“London Calling” by The Clash
The title phrase “London Calling” was a term used by the BBC World Service Station to introduce themselves when broadcasting to other nations during the Second World War. The song begins with the narrator describing an era of war where people often hide in underground stations while children hide in cupboards to escape the damages that occur in wars.
In the chorus, several metaphors are used to depict the predicted world events that seemed imminent at the time. It talks about “apocalyptic” events such as global freezing (ice age), global warming, economic meltdowns following wars, and starvation. The narrator also makes a reference to the 1979 Three Mile Island accident as well as the predicted flooding of River Thames.
Throughout the song, the writer highlights these events while subtly criticizing the media for exaggerating them. He expresses how though he lived near these places and survived some events, he is not going to live in fear. In the end, the singer admits that some of these apocalyptic stories, though exaggerated, actually had some truths.
Summary: Simply put, this classic from The Clash is without question primarily an anti-war song.
“London Calling” Facts
Artist(s): The Clash
Writing: Joe Strummer in conjunction with Mick Jones
Production: Exclusively by Guy Stevens
Release: December 7 of 1979
Album/EP: “London Calling”
What Genre of Music is “London Calling”?
“London Calling” falls into the post-punk genre of music as well as the punk rock genre.
“London Calling” on the Charts
- United Kingdom: (11 in 1979), (46 in 1988) and (64 in 1991)
Notable Covers
- Smith & Myers in 2014
- Mick Jones & Joe Strummer in 2004
- Bruce Springsteen in 2010
- Corey Taylor in 2013
Did the Clash release this as a single?
Yes. It was the first single to be released from their 1979 album of the same name. Two other singles came out of this album. They are:
- “Clampdown”
- “Train in Vain”
