Know Your Rights

The Clash

I would like to spread out the Clash in two ways here…

First, they are a seminal band for me. Meaning — they were a gateway to punk rock, post-punk, new wave. I loved The Clash before I even heard Joy Division, New Order, The Sound, The Cure, U2 or theTalking Heads.

So I’m going down this rabbit hole with intention. I don’t want to linger too long down here, but I also want to enjoy myself.

Secondly, the original lineup (the only lineup) was together 7 years — so I will try to spread out the wealth between 76 and 83.

This first single is from COMBAT ROCK — the Clash perhaps at their most socially conscious. Although, they always were, but this was the peak of their fame.. Even their most famous single Rock the Casbah was written for youth in Iran. Most people probably don’t know this. It’s a ‘79 plea, encouraging them to keep playing their music inspite of their ban on western music. The Sharif don’t like it…

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS really is a public service announcement 😂 as they give a voice to police brutality with a beautiful sneering vocal from Strummer. This band had something to say about everything — ahead of it’s time — including climate change, the Vietnam war, racism, factory working conditions and mostly the general malaise around middle class life.

This is a public service announcement
With guitar
Know your rights
All three of them

Number one
You have the right not to be killed
Murder is a crime
Unless it was done
By a policeman
Or an aristocrat
Oh, know your rights

And number two
You have the right to food money
Providing of course
You don't mind a little
Investigation, humiliation
And if you cross your fingers
Rehabilitation

Know your rights
These are your rights
Hey, say, Wang

Oh, know these rights

Number three
You have the right to free speech
As long as
You're not dumb enough to actually try it

Know your rights
These are your rights
Oh, know your rights
These are your rights
All three of 'em
Ha!
It has been suggested in some quarters
That this is not enough
Well

Get off the streets
Run
Get off the streets