And after all this, won't you give me a smile?

I was thinking that with all the new music available to consume us, you sometimes have to go back to the classics. The Clash is in my opinion, one of the best. I know it's cliche to say that and it's even more cliche to say that their single "London Calling" is one of the best songs you'll hear, but...it's true. London Calling, their third studio release, is the album you want to have. (I mean, can you think of an original album cover that's been immitated so many times? Or was it Elvis Presley who did it first?) The title track is an anthem, fitful militant beat and all. The album and it's single was released at the very edge of the 1970's - December, 1979. What The Clash invented was a genre of music that was the hub of British punk rock and teetering on rockabillly. They tightened Punk Rock and made it sophisticated. Joe Strummer and Mick Jones are two very different artistic characters. They way in which the two of envisaged their music, the pull and push of creative processes, reflecting the rebellious times they were embroiled in. As a band, The Clash is about musical dichotomy and what is unpretictable in music.



London 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 reign of that truncheon thing

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 river

London 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 eyes

The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in
Engines stop running, the wheat is growing thin
A nuclear era, but I have no fear
Cause London is drowning and I, I live by the river

Now 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 Calling

I never felt so much alike, like-a, like-a...