Angie Taylor, 2022
Inspired by, and dedicated to 1970’s UK punk band, The Clash. This song is the epitome of punk and rebel rock.
The words remind me of the fears I have for Cryptoart – can we avoid falling for the same traps that killed off the Punk and Rebel Rock movements?
Midnight to six, man
For the first time from Jamaica
Dillinger and Leroy Smart
Delroy Wilson – cool operator
Ken Boothe – UK pop reggae
With backin’ band sound-systems
If they 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
Foolin’ with the guns
The British Army is waitin’ 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 rocker in the UK
They won’t notice anyway
They’re all too busy fightin’
For a good place under the lightin’
The new groups are not concerned
With what there is to be learned
They got Burton suits, huh, ya’ think it’s funny
Turnin’ rebellion into money
All over people changin’ 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
Just out – lookin’ for fun
Only – lookin’ for fun
Please mister
Just leave me alone
Lyrics by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones
Reference image credits: Four Tops photograph by Ron Kroon: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grand_Gala_du_Disque_._The_Four_Tops,_Bestanddeelnr_921-1506.jpg
Photo references for tears: https://pixabay.com/users/victoria_art-6314823/ https://pixabay.com/users/karen_nadine-3347452/ Photo reference for Rock Against Racism badge: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dannybirchall/6371785521