A History lesson? 🤣🤣 this is Joe Strummer practicing the spanish words he learned on vacation in Granada... for a spanish listener like myself these lyrics were always nonsensically amusing. He's telling NOTHING In any case, a fantastic odd song
@@JulioLeonFandinho As a young English man when I first heard the song, I knew nothing about Mockingbird Hill, the unaligned, Lorca and other things mentioned in the lyrics. "History lesson" may be an exaggeration but I certainly learned new things as result of the song.
@penderyn8794 The lyrics are random expressions in bad spanish mixed with references to the civil war, or what Joe Strummer thought it was the spanish civil war, for instance, saying Guardia Civil it has nothing to do with that, the Guardia Civil is a police force and nothing more. At some point Strummer says Costa Rica and in another verse mandolina. Costa Rica is an american country and a mandolina is a musical instrument invented in Italy. The whole song is romantizicing in a way the civil war, which it was easy to do for Joe Strummer, because his uncles, aunts, cousins or grandparents weren't killing themselves to each other. It's just a frivolous, humorous little song, in the hypothesis that it was written seriously we should conclude that Joe Strummer was a dumb moron, or very ignorant. But I don't think that's the case
I remember listening to it for the first time and, like: “There’s no filler at all for the whole length of the four sides! How come this be, not even a B grade song?” Still amazes me as most consistent album
In the Spanish Civil War, the Black flag was the Anarchists and the Red flag was the Communists. They were allies fighting Franco's fascists (who won!). George Orwell wrote a book about his Spanish Civil War experiences in Homage to Catalonia.
Finally! I have been trying for three years to get my favorite music reactors to cover this song. I love the way the Clash uses their lyrics to paint a vivid scene. I can see a music video that they may have made rolling in my mind. I love the little trill that seems like a part of a flamenco dance. I can see a trilling woman twisting rhythmically in the song. I can see the foreign volunteers and the black cars rushing to battle. Pablo Picasso’s “Guerica” in the background. Great song and you alway to an amazing job bring out your feelings, too.
Hi, I am sure others have already elaborated on the lyrics, but, just in case: this song is about the first bout between Left Wing and Right Wing in Europe, it was basically the prelude of WWII. A little Background: after the Industrial Revolution, labor movements had organized themselves and were pursuing Socialist ideals of freedom, justice, and social equality. That prompted rich Capitalists and the Church to become radicalized and support/finance Fascist groups all over Europe in order to keep Socialists Movements at bay. Fascist paramilitary groups started terrorizing the general population with acts of extreme violence and repression. As an answer to that, the Left became radicalized and Communist Groups started developing all over Europe in order to defend the people from Fascist violence. The Right Wing won the first Battle, the Spanish Civil War (1936 to 1939), that is, since the Left still lacked organization and means. Hitler and Mussolini (Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy) supported, armed, and financed Spanish Dictator Francisco Franco; whereas the Left Wing could only benefit from volunteers coming from all over the world, who, although well meaning, were not organized in a real army. They were intellectuals, poets, painters, teachers, writers, etc. who did not have the military might Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy had. The Soviet Union was the only Country that seemed to know the danger of Fascism (it was also the only country not to sign the treaty that gave Czechoslovakia to Nazi Germany): Western "Democracies" including UK; France, and USA, did not lift a finger, just stood and watched while a genocide was being perpetrated against Spanish Freedom Fighters. Joe Strummer, who had been educated about Social Issues by his Spanish Girlfriend (Palmolive of the Punk Rock Band "The Slits", AKA Paloma Romero) ponders about the Spanish Civil War while on a flight to Spain.
I idolized the Clash and still do. When I was a teenager my bedroom walls were covered with Clash pics, posters, articles anything Clash related! I even tried to copy the Mick Jones look!
