About The Song
“The Clash – London Calling” is a song and the title track of the third studio album by the English rock band The Clash. The album was originally released as a double album in the United Kingdom on December 14, 1979, by CBS Records and in the United States in January 1980 by Epic Records. The song was released as a single from the album and features the band’s post-punk sound, electric guitar, and vocals. It is an apocalyptic, politically charged rant that reflects the band’s growing interest in styles beyond their punk roots, including reggae, rockabilly, ska, New Orleans R&B, pop, lounge jazz, and hard rock. The lyrics of the song describe the state of the world at the time, with references to war, unemployment, and drug use. The song has been remastered and re-released several times, including a remastered version in 2013.
Video
Lyrics
London calling to the faraway towns
Now war is declared, and battle come down
London calling to the underworld
Come out of the cupboard, you boys and girls
London calling, now don’t look to us
Phoney Beatlemania has bitten the dust
London calling, see we ain’t got no swing
Except for the ring of that truncheon thing
The ice age is coming, the sun’s zooming in
Meltdown expected, the wheat is growing thin
Engines stop running, but I have no fear
‘Cause London is drowning, and I live by the river
London calling to the imitation zone
Forget it brother, you can go it alone
London calling to the zombies of death
Quit holding out, and draw another breath
London calling, and I don’t wanna shout
But while we were talking, I saw you nodding out
London calling, see we ain’t got no high
Except for that one with the yellowy eyes
The ice age is coming, the sun’s zooming in
Engines stop running, the wheat is growing thin
A nuclear error, but I have no fear
‘Cause London is drowning, and I live by the river
The ice age is coming, the sun’s zooming in
Engines stop running, the wheat is growing thin
A nuclear error, but I have no fear
‘Cause London is drowning, and I live by the river
Now get this…
London calling, yes, I was there too
And you know what they said? Well, some of it was true!
London calling at the top of the dial
And after all this, won’t you give me a smile?
London calling…
I never felt so much alike alike alike alike…