Corner Soul

Album: Sandinista! (1980)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Corner Soul" draws on influences from roots reggae, a genre The Clash had always been quick to acknowledge as a huge influence on the group. Direct influences on "Corner Soul" include Max Romeo's "War ina Babylon" as well as the styles of British reggae bands such as Third World, Steel Pulse and Misty.
  • Joe Strummer's lyrics are an attempt to capture and highlight the growing tensions on the streets of inner cities across Britain which would explode into riots in summer of 1981 in places such as Brixton, Toxteth and St Pauls, and actually pre-empts the riots and destruction by almost a year ("The big meeting has decided, That total war must burn on the grove"). It includes a direct reference to controversial British politician Enoch Powell, whose speech in Birmingham on April 20, 1968 became hugely controversial after his assertion that mass immigration would lead to race wars and "rivers of blood." The lyric, "is this music calling for a river of blood?" is a direct reference to that.
  • "Corner Soul" featured for most of 1981 in The Clash's live set, being added in the Radio Clash tour early in the year and being played further during their legendary residency in Bond's Casino in New York in June of that year.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Ed Roland of Collective Soul

Ed Roland of Collective SoulSongwriter Interviews

The stories behind "Shine," "December," "The World I Know" and other Collective Soul hits.

Peter Lord

Peter LordSongwriter Interviews

You may not recognize his name, but you will certainly recognize Peter Lord's songs. He wrote the bevy of hits from Paula Abdul's second album, Spellbound.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

The Police

The PoliceFact or Fiction

Do their first three albums have French titles? Is "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" really meaningless? See if you can tell in this Fact or Fiction.

Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go's

Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go'sSongwriter Interviews

Charlotte was established in the LA punk scene when a freaky girl named Belinda approached her wearing a garbage bag.

Chris Squire of Yes

Chris Squire of YesSongwriter Interviews

One of the most dynamic bass player/songwriters of his time, Chris is the only member of Yes who has been with the band since they formed in 1968.