The Clash - Clampdown

Title: Clampdown (track 09)

Artist: The Clash
Album: London Calling
Year: 1979
Label: CBS, Epic, Legacy
Writer(s): Joe Strummer, Mick Jones

Lyrics:

The kingdom is ransacked, the jewels all taken back
And the chopper descends
They're hidden in the back, with a message on a half-baked tape
With the spool going round, saying I'm back here in this place
And I could cry
And there's smoke you could click on
What are we going to do now?

Taking off his turban, they said, is this man a Jew?
'Cause working for the clampdown
They put up a poster saying we earn more than you!
When we're working for the clampdown

We will teach our twisted speech
To the young believers
We will train our blue-eyed men
To be young believers

The judge said five to ten but I say double that again
I'm not working for the clampdown
No man born with a living soul
Can be working for the clampdown

Kick over the wall 'cause government's to fall
How can you refuse it?
Let fury have the hour, anger can be power
Do you know that you can use it?

The voices in your head are calling
Stop wasting your time, there's nothing coming
Only a fool would think someone could save you

The men at the factory are old and cunning
You don't owe nothing, so boy, get running
It's the best years of your life they want to steal

You grow up and you calm down
And you're working for the clampdown
You start wearing the blue and brown
And you're working for the clampdown

So you got someone to boss around
It makes you feel big now
You drift until you brutalize
You made your first kill now

In these days of evil presidentes
Working for the clampdown
But lately one or two has fully paid their due
For working for the clampdown

Ha, get along, get along
Working for the clampdown
Ha, get along, get along
Working for the clampdown

Yeah, I'm working hard in Harrisburg
Working hard in Petersburg
Working for the clampdown
Working for the clampdown

Begging to be melted down
Work, work, work
And I give away no secrets
Work, more work, more work

Category:

Music

Tags:

• the
• clash
• london
• calling
• track
• 09
• nine
• clampdown
• clamp-down
• clamp
• down
• punk
• reggae
• ska
• rock
• cbs
• epic
• legacy
• records
• 1979
• '79
• 79

[iwantcompletecontrol]

I think this song is about resisting any and all oppressive forces, whether it's your dead-end job (a product of the capitalist society), the government and its war machine, the police, or even racism. There are certainly references to each of these things in this song, and the Clash proved throughout their career that they stood with people who never got a fair shake at life - immigrants, the poor, the working class, minorities, etc. This song is the Clash's philosophy in a nutshell.

[MarlboroShinobi]

I DONT CARE HOW OLD YOU ARE WHEN YOU DID WHAT. NO ONE CARES.

[DRwhofan9100]

I just punkgasmed

[iwantcompletecontrol]

@IggyandtheStardust My favorite Clash song changes on a daily basis, so I don't think I'd be able to call one song or another their "best," let alone "by far"! lol

[lyonslaforet]

I listened to this song again today with great pleasure!

[Iareorgasm]

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK­KKKKKKKKKK I LOVE THIS BAND :O

[IggyandtheStardust]

By far the Clash's best song. Amazing song, from an amazing album.

[RockNEHouseNHipHop]

This reminds me of several 80s songs, except a million times better!

[iwantcompletecontrol]

@imperialwatercloset Joe Strummer saying "who's barmy now?" lol

[dfbhcf]

Just 85,000 views? C'mon, this song's a classic!

[imperialwatercloset]

anyone hear the goofy little voice at 3:45?

[quorumangelorum]

@AbbeyRoadkill1 : That's right, because ... the sharif don't like it!