Straight To Hell

by

The Clash

Album: Combat Rock      Released: 1982

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This song is about the Vietnam war. More precisely, about the children the GI's had with Vietnamese women, and their desire to go to the states.

The "Hell" the lyrics refer to is the USA, and the wrong idea immigrants have that there they will find a better life. "There ain't no need for ya, go straight to hell boys" means the rejection form their fathers and the country. (thanks, tiago - Lisbon, Portugal, for above 2)

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Comments:

Really awesome song. Also, I have to agree with Mudassir too.
- Brady, New Prague, MN

Has anyone else noticed that MIA stole the beat from this song to make the song paper planes?
- Jeff, Cincinnati, OH

There ain't no asylum here, King Solomon he never lived 'round here........
- m paul, green bay, WI

Its a song like this (and many others) that makes me think the clash shouldnt be classified as merely a punk band. Not so much the lyrical message, but the musical acumen of Joe, Mick, Paul and Topper is amazing. Strummer was a great craftsman, not just a head banger and as is often the case, taken from us too early
- Brad, Long Island, NY

There's this girl...M.I.A...she made a crappy song out of a sample of this. SHAME!
- Steve, Gatineau, NS

Jakob, look at my previous log - this song is not soley about Vietnam - the first verse is about the UK (british jig and reel" around 1982-3 and the mass unemployment "steel mills rust" refers to places like Sheffield known for its steel production. The second verse is about the US's legacy in Vietnam - another group of displaced people The third verse is about junkiedom USA Pradeep London see also Muddasser Bolton Lastly Strunner says that it could be anywhere
- Dan, London, England

I agree with Mudassir - about dissaffected youth worldwide. Joe wrote it from a few different perspectives thats all
- Simon, London, England

I agree with Mudassir from Bolton, this song is not just about America - its about a generation of people from 3 continents who had been put on the scrap heep e.g Thatcher's moneterism dogma led to more than 3 million losing their jobs , "steel mills rust" "there aint no need for you"- go straight to jail " Also is this line a twist on the "go straigt to jail" from the Monopoly game ?
- Pradeep, London, England

Greatest song by the Clash, Easily!
- Nathan, Willow Spring, NC

This is my favorite Clash song and has been since I bought the album way back in junior high!
- julie, Madison, WI

i have to say that this isn't the best clash song out there but it's still a pretty good song......the lyrics are prett kool and like izzy said they actually make sense now i didn't get them before either really......anyway the clash are on my top 5 list of the best bands of the 70s and the 80s because there awesome.
- joe, chicago, AR

awesome song. makes more sense to me now.
- izzy, buffalo, NY

Joe explained this song on British radio - The "hell" is the fate awaiting youth all over the world, (it's not an anti-american song at all !). The opening verse relates to British youth at the time of great industrial decline in northern towns, such as coal-mining and steel mill communities. the second verse refers to the kids of GIs and vietnamese gfs, the third refers to parks in america where junkies seek solace at night, the last refers to immigrant youth rioting when they realise there are no streets of gold in "any frontier, any hemisphere..."
- Mudassir, Bolton, England

Personally, this is my favorite Clash song and an oft overlooked one at that.
- Jim, Dayton, OH

Good song about vietnam
- Jakob, Edmonton, Canada

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