"London's Burning" is a song by

The Clash The Clash were an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1976. Billed as "The Only Band That Matters", they are considered one of the most influential acts in the original wave of British punk rock, with their music fusing elements ...

from their eponymous debut album. It is the eighth track in the U.K. version of this album, and the seventh track in the U.S. version, from 1979. It is sung by

Joe Strummer John Graham Mellor (21 August 1952 – 22 December 2002), known professionally as Joe Strummer, was a British musician. He was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist, and lead vocalist of punk rock band the Clash, formed in 1976. The Clash' ...

(and Mick Jones, with

Paul Simonon Paul Gustave Simonon (; born 15 December 1955) is an English musician and artist best known as the bassist for the Clash. More recent work includes his involvement in the supergroup the Good, the Bad & the Queen and playing on the Gorillaz alb ...

in the chorus), who starts the song shouting "London's Burning!" two times. The song continues talking about London's automobile traffic, where young people try to get their kicks driving around in their cars through the night, feeling bored and far from happy. This message is clearly seen in the next verse:

I'm up and down the Westway, in an' out the lights
What a great traffic system – it's so bright
I can't think of a better way to spend the night
Than speeding around underneath the yellow lights

The song alludes to the boredom of TV and may also reflect the racial theme often treated by the band, notably in the first verse with the line: "Black or white turn it on, face the new religion". The song's name came from popular nursery rhyme about the Great Fire of London (1666). Strummer described his composition of the song and its meaning as follows:

I wrote it in an old sort of disused house, near the Westway. And then I went up to see Mick Jones in the block. That night we kind of whipped it into shape up in his flat. And it was kind of a like a quick one, you know, like ‘Think of it, write it, finish it.’ And it was all over quick. It’s just like not having anything to do. Like not having no place to go. And you just think of a desert. The only activity that I could see was like the moving lights going up and down the motorway like going down the subways and looking at the writing. It’s like Wednesday night and it’s the same as Thursday night or Friday night. I just felt the whole place was like bored as hell driving about and watching TV and stuff. So it’s like London is burning with boredom. I wrote it to get rid of that feeling.

It was first recorded at CBS Studios London for the sessions for the debut album. Mick Jones' improvised guitar solo at the end of the song is not very typical for punk rock, which often has a minimalist attitude. An alternative version taken from the " White Riot" promo film in April 1977 was released on the B-side of the controversial "

Remote Control A remote control, also known colloquially as a remote or clicker, is an consumer electronics, electronic device used to operate another device from a distance, usually wirelessly. In consumer electronics, a remote control can be used to operat ...

" single in May 1977.

Personnel

– lead vocals, lead guitar * Mick Jones – backing vocals, lead guitar *

– backing vocals, bass guitar * Terry Chimes – drums

Cover versions

The song was covered on Puncolle – Voice Actresses' Legendary Punk Songs Collection.

References

{{authority control The Clash songs Songs written by Mick Jones (The Clash) Songs written by Joe Strummer 1977 songs Songs about London