‘This Is England’ and “the last great Clash song”
Throughout the years, numerous songs have encapsulated the rugged essence of working-class life in England, albeit often indirectly. For example, the sombre Manchester essence is unmistakable in Joy Division’s ‘Atmosphere’, just as the gloomy ambience of Coventry permeates ‘Ghost Town’ by The Specials. However, when it comes to reflecting the corruption within the country, The Clash perfected this portrayal.
The environment during the creation of Cut the Crap, The Clash’s final album and the only one produced following the expulsion of founding member Mick Jones and drummer Topper Headon, was infamously challenging and tense. Vocalist Joe Strummer later considered the period of 1984-1985 as almost non-existent in The Clash’s legacy, save for the song ‘This Is England’.
It’s hard to ignore with Strummer, least of all because of his position as the band’s leader But, The clash were such an incendiary proposition that is difficult to look beyond those first sparking moments as the band’s best and brightest. A firework like them rarely does much on its descent, and following the exile of Headon the band’s heart, and Jones, the group’s undeniable creative nous, it was difficult to imagine the group ever truly propelling themselves back into the night’s sky.
Instead, they fell apart. Strummer’s vision was still strong enough, but he had begun to drink in the egotism he had so sorely fought against. The 1980s were an odd time, and for a star as big as Strummer the reality of entering another decade without the final security his stardom should have afforded pushed him into rash decisions. Jnes had been his partner in crime, and losing him was a death knell. But the band did have one last shot in their barrel. ‘This Is England’ still chimes with the directional power that had driven the band skyward first of all.
The lyrics within ‘This Is England’ serve as a comprehensive overview of the state of Britain as Strummer delves into various societal issues. This includes the decline of the British motorcycle manufacturing sector, the severe South Atlantic winter of 1984 resulting in many British citizens perishing in freezing conditions, the surge of patriotic fervour following Britain’s triumph in the Falklands War, as well as the recurring themes of protest, police oppression, and disenchantment that are central to The Clash’s repertoire.
These powerful lyrics, however, while often regarded as Joe Strummer’s most potent work, were somewhat obscured by the infamously poor reception of Cut the Crap. Notably, the track commences with the distinct sound of a market vendor’s shrill cry, echoing through the song, along with a drum machine and synthesizers, which were both instruments that the band rarely employed during their tenure with Topper and Jones.
However, despite the mixed reception of the album, the song remains a significant track in The Clash’s discography for its socially and politically charged lyrics. Strummer himself described it as his “last great Clash song“. In addition, the guitarist of the period, Nick Sheppard, remembers a recording session where he added bass to the track and Strummer enthusiastically describing it as “the only bit of the record with any bollocks on it!”
Although the song is effective in its ability to provide insight into the band’s perspective on the socio-political climate of the 1980s in Britain, the album was a complete blow. Despite the loss of one of their founding members, Strummer attempted to reform The Clash for Cut the Crap, but for many, the album comes across as nothing more than the band’s fading glory.
Apart from a few remnants from their golden era, almost every track on this album feels like a misguided attempt at rekindling an old flame. Strummer’s lyrics often lack depth, and the addition of unnecessary synthesizers makes listening to the album feel like a chore. The Clash had the potential to evolve into the new decade, but the decision to part ways with Jones was a move with significant repercussions in the world of punk rock.
