Album: Combat RockAvg rating:
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Length: 5:18
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Speaking King's English in quotation, as railhead towns feel the steel mills rust
Water froze, in the generation
Clear as winter ice, this is your paradise
There ain't no need for ya, there ain't no need for ya
Go straight to hell boy, go straight to hell boy
Wanna join in a chorus, of the Amerasian blues?
When it's Christmas out in Ho Chi Minh City
Kiddie say "Papa-Papa-Papa-Papa-san, take me home?"
"See me got photo-photo-photograph of you and Mamma-Mamma-Mamma-san?"
"Of you and Mamma-Mamma-Mamma-san"
Lemme tell ya about your blood, bamboo kid, it ain't Coca-Cola, it's rice
Straight to hell boy, go straight hell boy
Go straight hell boy, go straight hell boy
Oh Papa-san, please take me home
Oh Papa-san, everybody they wanna go home
So Mamma-san says
You wanna play mind-crazed banjo, on the druggy-drag Ragtime U.S.A.?
In Parkland International Hah! Junkiedom U.S.A.?
Where procaine proves the purest rock man groove and rat poison
The volatile Molatov says "Pssst, Hey chico we got a message for ya, see, vamos vamos muchacho"
From Alphabet City, all the way A to Zed, dead, head
Go straight to hell boy, go straight to hell boy
Straight to hell
Oh Papa-san, please take me home
There ain't no need for ya, there ain't need for ya
Go straight to hell boy, go straight to hell boy
Can you cough it up, loud and strong
The immigrants, they wanna sing all night long
It could be anywhere, most likely could be any frontier, any hemisphere, in no man's land
There ain't no asylum here, King Solomon he never lived round here
Straight to hell boy, go straight to hell boy
Go straight to hell boy, go straight to hell boy
Oh Papa-san, please take me home
Oh Papa-san, everybody they wanna go home now
Rickshaw rides, ten mile a penny, ten mile a penny, do you want?
My daughter played MIAs “Paper Planes” and i pointed out they sampled this song and played it for her. She was completely unaware and has since become a huge Clash fan. I also went to see The Cure with her a couple weeks ago. She quickly pointed out they didn’t like each other. My work here is done
Hope for the Future
I've heard of them, but don't know anything about The Clash. So question: is the guy looking like a character from Grease trying to be ironic, or was that a legit look back then?
It was a legit British look back in the day
I've heard of them, but don't know anything about The Clash. So question: is the guy looking like a character from Grease trying to be ironic, or was that a legit look back then?
Less 50's greaser and more Cafe Racer who were more Rocker, than Mods
It's weird that a laid back tune like this could elicit such similar and strong reactions from two different people. Mysteries indeed.
I've always loved this mad, twisted ditty... It sure has differing effects on listeners, though! Sometime in '89 or so, while based in Shizuoka, after a dinner-date with a French Canadian gal I'd just met, I was driving my Honda City up a winding road full of hair-pin turns through terraces of caterpillar-like rows of tea trees on the slopes of Chiba-san to a spooky old temple built in 776 called Chiman-ji that she wanted me to show her, with my cassette of Combat Rock in the deck. As we got near the temple, as tendrils of fog wafted among the towering hinoki trees and the smell of mugwort drifted in through the open windows, this song came on. It didn't take long for her to try to put a stop to it... "Just what IS THIS we're listening to here?" she said, noticeably angry all out of proportion. "The Clash," I said, adding, "—What's wrong? Seems perfect, to me..." She pushed the Eject button and demanded, "Take me back to town. Now!" WTF?! All the way down, she kept fuming, "I can't believe that terrible, bizarre music that you played for me!"
17 years or so ago I was in LA visiting my architect friend, and we took a long stoned drive to Mineral King, where we were to park and start a trek that would take us several days off-trail way up into The Kaweah Peaks, and when it was my turn to choose the tunes, I put Combat Rock in. When this song came along, he couldn't stop raving about it, and made me rewind and play it multiple times. He loved it so much that he convinced me to let him borrow the tape for awhile. After our week-long camping and climbing trip, I went down to visit a friend in San Diego for a few days. When I came back, I asked if I could have my tape back. He told me that he'd been playing it, right after I'd left, and during this song, his wife had gotten furious, screamed at him, got up, took the tape out, and had either hid it somewhere or threw it out. WTF?! War? Politics? Nah... Music, Women, and Emotions are the real True Mysteries in Life.
