The Clash - Something About England

[TheTeahut]

The words in the song, england never closed the gap. ring even more true now that we have a tory goverment back in power.they have no interest in the lower class and are only interested in looking after the rich.

[wolflover552]

This is our answer to America's "Fuck Yeah" song. :3

[fastacid714]

The memories you've dredged up are a message forwarded from hell. So many great lines in this song. Album. Does any one know if this song was ever played live.

[dvoetberg]

@fastacid714 My exact question that led me to this video. I'd love to see Joe Strummer singing this. But I'm not finding it.

[europeansimon1]

something about Europe:

watch?v=GZ-G0XtsHjE

[MrBradipo73]

inserting the chorus to "it's a long way to tipperary" was a real stroke of genius...

[Hoopermazing]

This song is completely lost on class-aspirant white working class Americans. Those stupid fucks never tire of bending over and taking it up the ass from their rich masters.

[legunncat]

@Hoopermazing You're pomposity is only surpassed by your naïveté.

[Hoopermazing]

@legunncat There is nothing pompous about stating the obvious. I couldn't help but notice that you didn't even try to refute what I said. Working class white Americans (boot-licking lot that they are) consistently vote against their own economic interests in slavish devotion to the Fox-News-endorsed demagogues who play on their prejudices in order to get them to shoot themselves in the foot time and time again. If the consequences weren't so far-reaching, it would be funny.

[legunncat]

@Hoopermazing It's our job to try to lift up those who can't lift for themselves, not kick them back down into the dirt, Hoop.

[sparkynchief]

@Hoopermazing really one of the stupidest things i have ever read in print, that is 40 seconds of my life i will never get back...jesus are you dumb...how do you even draw a breath..

[tom23372]

@Hoopermazing I think you get too much of your information about Americans from television. And then you graft it onto class consciousness. America divides on other lines, I think. Many in the working or middle class, whatever, who have a semblance of a liberal education think Fox News is only suitable for parody. True, though, that too many "working-class" Americans vote against their own economic--and other--interests. Our glory years were post-WWII; our time is passing.

[tom23372]

@tom23372 Oh, and I "get" the song.

[Hoopermazing]

@tom23372 Well, it's fortunate that you don't make your living on your ability to think. The post World War II era was a despicable one in Americas history, wherein the protections ostensibly guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution didn't apply its non-white citizens, even the ones who'd just returned from putting their lives in harms way, in Europe and the South Pacific, whilst defending its interests.

[scheisshead]

@Hoopermazing

im american working class and i agree, we are stupid as hell. seriously. the stereotypes are unserstatements.

[balearicsoundwave89]

@Hoopermazing its a sad fact,you are right,it pisses me off how fucking stupid we are sometimes.the torys rely on it and love it. feed em x factor and shit. they need to wise up to the tory lies ,FAST.

[jimmyb8]

"The memories that you have dredged up are the letters forwarded from Hell"

[stylerz00r]

This song is so powerful, lyrics are perfect, they can fit right in for any country, you know what i mean !

[BenHughesLlangollen]

I don't really care if I forgot to put ED at the end of miss to be honest...

[blackvinylrecords]

@BenHughesLlan it's "I MISSED the 14-18 war but not the sorrow afterwards"" not "I MISS the 14-18 war....".meaning the old man was too young to fight in WWI but experienced the greart depression that followed. Don't mean to patronise, just trying to help!

[Stoptwistingmymelon]

@blackvinylrecords you mean world war 1. world war two was 39-45. (sorry :D)

[blackvinylrecords]

@Stoptwistingmymelon

I said World war 1....WWI...as opposed to WW2...sorry ;-()

[Stoptwistingmymelon]

@blackvinylrecords oh yeah soz, i misread, my mistake. I must remember to take up reading again sometime, i'm getting somewhat rusty ; I

[blackvinylrecords]

@Stoptwistingmymelon

Heh heh....all cool man. Easy mistake to make. Can't let a little thing like that get between brother Clash lovers!

Stay free.

[krmln321]

March for the Alternative 26 March 2011 search it on google. Protest the cuts in Britain!

[IAmSoTight1]

Do you have Ivan Meets G.I. I would really appreciate that. All I see is the live version. I like the studio version much better.

[jkthemod]

ANOTHER stroke of genius (one of several dozen)... probably the greatest band there ever was... When asked about the Clash, David Lee Roth stated that he "didn't like social studies at school, and didn't want it in his rock & roll". We are still waiting on Mr. Roth's "lyrical genius" to rear it's head.

[strummer114]

I dont know what to say we dont need cuts we need to stand up and say give it back youtheeving

[norfolknchance100]

wouldnt it be wine and roses if england was for englishman again

[krmln321]

this should be england's national anthem, with sex pistol's "god save the queen" the anthem of the whole UK.

