I hear a gang fire on a human factory farm
Are they howling out or doing somebody harm
On a catwalk jungle somebody grabbed my arm
A voice spoke so cold it matched the weapon in her palm

This is England
This knife of Sheffield steel
This is England
This is how we feel

Time on his hands freezing in those clothes
He won't go for the carrot
They beat him by the pole
Some sunny day confronted by his soul
He's out at sea, too far off, he can't go home

This is England
What we're supposed to die for
This is England
And we're never gonna cry no more

Black shadow of the Vincent
Falls on a Triumph line
I got my motorcycle jacket
But I'm walking all the time
South Atlantic wind blows
Ice from a dying creed
I see no glory
When will we be free

This is England
We can chain you to the rail
This is England
We can kill you in a jail

The British boots go kick them
Got 'em in the head
Police ain't watchin'
The newspapers been read
Who cares to protest
A (???) in the eye like a flare
Out came the batons and
The British warned themselves

This is England
The land of (il)legal dances
This is England
Land of a thousand stances
This is England
This knife of Sheffield steel
This is England
This is how we feel
This is England
This is England


Lyrics submitted by aebassist, edited by Trumbles, Pekz0r

This Is England Lyrics as written by Joe Strummer Bernard Rhodes

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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This Is England song meanings
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15 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    The lyrics still aren't correct.

    Verse 1, Line 1: I hear a gang fight on a human factory farm

    Verse 2: Time on his hands the freezing mohawk strolls He won't go for the carrot, been beaten by the pole Some sunny day, confronted by his soul His eyes will see how fast you can grow old

    Verse 4: Hey, British boots go kick Bengali in the head Police sit watchin', the newspaper's being read All deaf to protest and after the attacker fled Out came the batons and the biggest one then said,

    "This is England" Land of illegal dances This is England Land of one thousand stances This is England This knife of Sheffield steel This is England This is how we feel

    This is England This is England

    JimmyCarlBlackon April 16, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This is probably the best song on Cut the Crap and the last Great Clash Song before the band broke.

    iamrickenforton November 10, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    How do you change the lyrics? these are completely wrong - it should be "Big British boots go kick Bengali in the head, police sit watching, the newspapers being read". It's a reference to the anti-Asian racism that was prevalent in Britain in the late 1970s, and the rise of the National Front. The Police were often seen as being racist and not doing enough about fascist/racist groups.

    Indiemonkeyon March 14, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    A great song, that enlivens you, making you hungry for change.

    Very political, like virtually all of Clash's tracks.

    BoHoon May 20, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Yeah for sure the best on Cut the Crap. I love the atmosphere of the song, all eerie and stuff. Great shit.

    Bigson October 29, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "Land of illegal dances is definately a reference to capoiera a martial art that looks like breakdancing that was illegal from like 1700 tothe 70s can anyone explain "black shadow of the vincent etc..." plz pst me

    Punker_Kenon February 10, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The Vincent Black Shadow was a popular British racing motorcycle, and Triumph is a British motorcycle manufacturer.

    saphiyagoon May 16, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Excellent Song; sums up Britain at that time in one. However, these lyrics are wrong; like indiemonkey said it should read "British boots go kick Bengali in the head"

    Harley-01on February 06, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    My favourite Clash song. Too bad that there's mistakes such as "A (???) in the eye like a flare"

    Thegreatgodon December 19, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I wrote "my favourite Clash song". I think that's incorrect. It's my favourite song, period.

    Thegreatgodon April 23, 2009   Link

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