I thought you'd say the French Canadian girl came back into the story.
:)
I've always loved this mad, twisted ditty... It sure has differing effects on listeners, though! Sometime in '89 or so, while based in Shizuoka, after a dinner-date with a French Canadian gal I'd just met, I was driving my Honda City up a winding road full of hair-pin turns through terraces of caterpillar-like rows of tea trees on the slopes of Chiba-san to a spooky old temple built in 776 called Chiman-ji that she wanted me to show her, with my cassette of Combat Rock in the deck. As we got near the temple, as tendrils of fog wafted among the towering hinoki trees and the smell of mugwort drifted in through the open windows, this song came on. It didn't take long for her to try to put a stop to it... "Just what IS THIS we're listening to here?" she said, noticeably angry all out of proportion. "The Clash," I said, adding, "—What's wrong? Seems perfect, to me..." She pushed the Eject button and demanded, "Take me back to town. Now!" WTF?! All the way down, she kept fuming, "I can't believe that terrible, bizarre music that you played for me!"
17 years or so ago I was in LA visiting my architect friend, and we took a long stoned drive to Mineral King, where we were to park and start a trek that would take us several days off-trail way up into The Kaweah Peaks, and when it was my turn to choose the tunes, I put Combat Rock in. When this song came along, he couldn't stop raving about it, and made me rewind and play it multiple times. He loved it so much that he convinced me to let him borrow the tape for awhile. After our week-long camping and climbing trip, I went down to visit a friend in San Diego for a few days. When I came back, I asked if I could have my tape back. He told me that he'd been playing it, right after I'd left, and during this song, his wife had gotten furious, screamed at him, got up, took the tape out, and had either hid it somewhere or threw it out. WTF?! War? Politics? Nah... Music, Women, and Emotions are the real True Mysteries in Life.
What a get story! Thanks!
If you like this song, there's also the extended version, which just makes the awsomeness more awsomer.
So back in 1982, this song made me cringe with it's Asian racism. (FYI, papa-san? That's Japanese...) But I told myself that the point of the song was to condemn U.S. Imperialism, so it was ok. I can now say unequivocally that it's not. I was right to cringe, and I knew it in 1982.
--And yes, I understand that it's depicting the hatred directed at Amer-Asian children in their Vietnamese homeland.
Go straight to Hell
So back in 1982, this song made me cringe with it's Asian racism. (FYI, papa-san? That's Japanese...) But I told myself that the point of the song was to condemn U.S. Imperialism, so it was ok. I can now say unequivocally that it's not. I was right to cringe, and I knew it in 1982.
--And yes, I understand that it's depicting the hatred directed at Amer-Asian children in their Vietnamese homeland.
Also, it's a sucky-ass song musically.
--And yes, I understand that it's depicting the hatred directed at Amer-Asian children in their Vietnamese homeland.
Yes?
Nah, so did I.
9 in my book.
and very poignant in Trump's America.
For the record, I'm a laydee (I've had independent checks done an' everything) and I'd have been impressed as all hell if someone had played this to me in their car. But then, I've been told that I'm not 'normal'. Whatever that is...
Perlman, but have gained respect for Mr. Harbour's talent. Just wish he'd get some better roles- looking forward to Black Widow...
Fifteen years later I can verify that your supposition is indeed true.
https://open.spotify.com/track/4NFBTkuQQ9f17DTGUHSveP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_4jpHiiZp0
Cool band = cool song! The Clash is one of those bands where you really need to listen carefully to the lyrics in order to appreciate them. Their biting sarcasm and political criticism of the Thatcher/Reagan years is some of the best. If only we had listened to them, perhaps we would not be in the pickle we're in now.
Best Clash line: "Vacuum cleaner sucks up budgie."
