A few years ago I was on the train platform going to Harvard Square and a busker was doinbg this and a bunch of other Clash songs it made my day

"Let me tell you 'bout your blood, bamboo kid. It ain't Coca-Cola, it's rice. Straight to hell boy." One of the coldest and most devastating lines ever written.

I am so glad I was a teen in the 80's and was able to live through the generation of the best music.

From Wikipedia: Like many songs by the Clash, the lyrics of "Straight to Hell" decry injustice. The first verse refers to the shutting down of steel mills in Northern England and unemployment spanning generations, it also considers the alienation of non-English speaking immigrants in British society. The second verse concerns the abandonment of children in Vietnam who were fathered by American soldiers during the Vietnam War. The phrase "Amerasian Blues" is used, referring to an Amerasian child with an absent American father, "papa-san". The child has a photograph of his parents, and is pleading with his father to take him home to America. The child's plea is rejected. "-San" is a Japanese rather than Vietnamese honorific, but it was used by US troops in Vietnam who referred to Vietnamese men and women, especially older men and women, as "mama-san" or "papa-san".[citation needed] When Strummer sings of a "Volatile Molotov" thrown at Puerto Rican immigrants in Alphabet City as a message to encourage them to leave, he is referring to the arson that claimed buildings occupied by immigrant communities - notably Puerto Rican - before the area was subject to gentrification.

@karlschneider9479

15 сағат бұрын

Joe Strummer was my songwriting idol! I took direct inspiration from the Clash on a few of my own songs for my old group the Allstonians we were a ska/reggae band. Listen to Riverside and Allston, Mass. I wrote about what I saw around me at the moment!

@danielgriffith8911

33 минут бұрын

didnt need Wiki to understand this in the '80s

@danielgriffith8911

30 минут бұрын

well, tell the whole story... they werent graping these women in vietnam.. they were prostitutes.

I still have my original which I purchased with my allowance when it hit the shelves. I was nine years old. Really intense track. It never ever wears itself out on me, even after 41 years.

great analysis.

In case of doubt, ask yourself: What Would Joe Strummer Do?

Epic song, epic band! 🔥🔥🔥

I would put in a vote for "Lost in the Supermarket". It is an indictment of commercialism and the sense of hopelessness that permeated England at that time with sky high inflation and record unemployment at the time.

Lucky enough to have seen them perform this live in 1982

This song is actually about all the children fathered by American soldiers during the Vietnam War. These unwanted children became outcasts and were horribly abused.

@kdphotos4691

5 ай бұрын

That's part of it. It's also a commentary on the state of Britain during the time. The first verse refers to that.

@Delilah70

5 ай бұрын

@@kdphotos4691 oh I see. I never heard that "If you could play a fiddle, how's about a British Jig and Reel... "

@kdphotos4691

5 ай бұрын

@@Delilah70 - He goes on to describe the steel mills closing and mass unemployment. It was a bleak time in Britain.

@Delilah70

5 ай бұрын

@@kdphotos4691 yes, I see. I didn't get the connection between Viet Nam and "as railhead towns feel the steel mills rust". Thanks for clarifying this for me. Interesting connection between the 2 subjects.

Joe strummer is a english version of a really cool bob marley vibe I love them both rest in peace

@karlschneider9479

15 сағат бұрын

Hence why Strummer and Johnny Cash did Redemption Song. But as you know the Clash were hugely influenced by reggae.

I firmly believe this is the last GREAT Clash song

@1889jonny

Жыл бұрын

Agree, two weeks after recording this, they sacked Topper Heading on the drums, it was all down hill from there.

@karlschneider9479

15 сағат бұрын

Topper's heroin addiction caused him to be sacked.

Thank you for playing one of my life's most influential songs. I have beautiful mixed Asian daughters, the absolute joy of my life

MIA sampled this for her hit Paper Planes. I think she did a good job of not just lifting a sample, and giving that great groove new life,. RIP Joe For recommendations, there are too many. For fun rockabilly, the fast and furious cover of Vince Taylor's "Brand New Cadillac" or the infectious upbeat Ska of The Maytals' "Pressure Drop" shows how much love they have for their roots. They did so many covers, unashamedly. Their soundcheck song, which became their theme, is the instrumental "Gates of The West" by Booker T and the MGs. I also recommend "Ghetto Defendant" which has poetry read by William S. Burroughs.

@roguescoop

13 күн бұрын

No, she bastardized and insulted the spirit of the song. She sought the main riff as a means to a hit a $. The Clash were never about money. MIA can go F_ herself,

The song "Paper Planes" IA just one song that samples this song. Straight to Hell partially inspired by the film "Apocalypse Now". Same as Charlie Don't Surf.

