said, is this man a Jew?
'Cause they're working for the clampdown
They put up a poster saying we earn more than you!
When we're working for the clampdown
We will teach our twisted speech
To the young believers
We will train our blue-eyed men
To be young believers

The judge said five to ten-but I say double that again
I'm not working for the clampdown
No man born with a living soul
Can be working for the clampdown
Kick over the wall 'cause government's to fall
How can you refuse it?
Let fury have the hour, anger can be power
D'you know that you can use it?

The voices in your head are calling
Stop wasting your time, there's nothing coming
Only a fool would think someone could save you
The men at the factory are old and cunning
You don't owe nothing, so boy get runnin'
It's the best years of your life they want to steal

You grow up and you calm down
You're working for the clampdown
You start wearing the blue and brown
You're working for the clampdown
So you got someone to boss around
It makes you feel big now
You drift until you brutalize
You made your first kill now

In these days of evil Presidentes
Working for the clampdown
But lately one or two has fully paid their due
For working for the clampdown
But ha! Gitalong! Gitalong!

And I've given away no secrets
Who's barmy now?



Lyrics submitted by aebassist

Track duration: 03:49

"Clampdown" as written by Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper Headon

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Clampdown song meanings
Add your thoughts

59 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment:It's succumbing to the pressure to be a good little worker and playing the games required to get ahead - including stepping on everyone in your way
    Flag rb3868on March 20, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's succumbing to the pressure to be a good little worker and playing the games required to get ahead - including stepping on everyone in your way
    Flag rb3868on March 20, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Though there are certainly allusions being made to Marxist-leninist styles of mass oppression this song to me is about the indoctrination of youth into general systems of power... whether they be national governments or work and consume business cultures.

    So often we see those that wear suits and think of them as having some kind of extra legitimacy for their success but it's a self-depraving lie. There's nothing incredibly wrong with a business lifestyle but there's equally nothing wrong with a free spirited one, especially when you're younger. So live and enjoy things.
    Flag TSandrewson July 27, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:you don't need to have been alive in the seventies to love the clash: 15 years old and they're possibly my favourite band!
    Flag simonon3on April 16, 2010   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:Right now I'm listening to Joe and the Mescaleros "Johnny Appleseed" that wound up on HBO's "John From Cincinnatti", love the song... first time I ever really ever thought of Joe Strummer and the Clash.
    In retrospect, I thought I was too old at the time to be listening to the Clash, back in the seventies. Now at 53, I can honestly say I really dig them. Clampdown seems a very timely song right now, just think about it, who's behind it (Bankster Rothschilds), who benefits (Israel), who propagandizes (Jewish Mainstream media and Hollywood) no, maybe Joe was seeing into the future.
    Flagged korkordon April 02, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think that this song is just about the fact that you can't be young forever and eventually you grow up and go and get a boring dull job... the blue and brown could be the fact that when most young men got a job at that point most of them wore blue and brown suits...although knowing the clash it could have something to do with hitler... either way the best clash song ever....
    Flag simonon3on March 13, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:the clampdown sounds like government oppression. i think, perhaps, working for the police department or serving in the military for an unjust cause (the vaste majority of them) would be considered working for the clampdown, or oppression. it's the people in society that brown nose the upper class, the uncle tom's, and all the weasels of society that cuddle up to those in power.

    not trying to trash talk military servicemen, or policemen, but they are working for the betterment of the upper class whether it be their intention or not, which is not to say that they can't have meaningful moments within their career, or gain knowledge from their experiences.

    this is my interpretation anyway =)
    Flag whaton January 08, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song compares giving up your youth and spirit to follow monetary goals to the Germans giving their self respect (souls) up to the Nazis.

    They want us to listen the that little voice in our heads and question the propaganda that we are fed everyday by the media to seek money and become a consumer. Just like the youth in Germany was fed Nazi propaganda.

    The line "Taking off his turban, they said, is this man a Jew" i think is referring to the beatings of Pakistani and Indian people in England. Again a comparison to the Nazis

    The whole song to me is a call to action. A great song by a great band
    Flag rmf13on March 07, 2009   Link
  • -3
    General Comment:"Taking off his turban, they said is this man a jew"

    That is a pretty funny line. Jews wear yamakas not turbans. Idiots.
    Flag lyrisgeniuson January 24, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i always thought it was about working in a job you hate, working for a boss you hate then one day becoming the boss and turning into a cunt like he was... well that might just be me
    Flag ezeroaston January 20, 2009   Link

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!

Back to top
explain