In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Revolution rock, it is a brand new rock
A bad, bad rock, this here revolution rock
Careful how you move, Mac, you dig me in me back
An' I'm so pilled up that I rattle
I have got the sharpest knife, so I cut the biggest slice
I got no time to do battle, hey
Everybody smash up your seats and rock to this
Brand new beat
This here music mash up the nation
This here music cause a sensation
Tell your ma, tell your pa everything's gonna be all right
Can't you feel it? Don't ignore it
Gonna be alright
Revolution rock, I am in a state of shock
So bad, bad rock, this here revolution rock
Careful how you slide, Clyde, all you did was glide
You poured your beer in me hat
Keep my good eye on the beat, living on fixation street
I ain't got no time for that, hey
Everybody smash up your seats and rock to this
Brand new beat
This here music mash up the nation
This here music cause a sensation
Tell your mama, tell your pa everything's gonna be all right
Can't you feel it? Don't ignore it
Gonna be alright
Revolution rock
Get that cheese-grater going, against the grain
Wearing me down
Pressure increaase
(Everybody!) Everybody smash up your seats and rock to this
Brand new beat
This here music mash up nations
This here music cause a sensation
Tell your mama, forgive your papa, everything's gonna be all right
Can't you feel it? Don't ignore it
Gonna be alright
Revolution rock
To the cruelest mobsters in Kingstown
With the hardest eyes and the cruelest tongue
Is your heart so made of rock
That the blood must run 'round the block?
Are you listening mobsters? Hey!
All people grow old, gotta die
While those kinda fools go rolling by
It's food for thought, mobsters
Young people shoot their days away
I've seen talent thrown away
All you loan sharks!
The organ plays
And they're dancing to the brand new beat
This here music mash up nation
This here music cause a sensation
Tell your ma-ma-ma-ma, tell your pa-pa-pa-pa everything's gonna be all right
Can't you feel it? Don't ignore it
Everything's gonna be alright
I say, revolution rocks
There's that old cheese grater
Rubbing me down
This must be the way out
Here's the cheap bit
Ooh la ooh la ooh la
Any song you want
Playing requests now on the bandstand
El Clash Combo
Paid fifteen dollars a day
Weddings, parties, anything
And Bongo Jazz a speciality
A bad, bad rock, this here revolution rock
Careful how you move, Mac, you dig me in me back
An' I'm so pilled up that I rattle
I have got the sharpest knife, so I cut the biggest slice
I got no time to do battle, hey
Everybody smash up your seats and rock to this
Brand new beat
This here music mash up the nation
This here music cause a sensation
Tell your ma, tell your pa everything's gonna be all right
Can't you feel it? Don't ignore it
Gonna be alright
Revolution rock, I am in a state of shock
So bad, bad rock, this here revolution rock
Careful how you slide, Clyde, all you did was glide
You poured your beer in me hat
Keep my good eye on the beat, living on fixation street
I ain't got no time for that, hey
Everybody smash up your seats and rock to this
Brand new beat
This here music mash up the nation
This here music cause a sensation
Tell your mama, tell your pa everything's gonna be all right
Can't you feel it? Don't ignore it
Gonna be alright
Revolution rock
Get that cheese-grater going, against the grain
Wearing me down
Pressure increaase
(Everybody!) Everybody smash up your seats and rock to this
Brand new beat
This here music mash up nations
This here music cause a sensation
Tell your mama, forgive your papa, everything's gonna be all right
Can't you feel it? Don't ignore it
Gonna be alright
Revolution rock
To the cruelest mobsters in Kingstown
With the hardest eyes and the cruelest tongue
Is your heart so made of rock
That the blood must run 'round the block?
Are you listening mobsters? Hey!
All people grow old, gotta die
While those kinda fools go rolling by
It's food for thought, mobsters
Young people shoot their days away
I've seen talent thrown away
All you loan sharks!
The organ plays
And they're dancing to the brand new beat
This here music mash up nation
This here music cause a sensation
Tell your ma-ma-ma-ma, tell your pa-pa-pa-pa everything's gonna be all right
Can't you feel it? Don't ignore it
Everything's gonna be alright
I say, revolution rocks
There's that old cheese grater
Rubbing me down
This must be the way out
Here's the cheap bit
Ooh la ooh la ooh la
Any song you want
Playing requests now on the bandstand
El Clash Combo
Paid fifteen dollars a day
Weddings, parties, anything
And Bongo Jazz a speciality
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Just A Little Lovin'
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
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Amazing
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May I draw attention to the fact that this song was not actually written by The Clash, but by a little-known reggae singer called Danny Ray, who rather confusingly shares his name with the sax player. Joe Strummer did change some of the lyrics- "Get up from your seat" was changed to "Smash up your seat", and so on. The lyrical improvisation at the end was added by Strummer too.
I think this song talks about letting music in general (but particularly this song) take over shit that goes on in your life instead of being like "Clyde", and also when Joe sings out "I've seen people shoot their days away, I've seen talent thrown away" (even though it's not listed in the above lyrics, he says it toward the end of the song), that really speaks to me. I'd write more but I have to pee.
you gotta check the cover of los fabulosos cadillacs, is so cool and fun
the organ in this song gives me goosebumps....my favorite clash tune.
Agreed, love the organ. When it's silent at first, then Joe shouts and it kicks in for full, magic! And yeah, it's one my favourites as well. It's so bouncy and optimistic, it never fails to cheer me up.
What a whopper of a song – trumpets, ska beat, organ and the atmosphere that only Bono could describe as “the greatest band that ever lived” – my favourite Clash song – a song that will always make you boogie and cheer ya up
My favourite parts are the miscellaneous lyrics that Joe sings near the end, likie
“Organ play!” "I've seen people shoot their days away, I've seen talent thrown away" “This must be the way out”
and my favourite - “Cheesegrater!”
RIP Joe
its about how conservatives were afraid of punk music. It adresses that all punk rockers are druged up crazies who are dangerous to society.
which they werent. I guess i wasnt really clear abot that. They just wanted change, and conservatives are afraid of change.
The first verse of this is referring to "Mack the Knife," which I believe was made famous by Bobby Darin. See Wikipedia
Get that cheese grater going... against the grain.
It's food for thought mobsters.