Sandinista was my first Clash album. And probably for that it's still my favorite. When JP listen he'll ask: Is this the same band? So rich, so diverse, so good! (kind of their White Album)
Hah! I heard this song play only last night, at a Vinyl event at the local pub! 😄 And it had kept popping into my head throughout the day today, too! 😀 Another highlight was 'Annie, I'm Not Your Daddy', by Kid Creole & the Coconuts 😁
Yes, classic track - historic and historical. So smooth and intelligent. And good reaction. And I have to find someplace to add this - ooohh, should I? This may not be popular. About 3 tracks a day: I actually try to watch ALL of your reactions, and I comment a good bit. And bumping it up to 3 pretty well assures me of something I will love every day. But it also stretches my available time for this. For 1 month, ok - but more than that and I'll be missing a bunch, which I would hate, because our taste is so similar, and you're the best, most intelligent, likable, and fun reacter on YT imo, at least for me. But I do hope you get the algorithm boost from it, you deserve that.
One of my favorite Clash tracks, doing everything that the Clash does best. Poignant lyrics commenting on history and politics and powerful music that takes you along for the ride. I also love how they move between the English and the Spanish and bring out true emotions. Well done.
Justin did side 1 a year or two ago when he was exploring punk. I thought the silence was because the SOUND of this album is not really punk. The attitude of the Clash was of course always punk.
JP… you always come through. In a sea of people “reacting” to only the biggest hits from artist you always end up with good choices. This is one of my favorite songs, so much so I have a tattoo inspired by this song. I love the great music but even more so the great lyrics. Awesome job man!
The Spanish Civil War was unique in many ways - the socialist forces (who lost the war to Franco's fascists) were bolstered by free-thinkers from across Europe - artists, poets, and writers - who feared the rise of fascism in Europe which would soon lead to Hitler's march into Poland. Among them were many famous names from the arts, from George Orwell to Ernest Hemingway to Federico Lorca (whose death is mentioned in the song).
The narrator is vacationing in Spain while reminiscing on that dreadful harbinger of WWII, the Spanish Civil War. There were many sides to the war. Monarchists, fascists, communists, far right Christians and the anarchists. The Spanish Civil War introduced many of the worst aspects of WWII including deliberate bombing of helpless civilian targets and mass extermination (the anarchists were hit the worst with the adults exterminated and the children adopted out to other families). The fascists won (with the backing of Hitler's Germany). The communists were backing by Stalin's U.S.S.R.. International brigades fought on various sides (including, oddly enough, one from Canada). It's a great song with heavy doses of irony. One of my favourites off the album.
Thanks for continuing with the songs from the album, London Calling! Fyi, Federico Garcia Lorca was one of the greatest poets (and playwrights) of the 20th Century. My Spanish is weak, so I know his work mostly from English translations. He was not a supporter of the fascists, and was gay. Both likely led to his murder by Franco's forces during the Spanish Civil War. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federico_García_Lorca
"On Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, London Calling ranked eighth in the 2003 and 2012 editions, and sixteenth in the 2020 edition" (Wiki) .. and for good reason.
Rivals Bollocks in my opinion . Working for the clampdown is my fav , after the title track obviously . It’s a “ no filler “ album . Every track on it is important and be honest you can’t say that about many albums before or since ! 👍🏴
Agree This album, Never Mind the Bollocks and for me X Ray Spex Germ Free Adolescents are the trinity of originality , pioneering albums for the Punk Generation.
The Mighty debut by Doll By Doll "Remember " and the cough , sophomore(?) doh , follow up...."Gypsy Blood" are essentiaL Listens One Day Justin. This? Oh it's a Pretenders B side innit?
Joe Strummer hid a love song inside a song about the Spanish Civil War because punks couldn't do love songs! 😂 In addition to the song being an ode to political revolutionaries, it is also Joe's declaration of undying love for his ex-, Palmolive, a founding member of the Slits. She was Spanish, from near Andalusia.
You're right the song has a very upbeat and romantic vibe for such dark lyrics. That's probably because the band leaned left so the idea of a bunch of leftist standing up to fight Fascists was very appealing to them.
The Clash’s politics were to the left which was always fine with me. The references to the past here is to the Spanish Civil War which was a prelude to World War II. Circa 1936 both Hitler and Mussolini helped Francisco Franco overthrow an elected government and create a dictatorship that went on into the 1970’s.