[bobdylan4evr]

the line "through strikes and famine and war and peace England never closed this gap" always gets me so emotional

[PinkneysDefiant]

What a fucking tune.

[RaptureandZune]

The streets were now deserted

The gangs had trudged off home

The lights clicked out in the bedsits

old England was all alone

sigh.

[topcat148]

love it!

[KalamataCamembert]

Best Clash song in existence. I love singing it with my little sister.

[lj6241]

This is such a great lyrical summary of all the horrors and hardships that happened and were created by World War I and World War II to the soldiers. I love how they use Mick as one character, and Joe as another. Joe's great voice telling the story really makes it feel like he could have been a veteran himself. Best line of the song "the world was busy rebuilding itself; the architects could not care." One of the finest Joe Strummer writings.

[PanzerJimmy]

@lj6241 Yeah, I agree , my favourite line also... cheers! While I was visiting in London I sang this song.

[skreebylooby]

All the photos in the wallets on the battlefields, and now the terror of the scientific sun...

[madradford]

thanks for posting this - incredible song, one of their best imo.

[theoryofsurplusvalue]

well............they are really makin the point that its not war ro race that creates difference but..........class!...........­they were socialists and we should not forget that.....the only war is the class war!!

[Alexm799]

@theoryofsurplusvalue Too right mate!

[ROBB21265]

@theoryofsurplusvalue SOCIALISM DOES'NT WORK! HOW DO YOU JUSTIFY TAKING FROM PEOPLE WHO WORKED HARD TO EARN WHAT THEY EARN AND GIVE IT TO THOSE WHO JUST WANT TO SIT ON THEIR ASSES AND DO NOTHING? NOTHING IS "FREE" IT ALL COSTS MONEY IN THE END, LOOK AT GREECE, SPAIN, ENGLAND, FRANCE AND GERMANY! THE U.S. IS ON THE SAME ROAD UNDER THE OBAMA REGIME AS WELL! TRUMP2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pondhop3]

@ROBB21265 It's only a small percentage of lazy bastards that dont work, every political regime has its ups and downs

[bradford8232]

@ROBB21265 LOL

[jimmyb8]

It is nearly 28 years since the Clash broke up; and they are still "the only band that matters".

[doobiescoo1]

I'm American,..and this song is so moving it gives me the chills. I have loved this band since 1980 when I first heard them.

[doobiescoo1]

@TomUltranova I agree, We are in an endless war with an enemy that can never really be defeated. Strange days are ahead for us all.

[TomUltranova]

Well, this song is particularly resonant for Americans now anyway since it is about the senselessness of war and especially war without end.

[scoopmortix]

nice track!!

[fnslr308]

Saw them Busking at the Faversham Pub near Leeds Uni, early/mid 80's

Rock history.

[TheLittleLegionnaire]

i'm assuming that would be that "final tour" in 1985?

[thechemist206]

favorite cut on the album.

i like how it slowly builds itself into a foot tapping frenzy.

[fnslr308]

Seem to recall we had this at college when Falklands kicked off.

The Argie lad in our flat got nervy - neednt have.

We were more worried having done Parachute Training and Target work

[Khultan]

I didn't really discover the clash until some time around 1995 through The Punk Rock Movie. Joe takes on the 'old man' role.

[BenHughesLlan]

"i miss the fourteen eighteen war, but not the sorrow afterwards" i dunno why but i love that line

[Natemzz12]

yeah its awesome, especially when joe strummer joins in in the first verse

[funk67]

I know exactly what you mean..

[Spraycando]

@BenHughesLlan "I missed the 14-18 war"

[Spraycando]

@BenHughesLlan "I missed the 14-18 war"

[Alexm799]

@BenHughesLlan Yeah its an amazing line.

[maddog167]

@BenHughesLlan

I believe it's "I missed...." rather than "I miss...", which gives it rather a different meaning. In other words, it means he was born after the First World War, not that he's nostalgic about it.

[BertieBassett]

@BenHughesLlan Technically it is "I missed". But you have good taste.

[Wallstreetbul]

The architects could not care:))

[55belinda]

Yes! Prob my favorite Clash song, since I am so familiar with their work, I have heard the more popular ones 100s of times THX for posting it. I like how Mick and Joe trade off the vocals.

[tooktuctuc]

Fucking one hell of a song. this is what is all about . Disagree? Then fuck you. Simple as.

[skez67]

Great post my fave track off this album and I agree with you one hell of a song. Still havent learnt have we tho. RIP Joe and Thank you to The Clash

[55belinda]

LOL!

[presch34]

love this song, overlooked along with the cd but a great album

[travellingrebel]

@presch34 So much great stuff from punk bands was overlooked. Like many Clash songs this makes you think

[mthai66]

@presch34 IIRC it was a record.

[eightycargo100]

pretty cool !

[giantplanet]

Fuckin great post,nuff said