Comments: 17

• Geoff from Scottsdale, AzWhoever wrote this analysis would have received an "A" for the semester in Dr. Pletch's University of North Carolina's World History course ("the best analysis of this song gets an "A" for the semester, no matter what else that person does"). Good job!
• Luke from Auckland, New ZealandOne of my favourites that I used to play over and over (as you do when you're 'hooked'), it is a signature track of theirs I think insofar as it highlights (yet again!) their ability to surprise us with it's unique sound and style with which to carry meaningful lyrics and comment - outstanding, for lack of a better word.
• Brady from New Prague, MnReally awesome song. Also, I have to agree with Mudassir too.
• Jeff from Cincinnati, OhHas anyone else noticed that MIA stole the beat from this song to make the song paper planes?
• M Paul from Green Bay, WiThere ain't no asylum here, King Solomon he never lived 'round here........
• Brad from Long Island, NyIts 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
• Steve from Gatineau, NsThere's this girl...M.I.A...she made a crappy song out of a sample of this. SHAME!
• Dan from London, EnglandJakob, 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
• Simon from London, EnglandI agree with Mudassir - about dissaffected youth worldwide. Joe wrote it from a few different perspectives thats all
• Pradeep from London, EnglandI 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 ?
• Nathan from Willow Spring, NcGreatest song by the Clash, Easily!
• Julie from Madison, WiThis is my favorite Clash song and has been since I bought the album way back in junior high!
• Joe from Chicago, Ari 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.
• Izzy from Buffalo, Nyawesome song. makes more sense to me now.
• Mudassir from Bolton, EnglandJoe 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..."
• Jim from Dayton, OhPersonally, this is my favorite Clash song and an oft overlooked one at that.
• Jakob from Edmonton, CanadaGood song about vietnam

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