Album: The Clash (1977)

License This Song 

• Yankee soldier
  He want to shoot some skag
  He met it in Cambodia, but now
  He can't afford a bag
  
  Yankee dollar talk
  To the dictators of the world
  In fact it's giving orders
  An' they can't afford to miss a word
  
  I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
  I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
  But what can I do?
  
  Yankee detectives
  Are always on the TV
  'Cause killers in America work
  Seven days a week
  
  Never mind the stars and stripes
  Let's print the Watergate Tapes
  I'll salute the New Wave
  And I hope nobody escapes
  
  I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
  I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
  But what can I do?
  
  I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
  I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
  But what can I do?
  
  I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
  I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
  I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
  But what can I do?
  
  Move up, Starsky
  For the C.I.A.
  Suck on Kojak
  For the USA Writer/s: Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper Headon
  Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 10

• Cam Burns from Basalt, ColoradoWhen the Clash came onstage at the US Festival in 1983, Joe Strummer bent over and tore up the playlist, which was taped to the stage. Then he said "USA" and the band played I'm so Bored with the USA." They then played the song.
• Scott from Rhode Island@ Niko: Why does being a punk rocker require one to have disdain for the Grateful Dead? Why rebel against the rebels that came before you?
• Niko from LondonApparently there were loads of verses written before they settled on the final version. Two went:
  
  So you think I care
  Where you buy your shirt
  I don't wanna use American dirt
  Oh yeah you look so cool in your cowboy boots
  You see them on James Dean
  They looked so cute
  
  You think I care about your latest record
  It's by the Grateful Dead
  ...
  Don't wanna wear a baseball jacket
  Don't wanna look like I'm ready to bat.
• Mike from Matawan, NjI like the Clash...a lot actually, but talk about biting the hand that feeds. Yeah, they should have never toured the U.S. then and made all those hateful millions or sold their records here from which they made even MORE hateful millions. Even back then, hating the U.S. was cliche. Oh... and Aja? Piss off.
• Ross from Leicester, United KingdomIn the very early days (1976) the Clash had a few love songs but encouraged by manager Bernie Rhodes
  the started writing about politiacl/social issues. The "I'm So Bored With You/USA" anecdote is a neat example of how this was happening.
  The clash were accused of hypocrisy for then spending a lot of time in the US and clearly being influenced by American music/films/style, but in fact the song is attacking the way the US was throwing it's military weight around,political corruption, and the growing dominance of US mainstream culture in the UK - all of which sounds quite familiar!!
• Rob from Pittsburgh, PaYa this is wrong I read in let fury have the hour that mick was singing "i'm so bored with you" and joe changed it.
• David Hughes from Alfreton, Englandthis was micks song "im so bored with you" about his girlfriend and when he played it to joe he didnt like it(to many lovey dovey songs)so they changed the words around!
• Aja from Sloveniahehe, so am I
• Dustinb from Hell(america), Cait IS about america......he makes references about "Yankees"
• Marina from Seattle, WaI think that songfact is incorrect...in the Clash documentary I watched, Joe and Mick said that Mick sang the song "I'm so bored with you" and had written it as a love/hate song about a former girlfriend, but Joe misheard it as "I'm So Bored With USA" and he liked that much better.

More Songfacts:

Strawberry Letter 23The Brothers Johnson

"Strawberry Letter 23" by The Brothers Johnson was written by Shuggie Otis, whose girlfriend would send him letters written on strawberry-scented paper.

Tell It To My HeartTaylor Dayne

The guy who wrote Taylor Dayne's "Tell It To My Heart" owns a collection of famous baseballs, including the one that went through Bill Buckner's legs in the 1986 World Series.

Your SongElton John

Bernie Taupin was 17 when he wrote the lyrics to Elton John's "Your Song." Looking back, he says it's "one of the most naïve and childish lyrics in the entire repertoire of music."

RioDuran Duran

"Rio" by Duran Duran is a metaphor for America, where the band was trying to break through.

Should I Stay or Should I Go?The Clash

"Should I Stay or Should I Go?" by The Clash features some Spanish lines by the Texas singer Joe Ely.

Coming HomeDiddy - Dirty Money

"Coming Home" by Diddy - Dirty Money was originally iwritten for for T.I., who was getting out of prison at the time.

Editor's Picks

Jeff TrottSongwriter Interviews

Sheryl Crow's longtime songwriting partner/guitarist Jeff Trott reveals the stories behind many of the singer's hits, and what its like to be a producer for Leighton Meester and Max Gomez.

Guy ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris and Lyle Lovett are just a few of the artists who have looked to Clark for insightful, intelligent songs.

Julian LennonSongwriter Interviews

Julian tells the stories behind his hits "Valotte" and "Too Late for Goodbyes," and fills us in on his many non-musical pursuits. Also: what MTV meant to his career.

Michael Sweet of StryperSongwriter Interviews

Find out how God and glam metal go together from the Stryper frontman.

Classic MetalFact or Fiction

Ozzy, Guns N' Roses, Judas Priest and even Michael Bolton show up in this Classic Metal quiz.

When Rock Belonged To MichelobSong Writing

Michelob commercials generated hits for Eric Clapton, Genesis and Steve Winwood in the '80s, even as some of these rockers were fighting alcoholism.