Kia Ora Hello JP brother how are you doing?.. I'm sitting here in the hills of the kiapara Aotearoa New Zealand watching you and on the wall in front of me posters of Joe Strummer Johnny Cash Joey Ramone standing next to Lemmy and The Ramones My Son sitting next to me 17 years old Strummer Clash palace (palace our surname)
I think it's needed some explanation of the lyrics from the point of view of a spaniard, because there are quite misleading and funny comments of people believing that Strummer is making any sense here... he's not. You don't have any idea of how ridiculous (and entertaining) these lyrics sound for a spanish listener 🤣 This is practically a joke, if you want to listen to some true punk band singing in spanish you listen to La Banda Trapera del Río or Eskorbuto, not Joe Strummer mispronunciating Federico García Lorca, Guardia Civil or "yo te quiero infinito" which by the way is grammatically terrible in spanish
@@burmajones803 The difference is that this is not a song, but some comments in youtube. And I must say, honestly, that I've seen native english speakers writing worse than me 🤦🤭 But yes, my grammar is not the best... my speaking is crap, though
My favorite Clash album - I've listened to it many times, and never tire of it. Great varieties of song styles, spanning several genres. For six sides of music, the band did a helluva job.
Great song. Musically upbeat but with those dark overtones from the meaningful lyrics. Glad we're back here, it's long overdue, but we're here now :) This deffo would've been worthy of the sort of playing that the far more mediocre 'the wall' is receiving this month.... yeah, i said it, haha.
i'm currently checking out The Thin Ice as I type, on a pristine middle aged CD player and it sounds almost Panto Time. Familiarity Breeds Contempt? The Wall though is just as Artistic as London Calling shirley? I'd venture to say it's really adventurous and Hip for a band like them to adapt their sound around the Concept of insecurity of Rock n Roll Stardom. Disco sampled by Destiny's Child years later. It was Fresh at the Time. Very very Fresh. And Thought Provoking in it's Punk Social Comment.
Didn't enjoy that - The Clash used to be a punk band but, apart from the lyrics (even then, the Spanish Civil War was nearly 40 years before this was recorded) there was no edge to this whatsoever - almost nursery rhyme simplicity. Apart from the excellent first album, I've no idea why they gained such devotion at the time.
Only The Clash could give you a history lesson about the Spanish civil war in a great catchy rock song. Brilliant !
A History lesson? 🤣🤣
this is Joe Strummer practicing the spanish words he learned on vacation in Granada...
for a spanish listener like myself these lyrics were always nonsensically amusing. He's telling NOTHING
In any case, a fantastic odd song
@@JulioLeonFandinho As a young English man when I first heard the song, I knew nothing about Mockingbird Hill, the unaligned, Lorca and other things mentioned in the lyrics. "History lesson" may be an exaggeration but I certainly learned new things as result of the song.
@penderyn8794
The lyrics are random expressions in bad spanish mixed with references to the civil war, or what Joe Strummer thought it was the spanish civil war, for instance, saying Guardia Civil it has nothing to do with that, the Guardia Civil is a police force and nothing more.
At some point Strummer says Costa Rica and in another verse mandolina. Costa Rica is an american country and a mandolina is a musical instrument invented in Italy.
The whole song is romantizicing in a way the civil war, which it was easy to do for Joe Strummer, because his uncles, aunts, cousins or grandparents weren't killing themselves to each other.
It's just a frivolous, humorous little song, in the hypothesis that it was written seriously we should conclude that Joe Strummer was a dumb moron, or very ignorant. But I don't think that's the case
Manic Street preachers, if you tolerate this then your children will be next.
@JulioLeonFandinho I think you should read the lyrics because those ones you have recited are inaccurate at no point does Strummer say Costa Rica.
The great thing about this album is that every song is this good.
I remember listening to it for the first time and, like: “There’s no filler at all for the whole length of the four sides! How come this be, not even a B grade song?” Still amazes me as most consistent album
Yup
👍🏴
This is true Andy!
Joe Strummer must have been the best lyricist ever. Man we could do with someone like him today. RIP Joe, still missed every day....
Federico Lorca was a Spanish poet who was assassinated at the outset of the Spanish civil war.
In the Spanish Civil War, the Black flag was the Anarchists and the Red flag was the Communists. They were allies fighting Franco's fascists (who won!). George Orwell wrote a book about his Spanish Civil War experiences in Homage to Catalonia.
