The Clash
The Clash
The Clash
The Clash
The Clash
The Clash
The Clash
The Clash
The Clash
The Clash
The Clash
The Clash
The Clash
The Clash
“Police and Thieves” was the Clash’s first exploration of genres outside of punk. Originally a reggae song by Junior Murvin, the song has a very loose feel and has heavy emphasis on bass, something uncommon on the Clash’s self-titled album.
[Intro]
They're going through a tight wind
[Chorus]
Police and thieves in the street (Oh yeah)
Scarin' the nation with their guns and ammunition
Police and thieves in the streets (Oh yeah)
Fightin' the nation with their guns and ammunition
From genesis to revelation
The next generation will be, hear me
From genesis to revelation
The next generation will be, hear me
[Pre-Chorus]
And all the crowd come in, a-day by day
No one stops it in anyway
All the peacemaker, third world officer
Hear what I say
[Chorus]
Police and thieves in the street (Oh yeah)
Scarin' the nation with their guns and ammunition
Police and thieves in the street (Oh yeah)
Fightin' the nation with their guns and ammunition
From genesis to revelation
The next generation will be, hear me
(Oh yeah)
(Oh yeah)
[Pre-Chorus]
And all the crowd come in, day by day
No one stop it in anyway
All the peacemaker, third world officer
Hear what I say
[Chorus]
Police, police, police and thieves (Oh yeah)
Police, police, police and thieves (Oh yeah)
From genesis (Oh yeah)
Police, police, police, police and thieves, oh yeah
[Bridge]
And I'm scarin', I'm fightin' the nation (Oh yeah)
Shootin', shootin' their guns and, guns and ammunition (Oh yeah)
(Oh yeah)
Police, police, police and thieves (Oh yeah)
I'm scarin'
(Oh yeah)
I'm scarin' the nation, police (Oh yeah)
(Oh yeah)
(Oh yeah)
(Oh yeah)
(Oh yeah)
Here come, here come, here come
The station is bombed (Oh yeah)
Get out, get out, get out, you people
If you don't want to get blown up (Oh yeah)
The police, the police and the thieves (Oh yeah)
You gotta lick the ground
But you are trapped in the middle, punk
[Outro]
Police, police, police, police
Police, police, police, police
Police, police, police, police
Police, police, police, police
Police, police, police, police
Police, police, police, police
Police & Thieves was written by Junior Murvin & Lee “Scratch” Perry.
Police & Thieves was produced by Mickey Foote.