Yesterday was the 30th anniversary of the Clash’s epic London Calling in the United States. While I personally did not discover them until two years later, it was stunning to see 30 years had passed. My four favorite songs on this album were London’s Calling, Clampdown, Train In Vain, and Lost in the Supermarket.
A few years later when I use to stock shelves at the 7-Eleven on Laurel Street, I use to sing this song as I watched the crack heads wander up and down the aisles.
(More info on the album located on the wiki)
TweetLondon 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
‘Cept for the ring of that truncheon thingCHORUS
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 riverLondon calling to the imitation zone
Forget it, brother, you can go at 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 eyesCHORUS x2
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, I live by the riverNow get this
London calling, yes, I was there, too
An’ 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 CallingI never felt so much alike, like-a, like-a…