Eric Blair was there!
Plus also the mancs touched on it with if you tolerate this etc..
Finally! I have been trying for three years to get my favorite music reactors to cover this song. I love the way the Clash uses their lyrics to paint a vivid scene. I can see a music video that they may have made rolling in my mind. I love the little trill that seems like a part of a flamenco dance. I can see a trilling woman twisting rhythmically in the song. I can see the foreign volunteers and the black cars rushing to battle. Pablo Picasso’s “Guerica” in the background. Great song and you alway to an amazing job bring out your feelings, too.
Thank you Jim :)
Very good analysis! Spanish Bombs is a timeless Clash Classic!
Hi, I am sure others have already elaborated on the lyrics, but, just in case: this song is about the first bout between Left Wing and Right Wing in Europe, it was basically the prelude of WWII. A little Background: after the Industrial Revolution, labor movements had organized themselves and were pursuing Socialist ideals of freedom, justice, and social equality. That prompted rich Capitalists and the Church to become radicalized and support/finance Fascist groups all over Europe in order to keep Socialists Movements at bay. Fascist paramilitary groups started terrorizing the general population with acts of extreme violence and repression. As an answer to that, the Left became radicalized and Communist Groups started developing all over Europe in order to defend the people from Fascist violence.
The Right Wing won the first Battle, the Spanish Civil War (1936 to 1939), that is, since the Left still lacked organization and means. Hitler and Mussolini (Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy) supported, armed, and financed Spanish Dictator Francisco Franco; whereas the Left Wing could only benefit from volunteers coming from all over the world, who, although well meaning, were not organized in a real army. They were intellectuals, poets, painters, teachers, writers, etc. who did not have the military might Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy had. The Soviet Union was the only Country that seemed to know the danger of Fascism (it was also the only country not to sign the treaty that gave Czechoslovakia to Nazi Germany): Western "Democracies" including UK; France, and USA, did not lift a finger, just stood and watched while a genocide was being perpetrated against Spanish Freedom Fighters.
Joe Strummer, who had been educated about Social Issues by his Spanish Girlfriend (Palmolive of the Punk Rock Band "The Slits", AKA Paloma Romero) ponders about the Spanish Civil War while on a flight to Spain.
The Only Band That Matters
Woohoo, so glad you're getting back to this one. It just gets better and better.
I could be wrong, but I interpret the black flag line as referencing anarchist fighters.
Yep, absolutely. Those lines reference the anarchists(black flag) and the communists(red flag) allied against Franco and the fascists
I loved watching how much you enjoyed this track as it unfolded, JP. Awesome song with some really deep themes from an awesome album.
Ty LCG :)
I idolized the Clash and still do. When I was a teenager my bedroom walls were covered with Clash pics, posters, articles anything Clash related! I even tried to copy the Mick Jones look!
Always been one of my favorites on the album.
Sandinista should be on your list when you hit 40 K .
Sandinista was my first Clash album. And probably for that it's still my favorite.
When JP listen he'll ask:
Is this the same band?
So rich, so diverse, so good!
(kind of their White Album)
Hah! I heard this song play only last night, at a Vinyl event at the local pub! 😄 And it had kept popping into my head throughout the day today, too! 😀 Another highlight was 'Annie, I'm Not Your Daddy', by Kid Creole & the Coconuts 😁
You should follow Joe Strummer into his work with The Mescaleros. "Johnny Appleseed" for example.
Love that song. I would add Global A Go Go, and Coma Girl as some of my favorite Stummer songs.
My brother liked this album and I remember this song, in particular, pumping from his room. Hey, Bro! (Sometimes he checks out your channel).
Yes, classic track - historic and historical. So smooth and intelligent. And good reaction.
And I have to find someplace to add this - ooohh, should I? This may not be popular. About 3 tracks a day: I actually try to watch ALL of your reactions, and I comment a good bit. And bumping it up to 3 pretty well assures me of something I will love every day. But it also stretches my available time for this. For 1 month, ok - but more than that and I'll be missing a bunch, which I would hate, because our taste is so similar, and you're the best, most intelligent, likable, and fun reacter on YT imo, at least for me. But I do hope you get the algorithm boost from it, you deserve that.