Cheers to all RP listeners!
I found the music uninteresting. Don't hurt me.
You might prefer Lily Allen’s clash-approved remake. I certainly do (love the original too).
I don't prefer the Lilly Allen version but glad to listen to it ;-)
Vacuum cleaner sucks up budgie!
Paper Planes, actually.
17 years or so ago I was in LA visiting my architect friend, and we took a long stoned drive to Mineral King, where we were to park and start a trek that would take us several days off-trail way up into The Kaweah Peaks, and when it was my turn to choose the tunes, I put Combat Rock in. When this song came along, he couldn't stop raving about it, and made me rewind and play it multiple times. He loved it so much that he convinced me to let him borrow the tape for awhile. After our week-long camping and climbing trip, I went down to visit a friend in San Diego for a few days. When I came back, I asked if I could have my tape back. He told me that he'd been playing it, right after I'd left, and during this song, his wife had gotten furious, screamed at him, got up, took the tape out, and had either hid it somewhere or threw it out. WTF?! War? Politics? Nah... Music, Women, and Emotions are the real True Mysteries in Life.
Well I've always liked it. Its been one of my favorite Clash tunes since I heard it way back when.
I found the music uninteresting. Don't hurt me.
You might prefer Lily Allen’s clash-approved remake. I certainly do (love the original too).
...He told me that he'd been playing it, right after I'd left, and during this song, his wife had gotten furious, screamed at him, got up, took the tape out, and had either hid it somewhere or threw it out. WTF?! War? Politics? Nah... Music, Women, and Emotions are the real True Mysteries in Life.
It's weird that a laid back tune like this could elicit such similar and strong reactions from two different people. Mysteries indeed.
I found the music uninteresting. Don't hurt me.
You're safe. A lot of great, famous songs are not one listen wonders. But with time....
I found the music uninteresting. Don't hurt me.
Cool stories! (not sarcastic)
That was an awesome story!!!!!
17 years or so ago I was in LA visiting my architect friend, and we took a long stoned drive to Mineral King, where we were to park and start a trek that would take us several days off-trail way up into The Kaweah Peaks, and when it was my turn to choose the tunes, I put Combat Rock in. When this song came along, he couldn't stop raving about it, and made me rewind and play it multiple times. He loved it so much that he convinced me to let him borrow the tape for awhile. After our week-long camping and climbing trip, I went down to visit a friend in San Diego for a few days. When I came back, I asked if I could have my tape back. He told me that he'd been playing it, right after I'd left, and during this song, his wife had gotten furious, screamed at him, got up, took the tape out, and had either hid it somewhere or threw it out. WTF?! War? Politics? Nah... Music, Women, and Emotions are the real True Mysteries in Life.
Cool stories! (not sarcastic)
80's flashback: Alex Cox's "Walker", scored by Strummer, inspired by Marlon Brando's "Burn!"
reagan thatcher and company, poppa bush and his cia central american manipulations,
Remember some american culture that had you do some research?
17 years or so ago I was in LA visiting my architect friend, and we took a long stoned drive to Mineral King, where we were to park and start a trek that would take us several days off-trail way up into The Kaweah Peaks, and when it was my turn to choose the tunes, I put Combat Rock in. When this song came along, he couldn't stop raving about it, and made me rewind and play it multiple times. He loved it so much that he convinced me to let him borrow the tape for awhile. After our week-long camping and climbing trip, I went down to visit a friend in San Diego for a few days. When I came back, I asked if I could have my tape back. He told me that he'd been playing it, right after I'd left, and during this song, his wife had gotten furious, screamed at him, got up, took the tape out, and had either hid it somewhere or threw it out. WTF?! War? Politics? Nah... Music, Women, and Emotions are the real True Mysteries in Life.
Yes! Me too! I was like, "whoa, Bill"...
Bill and 'Becca, I see what you did there. From Johnny Cash — The Man Comes Around to this? That's why RP is better than any internet radio station with computer-generated playlists, even if they had the same music collection.
Nice catch DaMoGan- Missed that:) Agree!!
