The Guns Of Brixton

by

The Clash

Album: London Calling      Released: 1979

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This song was written by bass player Paul Simonon, but only because he was envious of the royalties main songwriters Joe Strummer and Mick Jones were getting. He decided to get in on the songwriting himself, and this became one of the Clash's best known songs and a staple of their live set until their demise in the mid-'80s. Simonon takes lead vocal duties on the song, which is about gangsters in his home town Brixton, which is in South London. (thanks, Nick - Harpendonia, England)

Brixton was the site of race riots in 1981 and again in 1985. This song captures the alienation many citizens of Brixton felt leading up to the riots.

Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong named his son, Brixton, after this song.

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Comments:

There's nothing hard to understand on the meaning of this song, I don't get why you all talk about gangs or racial riot. Maybe you guys don't get it's a punk song first of all. Guns of Brixton is about police repression, and Law. It means that the law is wrong, and that if you are right, you'll get "crushed" and "bruised". But police will have to answer to the people's anger. It says that society is made is such an hypocritical way that if you're poor, you sometimes have no choice but illegality, and you'll be judged for that (Ivan). The Guns of Brixton represent the anger of the people against a society which make them live in misery; the police incarnating this society.
- aurelien, Saint etienne, France

billy joe doesnt have a son named brixton.
- Morgan, my backyard, ON

I think this song was more about the police than gangsters. If anything it's a fantasy response to police brutality and like a lot of Clash songs influnced by films - in this case Paul Simonon's love of Jimmy Cliff film "The Harder They Come" (one verse refers to Ivan - Jimmy Cliff's character in the film and the film is directly named).
- ross, Leicester, United Kingdom

And here's one of the live versions of the song by Nouvelle Vague I mentioned: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFiTd8YcUgI
- Dave, Ocala, FL

Nouvelle Vague, with the ever-so-sexily-intriguing Camille Dalmais, sometimes performed this song as an acoustic song with captivating vocals by Ms. Dalmais and a fantastic groove to the acoustic guitar. And it is true that Joe & Paul switched instruments on this song - or at least at each of the3 shows I was fortunate enough to see back in The Day. There's a widely circulating live recording usually called "Indian Cents" from their show at The AC Hall in Hong Kong on Feb 25, 1982. If you can find it, and it absolutely smokes - and Joe introduces Paul as they trade instruments. PLease try to find it!
- Dave, Ocala, FL

Is it true that when the Clash played this live, Joe would play bass because Paul had a hard time singing and playing at the same time?
- Robert, New Orleans, LA

South London gangsterism
- Simon, London, England

Yeah, this song is about a society where gangs are formed because the law doesn't give a **** about you...
- Matthew, Milford, MA

This song is about a neighbourhood in London called Brixton where Paul Simonon was from. It is probably the first established and most famous black neighbourhood in London but was also the scene of much racial tension in the late 70s with police and the black community. The theme is basically a warning of the catastrophic consequences of violence if the police brutality continued unchecked. The song actually echoed the subsequent riots in 1981.
- Mudassir, Bolton, England

john, you are sadly mistaken. thats what the song 'clampdown' by the clash is about. gicing in to government or not. this song is just about giving into crime or not.
- izzy, buffalo, NY

love this song
- izzy, buffalo, NY

Also sampled by Cypress Hill for their song "What's Your Name, What's You're Number?"
- Will, Schoharie, NY

Sampled in 'Dub be good to me'
- Lauren, London, England

John, it's simply just about the crime and violence of the Brixton area Simonon grew up in; you're reading a little too much into it. If you haven't check out the live version on From Here to Eternity...AWESOME!
- J, NYC, NY

Although Paul Simonon played bass on the recording, when the Clash played live he would switch to guitar and Joe Strummer would play bass on this song, as Simonon was not skilled enough to sing and play bass at the same time.
- Nick, Harpendonia, England

this song is strait forward and not much theory is possible to present the sheer simplicity of it astounds. its all about resisting the government or going peacfully which would you do?
- john, indianapolis, IN

Its more of a reggae song, one of many the Clash has done. I'm a huge Clash fan & this is my favorites too.
- Jeff, Staten Island, NY

Black Maria" (alternatively spelled "Mariah") is an archaic American/British nickname for a paddy wagon, or a bus used to transport prisoners.
- Jeff, Staten Island, NY

it's funny how you really can think of this song as a hiphop/rap song. it's really cool and good!
- Petter, Ã?ngelholm, Sweden

One of my very favorite Clash songs. Paul's lyrics and bass are great and the imagery striking.
- Nicole, Nottellin, OR

My favorite Clash song, but my opinion doesn't count because I'm relatively new to the Clash (with the exception of the radio-plugs, but they don't count as people).
- George, Hell, PA

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