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The title “London Calling” alludes to the BBC World Service’s station identification: “This is London calling …”, which was used during World War II, often in broadcasts to occupied countries.
Lyrically the song reflects the concern felt by Strummer about world events with the line about “a nuclear...
[Verse 1]
London calling to the faraway towns
Now war is declared, and battle come down
London calling to the underworld
Come outta the cupboard, ya boys and girls
London calling, now don't look to us
Phony Beatlemania has bitten the dust
London calling, see we ain't got no swing
Except for the ring of that truncheon thing
[Chorus]
The ice age is coming, the sun's zoomin' in
Meltdown expected, the wheat is growin' thin
Engines stop running, but I have no fear
'Cause London is drownin', and I live by the river
[Verse 2]
(London calling) to the imitation zone
Forget it, brother, you can go it alone
London calling to the zombies of death
Quit holdin' out and draw another breath
London calling, and I don't wanna shout
But while we were talking, I saw you noddin' out
London calling, see we ain't got no Hyde
'Cept for that one with the yellowy eyes
[Chorus]
The ice age is coming, the sun's zoomin' in
Engines stop running, the wheat is growin' thin
A nuclear error, but I have no fear
'Cause London is drowning, and I, I live by the river
[Instrumental Interlude]
[Chorus]
The ice age is coming, the sun's zoomin' in
Engines stop running, the wheat is growin' thin
A nuclear error, but I have no fear
'Cause London is drowning, an' I, I live by the river
[Bridge]
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Now get this
[Verse 3]
(London calling) Yes, I was there, too
And ya 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)
[Outro]
I never felt so much alike, alike, alike
London Calling was written by Mick Jones & Joe Strummer.
London Calling was produced by Guy Stevens.
The Clash released London Calling on Fri Dec 07 1979.
Joe Strummer explained in 1988 to Melody Maker: “I read about ten news reports in one day calling down all variety of plagues on us.”
The initial inspiration came in a conversation Strummer had with his then-fiancee Gaby Salter in a taxi ride home to their flat in World’s End. “There was a lot of C...