My man likes the song so I subscribe. Easy. Lyrically sombre, musically upbeat and full of rhythm, infact not full of rhythm, only rhythm - with some alienating sounds in the mix. One of the best. I remember listening to his at like 8, feeling sad, wishing they could get coke or go home. Or whatver they wanted.

Loved both punk and New Wave music from those times!

@PhiliminizzyReacts

4 ай бұрын

The best!

@DJBilodeau

4 ай бұрын

@@PhiliminizzyReacts definitely a band that made an impression upon me back in the day!

Close to being my fave Clash Track - the whole Combat Rock Album should be played loud and is essential listening

@Delilah70

5 ай бұрын

Starting with, "this is a public service announcement... with guitaaaaaars"

This album was one of the very few good things about my adolescence.

Love the Clash! Did not see this on my list, but glad I did! Awesome band!

@PhiliminizzyReacts

4 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

My favorite song by one of my favorite bands of all time. I think you’re the first to do a reaction to it. Great stuff man!

You need to listen to Bank Robber by the Clash if you enjoy the reggae vibe..it was one of their biggest hit too !!!

I think I said this before but You Should Definitely React To The Clash More, And They Have A Large variety of songs in different genres, If You Want Punk Rock Songs Listen To Songs Like White Riot,Londons Burning,Tommy Gun,Clampdown And Janie Jones, If You Want Punk Rock Mixed With Rap And Funk Listen To Songs Like The Magnificent Seven And Lightning Strikes If You Want Want A Gospel Song Listen To The Sound Of Sinners, If You Want Punk Mixed With Reggae Listen to Police And Theives,Guns Of Brixton And Revolution Rock And Their Are Three Singers In The Band,Most Of The Time It’s Joe Strummer(Who Was Singing London Calling) Sometimes Mick Jones The Lead Guitarist Sings Lead Vocals And So Does Paul Simonon Their Bassist Sings Rarely, Overall Think You’ll Enjoy The Clash

It’s in reference to 2 movies about Vietnam. The Deer Hunter and The Green Berets

great line master

That's a great tune. Loved the Clash around late seventies early eighties.

The song was also about American soldiers who got Vietnamese women pregnant during the war, then abandoned the children when they left. The children were also shunned in Vietnam.

@ssurfs9900

28 күн бұрын

They weren't abandoned by the fathers...The US Gov't wouldn't allow the mother and child to come back with the father to America...

Check out 'Guns of Brixton' if you haven't already!

Lol I heard MIA Paper planes first and was so confused lol

It's a beautiful mesmerising song and Joe is so sincere and speaks / sings in such a heart felt manner. The whole band is such an organic whole and to my ears simply Breathtaking. Love your take on it Philiminizzy!!!

They said this song was about the plight of the Amerasian children, left behind by American soldiers.

Very tragic for the American children left behind after the Vietnam War. There were GIs that could not take their children home and had to leave behind loved children that were subject to abuse because they were not of pure Asian blood. It's always the smallest and most vulnerable of us that bear the burden of history. t

@kdphotos4691

5 ай бұрын

Most didn't want to bring them to America. They were GIs sleeping around and then bailing when it was time to go back to the states. The lyrics are an indictment of that behaviour from the American GIs. They still do it all over the world.

I believe this song is about the Viet Nam war.

@unwavery

Жыл бұрын

Yes, but not only that. The Viet children of American rape make a strong presence in the second verse, but it is even bigger. A true anthem.

It ain't coca cola it's rice

The whole album failed, but it is fantastic]

Now listen to M.I.A. 's song Paper Planes.... notice anything similar ?

@user-ve9nk7rn4b

Жыл бұрын

from Slumdog Millionaire methinks

@Alejandro_Gaga

11 ай бұрын

It's called sampling

the clash =great band , legend band , but the first step= ramones

Asian beat and tempo. Not reggae or ska. This is about Vietnam.

ramones chasing night urgent , the clash only exist because ramones go to england

@terrycunningham8118

10 ай бұрын

Who cares? Arguing who was first is the least punk thing I can think of.

Bob marley loved the clash so much he wrote a song about um when he partied wiv them its called punky reggae party 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️

Topper Headon, the drummer recorded all of the music for this by himself.

@mrforbes36

10 ай бұрын

No he didn't, that was Rock The Casbah all though Mick done the guitar work on that

Combat Rock album wasnt Punk rock , Straight to hell certainly wasnt.