One of my favorite Clash tracks, doing everything that the Clash does best. Poignant lyrics commenting on history and politics and powerful music that takes you along for the ride. I also love how they move between the English and the Spanish and bring out true emotions. Well done.
poignant lyrics?
😆😂
What a great album. So many genres in one setting. All good 👍.
As you said, a fantastic way to open side two of this landmark album. I can't hear this album too many times. Great upload.
I've been waiting for you to get back to this album, because the final track, "Train in Vain" NEEDS to be in your life.
Hope you're exploring the rest of this great album
Justin did side 1 a year or two ago when he was exploring punk. I thought the silence was because the SOUND of this album is not really punk. The attitude of the Clash was of course always punk.
@@tammccoy4258 .. I saw the original reactions to side one .. just thought he'd forgotten about the rest of the album.
JP… you always come through. In a sea of people “reacting” to only the biggest hits from artist you always end up with good choices. This is one of my favorite songs, so much so I have a tattoo inspired by this song. I love the great music but even more so the great lyrics. Awesome job man!
Ty so much asmahism!
The Spanish Civil War was unique in many ways - the socialist forces (who lost the war to Franco's fascists) were bolstered by free-thinkers from across Europe - artists, poets, and writers - who feared the rise of fascism in Europe which would soon lead to Hitler's march into Poland. Among them were many famous names from the arts, from George Orwell to Ernest Hemingway to Federico Lorca (whose death is mentioned in the song).
The narrator is vacationing in Spain while reminiscing on that dreadful harbinger of WWII, the Spanish Civil War. There were many sides to the war. Monarchists, fascists, communists, far right Christians and the anarchists. The Spanish Civil War introduced many of the worst aspects of WWII including deliberate bombing of helpless civilian targets and mass extermination (the anarchists were hit the worst with the adults exterminated and the children adopted out to other families). The fascists won (with the backing of Hitler's Germany). The communists were backing by Stalin's U.S.S.R.. International brigades fought on various sides (including, oddly enough, one from Canada).
It's a great song with heavy doses of irony. One of my favourites off the album.
THIS
The Lorca reference never fails to make me giggle.
One of the all time best songs. I always play this when I get any new hifi gear. Reference stuff.
Thanks for continuing with the songs from the album, London Calling!
Fyi, Federico Garcia Lorca was one of the greatest poets (and playwrights) of the 20th Century. My Spanish is weak, so I know his work mostly from English translations. He was not a supporter of the fascists, and was gay. Both likely led to his murder by Franco's forces during the Spanish Civil War.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federico_García_Lorca
Saw an opera about Lorca called "Ainadamar: Fountain of tears." It was stunning!
One of my favourite albums contains his name. "Lorca" by the inimitable Tim Buckley!
Great song! Glad you are back to this wonderful album.
"On Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, London Calling ranked eighth in the 2003 and 2012 editions, and sixteenth in the 2020 edition" (Wiki) .. and for good reason.
It’s physically impossible for me to listen to this song only once.
Love this song and next 4 songs are “The Bomb”, old dad pun intended!
Joe is a true poet.
My Favorite Clash song-i wonder how it missed more regular airplay
This song is as about as straight forward pop rock as The Clash played. So smooth and a great contrast to some their heavier stuff.
Rivals Bollocks in my opinion . Working for the clampdown is my fav , after the title track obviously . It’s a “ no filler “ album . Every track on it is important and be honest you can’t say that about many albums before or since !
👍🏴
Agree This album, Never Mind the Bollocks and for me X Ray Spex Germ Free Adolescents are the trinity of originality , pioneering albums for the Punk Generation.
@@paulockenden4278 all great choices … but no Damned in there ? … 🤷♂️🤦♂️
👍🏴
The Mighty debut by Doll By Doll "Remember " and the cough , sophomore(?) doh , follow up...."Gypsy Blood" are essentiaL Listens
One Day Justin.
This? Oh it's a Pretenders B side innit?
Black flag and red flag refers to anarcho-syndicalism.
