(White Man) in Hammersmith Palais

Album: The Clash (US version only) (1978)
Charted: 32
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  • Midnight to six man
    For the first time from Jamaica
    Dillinger and Leroy Smart
    Delroy Wilson, your cool operator

    Ken Boothe for UK pop reggae
    With backing bands sound systems
    And if they've got anything to say
    There's many black ears here to listen

    But it was Four Tops all night with encores from stage right
    Charging from the bass knives to the treble
    But onstage they ain't got no roots rock rebel
    Onstage they ain't got no roots rock rebel

    Dress back jump back, this is a bluebeat attack
    'Cause it won't get you anywhere
    Fooling with the guns
    The British Army is waiting out there
    An' it weighs fifteen hundred tons

    White youth, black youth
    Better find another solution
    Why not phone up Robin Hood
    And ask him for some wealth distribution

    Punk rockers in the UK
    They won't notice anyway
    They're all too busy fighting
    For a good place under the lighting

    The new groups are not concerned
    With what there is to be learned
    They got Burton suits, ha, you think it's funny
    Turning rebellion into money

    All over people changing their votes
    Along with their overcoats
    If Adolf Hitler flew in today
    They'd send a limousine anyway

    I'm the all night drug-prowling wolf
    Who looks so sick in the sun
    I'm the white man in the Palais
    Just lookin' for fun

    I'm only
    Looking for fun

    I'm only
    Looking for fun Writer/s: JOE STRUMMER, MICK JONES, PAUL SIMONON, TOPPER HEADON
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 7

  • Dr Syn from UokIt’s definitely about The Jam, but what does it mean? Does it mean that the new group are turning rebellion into money? Or does it mean that the new group think The Clash are funny because they are perceived to be turning rebellion into money?

    Anyway, CHOON!
  • Mick Easingwood from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, Uk. The line about "new group's not being concerned about what there is to learn. They got Burton suits, you think it's funny, turning rebellion into money." This is a direct dig at the punk groups who were "selling out" or had no political conscience and The Jam in particular. The Jam had been thrown off The White Riot Tour, for refusing to loan some of their equipment to the minor support acts. The song was written in the summer of 1977 after The White Riot Tour had just ended. It was also after the legendary Hammersmith Palais All Nighter featuring Delroy Wilson, Four Tops, Dillinger, etc on May 30th.
    The short lived "power pop" fad lasted a couple of months at the start of 1978 and has no relevance to this Clash classic whatsoever.
  • Pompey Skin from ThailandThe comment is not about The Jame. It referred to the new Power Pop movement that was starting in the UK with groups such as the Pleasers. The Jam were a hardly a new group by this time.
  • Deethewriter from Saint Petersburg, Russia Federation"Strummerville" by Stiff Little Fingers: One of the more heartfelt several Strummer RIP songs – this time with a reference to "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais": "And if music seems mundane / It's cos the companies get their own way / And all the young bands seem to say / Please turn our rebellion into money…"
  • Tim from Springfield, MaHaha very true, and thanks for the comment!
  • Jon from Hackney, United KingdomProbably years late, but I'll try to answer Tim: It's probably because it is such a Joe-being-pi**ed-off song. I mean, I love it, but understand if others don't, so much. He (Joe)does slag off just about everyone, after all (bless him).
  • Tim from Springfield, MaWhy hasn't anyone commented on this song yet?! It's one of my all time favorite Clash songs, and I just registered because it deserves a comment
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