Bill and 'Becca, I see what you did there. From Johnny Cash — The Man Comes Around to this? That's why RP is better than any internet radio station with computer-generated playlists, even if they had the same music collection.
...
gandalfbmg wrote:
I dunno I just really hate that M.I.A. ripped this song, Paper Planes is so vapid by comparison.
...
gandalfbmg wrote:
same
...
gandalfbmg wrote:
It ain't coco cola, it's rice.
Sounds exactly like what a drunk GI would tell an Ameriasian son: bad poetry indeed.
You're crazy but I uploaded that and it got accepted. Never played of course, but hey. My mistake, it did get a couple of plays.
Never knew MIA/Paper Planes had sampled this tune.
Mama San says "dig-dig-dig-dig-dig-dig-dig-dig-dig-dig-did-dig-dig-dig-doog-doog-dug-dug-dug-dug-dug-dug"
Snorfalorpagus wrote:
And again. Absolutely superb.
This song fucking resonates.
And again. Absolutely superb.
btw, I was at the NY Film Festival Premiere of the film Straight to Hell, which was an absolute disaster. A crazy, distruptive groupie kept talking thru the film and I believe was thrown out. That groupie....................Courtney Love.
Well, I still love this song although I think the Clash was overrated for an American audience. Fredriley has a very interesting take on The Clash as a band influencing British politics and culture.
The movie "Straight to Hell" was a mess from what I remember reading of it. Alex Cox rounded up his buddies to make a movie and have fun--I don't think he took it seriously. Joe Strummer according to an article I read (Q Magazine? Vanity Fair? something like that) totally threw himself into his role and was sleeping outside under a wagon during the filming.
Courtney Love? Courtney Love is a disaster. Crazy and disruptive as she might have been, she wasn't a groupie--looks like she was the leading lady in the movie. All the more reason to skip the film.
You can read another guy's take from imdb.com and decide for yourself. You get the sense that a studio gave Cox a bit of money but only got a home movie in return:
What's wrong with the kid? Sexual Tension.
This is a story of three desperadoes and a girl who accidentally go to a small town after screwing up an assassination job and robbing a bank. The town is owned by the McMahon family (the Pogues with a few others thrown in) all of whom are addicted to coffee and enjoy killing and being all in all bastards. There's tension, characters clashing and sexual. The film didn't have a whole lot of a plot, but that doesn't really matter much because it seems to be more of a spoof on spaghetti westerns and even the actors and actresses themselves. It takes repeated viewing to really get down what is going on and how the parties are related to each other, but that doesn't seem to matter quite so much. All in all, I recommend this film to those of you who love weird movies and everyone who remembers the 80's punk scene.
He just did it again. That was awesome.
msymmes wrote:
Yes, this.
''Man, those cats were kung fu fighting..''
. Brilliant! 'Nuff said.
Luciano wrote:
what an awesome segue fr cash!From Cash to Clash, so to say.
please make it stop.. oh, right! PSD!
what an awesome segue fr cash!Yes, love both very much -
what an awesome segue fr cash!
That is wonderful. Best pun I've seen in awhile.
reagan thatcher and company, poppa bush and his cia central american manipulations,
Remember some american culture that had you do some research?
Thanks for sharing — now I think I need to check it out! Here's a photo of the Clash from that episode on NBC.com. And from there I see it was Season 8, Episode 3 (that aired Oct 9, 1982) — which can be watched on streaming Netflix, if you have that membership feature.
EDIT: oops, guess not — musical guests are NOT included. bastards
Here it is.
Funny!
I couldn't disagree more about the continuing relevance of The Clash, but I would have given a small fortune to have seen Courtney tossed out on her ass!
of course the Clash continue to be relevant. Just not this stuff.
btw, I was at the NY Film Festival Premiere of the film Straight to Hell, which was an absolute disaster. A crazy, distruptive groupie kept talking thru the film and I believe was thrown out. That groupie....................Courtney Love.
Funny!
I couldn't disagree more about the continuing relevance of The Clash, but I would have given a small fortune to have seen Courtney tossed out on her ass!
Is it wrong that I really wanted this to be MIA?
yes