Joe Strummer hid a love song inside a song about the Spanish Civil War because punks couldn't do love songs! 😂 In addition to the song being an ode to political revolutionaries, it is also Joe's declaration of undying love for his ex-, Palmolive, a founding member of the Slits. She was Spanish, from near Andalusia.
The Clash could write with a sense for pop melodies, and this is a nice example.
Great band Awesome song ....but THEE Best album ever!! and Its DOUBLE, So Double Bubble Greatness.!!!
You're right the song has a very upbeat and romantic vibe for such dark lyrics. That's probably because the band leaned left so the idea of a bunch of leftist standing up to fight Fascists was very appealing to them.
Great song, great album. Not every song is this good though.
The Clash’s politics were to the left which was always fine with me. The references to the past here is to the Spanish Civil War which was a prelude to World War II. Circa 1936 both Hitler and Mussolini helped Francisco Franco overthrow an elected government and create a dictatorship that went on into the 1970’s.
Kia Ora Hello JP brother how are you doing?.. I'm sitting here in the hills of the kiapara Aotearoa New Zealand watching you and on the wall in front of me posters of Joe Strummer Johnny Cash Joey Ramone standing next to Lemmy and The Ramones My Son sitting next to me 17 years old Strummer Clash palace (palace our surname)
Perfect setting Heath!
When can we expect more Chameleons reactions?
They're already here, you just can't see them because...they're camouflaged...🦎
I vote Sandinista for your long Saturdays. One side a Saturday.
I think it's needed some explanation of the lyrics from the point of view of a spaniard, because there are quite misleading and funny comments of people believing that Strummer is making any sense here... he's not. You don't have any idea of how ridiculous (and entertaining) these lyrics sound for a spanish listener 🤣
This is practically a joke, if you want to listen to some true punk band singing in spanish you listen to La Banda Trapera del Río or Eskorbuto, not Joe Strummer mispronunciating Federico García Lorca, Guardia Civil or "yo te quiero infinito" which by the way is grammatically terrible in spanish
Watch out. You're just begging for a grammar check on your English. 😂
@@burmajones803
The difference is that this is not a song, but some comments in youtube.
And I must say, honestly, that I've seen native english speakers writing worse than me 🤦🤭
But yes, my grammar is not the best... my speaking is crap, though
Can't go wrong with The Clash. Think their Sandinista! album is their masterwork but all their albums are great.
I love Sandinista! too
My favorite Clash album - I've listened to it many times, and never tire of it. Great varieties of song styles, spanning several genres. For six sides of music, the band did a helluva job.
43 years later I’m still discovering the nuances of that album.
Charlie don't surf, cause it ain't no good.
Very repetitive with not enough contrast between the parts of the song in my opinion.
and the lyrics are well appreciated by po faced music journos
but yes, i agree with you about the medium....quite pleasant but nuttin revolutionary!
Holidays in the sun for antifascists. Try Something about England for more « Ive seen the past and it looks just like today » stuff.
Great song. Musically upbeat but with those dark overtones from the meaningful lyrics. Glad we're back here, it's long overdue, but we're here now :) This deffo would've been worthy of the sort of playing that the far more mediocre 'the wall' is receiving this month.... yeah, i said it, haha.
i'm currently checking out The Thin Ice as I type, on a pristine middle aged CD player and it sounds almost Panto Time. Familiarity Breeds Contempt? The Wall though is just as Artistic as London Calling shirley? I'd venture to say it's really adventurous and Hip for a band like them to adapt their sound around the Concept of insecurity of Rock n Roll Stardom. Disco sampled by Destiny's Child years later. It was Fresh at the Time. Very very Fresh. And Thought Provoking in it's Punk Social Comment.
Didn't enjoy that - The Clash used to be a punk band but, apart from the lyrics (even then, the Spanish Civil War was nearly 40 years before this was recorded) there was no edge to this whatsoever - almost nursery rhyme simplicity. Apart from the excellent first album, I've no idea why they gained such devotion at the time.
Because many of us can look beyond labels such as "punk" and enjoy good music without feeling any need for purism.
I usually like The Clash but this is a little bit twee, too nursery-rhymey. Not a fan at all.
"White Man In Hammersmith Palais" might change your mind!
The Clash. The only band that mattered.