Yeh, you must treat your lover girl right
If you wanna make lover's rock
You must know a place you can kiss to make lovers rock
'Cause everybody knows it's a crying shame
But nobody knows the poor babie's name
When she forgot that thing that she had to swallow

You Western man, you're free with your seed
When you make lovers rock
But woops! there goes the strength that you need
To make real cool lovers rock
'Cause a genuine lover takes off his clothes
And he can make a lover in a thousand go's
An' she don't need that thing that she had to swallow



Lyrics submitted by aebassist

Track duration: 04:03


Lover's Rock song meanings
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24 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:How did they make this album so well? Its probably the best album of the post-WWII era. Wouldn't that make it the greatest of all time?
    Flag differentstrokes5on April 05, 2012   Link
  • +4
    Song Meaning:this song is written about a book called "the tao of love and sex" which joe strummer recommends to a "boy trying to become a man."
    the book is about how to prevent ejaculations to pleasure the woman more and to conserve your chi.
    that's why when the western man is free with his seed he loses the strength he needs to make real cool lovers rock.
    but a genuine lover takes off his clothes and she doesn't need to take the pill because he can control himself.
    that's the meaning.
    Flagged notgonnapay77on July 30, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:
    From the 25th London Calling Anniversary booklet:

    "This song is a book that we tried to concentrate into two verses- The book is called "The Tao of Love & Sex by "......(doesnt say in the booklet but i assume, Jolan Chang)" It's a thin book and a good one to get if you are a boy trying to be a man"- Joe Strummer
    Flag Markie31on April 12, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I personally think the song is about always using a condom. Specifically when you're traveling as I think is evident in "You Western man, you're free with your seed". I spent some time in Southeast Asia and I was told that this was actually a pretty bad problem back in the day, western men coming over and the women being accustomed to basically trusting the men to not get them pregnant, and the western men either being pricks not caring or for some reason thinking the woman was using the pill and as a result leaving behind a single mother in a place where single-mothers are pretty well left to fend for themselves. So ya, to reiterate I take the song to mean, when you're traveling, use a damn condom! lol
    Flag thisismyusername7on March 22, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The song is about wearing a condom during sex.

    The reference to the thing she has to swallow is about taking the pill.

    "She forgot to swallow" is when she got pregnant

    "Did need that thing ... to swallow" her lover wore a rubber

    Flag memojuezon March 01, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is about two things. A girl getting knocked up on bad shag, and how "western men" don't know how to shag cause they don't know how to please their women. A geniune lover doesn't blow his load too early, he can make a girl cum a thousand time before he wastes his seed.
    Flag lyrisgeniuson January 24, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:At first I thought this song was about oral sex, but later I realized the Clash was too deep to make some song about a subject like that. I think on the surface, they knew that's what people would think it was, but I do think it's about birth control and people being careless about that stuff. Ah well, great song.
    Flag madweatheron November 04, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I definitely think this song is about how you shouldn't rely on the pill, because the girl might forget it and then end up pregnant.

    "'Cause everybody knows it's a crying shame
    But nobody knows the poor babie's name
    When she forgot that thing that she had to swallow"

    I think this part is about the fact that she forgot the pill, got pregnant & then had an abortion. something like that. xD

    This is a heaps good song.
    Flag OFFICERRon September 13, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I've never, ever thought this song was about oral sex (and I have a filthy mind). Clearly they are talking about the pill, to me at least. The song is about being a man instead of sperm donor.
    Flag bugoffon October 15, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:Yeah.....I think what makes this song so great is how many different interpretations you can get from it. I think the "to swallow" line is literally about the pill.....but the allusion to the Grand Finale of oral sex was obviously intentional. It's what makes this song so great!!

    I think it's about the difference in casual sex and relationship sex as someone pointed out above. In the first verse, it's all about casual sex and one of the possible negative outcomes...stuck with baby.

    In the second, it's all about monogamous sex. And the Western/Eastern thing relates to the Eastern sexual philosophy of holding in ejaculation to hold in strength (Tantra or something....I don't know)...or not having sex as frequently...

    "You Western man, you're free with your seed
    When you make lovers rock
    But woops! there goes the strength that you need
    To make real cool lovers rock"

    Great song!
    Flag iowaboyon August 29, 2007   Link

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