London calling to the faraway towns/
Now war is declared and battle come down.

In “London Calling”, The Clash reenacts the call made over the BBC during WW2 from the British Government to their citizens. They imagine a new war, or the next war, and they seem to anticipate that it will happen soon.

At the time this was written, London was not the tourist trap and world financial center it is today. There was poverty and fear about nuclear fallout. The Clash were anti-establishment and bringing awareness to their fans was part of their calling.

“London Calling” sounds urgent as if an alarm is going off–predicting the ensuing chaos. The staccato notes on the electric guitar help to create this effect. The Clash was doubly concerned, they lived by the river, and it appeared that the river was vulnerable to attack. Was anyone listing?

The Clash were a big part of the Punk and anti-establishment culture that dominated English music in the early eighties. Note the intensity and urgency of the lyrics and the sound. This is quintessential 80s punk.

London Calling Lyrics

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,
Phony Beatlemania has bitten the dust.
London calling, see we ain’t got no swing,
Except for the ring of the 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…
I live by the river.

London calling to the imitation zone,
Forget it, brother, you can go it alone.
London calling to the zombies of death,
Quit holding out and draw another breath.
London calling and I don’t want to 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 eye.

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.
I, I live by the river.

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.
I, I live by the river.
Now get this…

London calling, yes, I was there, too,
And 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?
I never felt so much alike, alike, alike, alike.

Songwriters: Joe Strummer / Mick Jones / Paul Simonon / Topper Headon