London's Burning
The Clash · From Here To Eternity [1999]
London's burning
All across the town, all across the night
Everbody's driving with full head-lights
Black or white, you turn it on
And face the new religion
Everbody's sitting round watching television
London's burning (with boredom now)
London's burning (dial 9-9-9-9-9)
London's burning (with boredom now)
London's burning (dial 9-9-9-9-9)
I'm up and down the Westway, in and 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
London's burning (with boredom now)
London's burning (dial 9-9-9-9-9)
London's burning (with boredom now)
London's burning (dial 9-9-9-9-9)
Now I'm in the subway, and I'm looking for the flat
This one leads to this block, this one leads to that
The wind howls through the empty blocks
Looking for a home
I run through the empty stone because I'm all alone
London's burning (with boredom now)
London's burning (dial 9-9-9-9-9)
London's burning (with boredom now)
London's burning (dial 9-9-9-9-9)
London's burning
London's Burning
The Clash's 'London's Burning' stands as a potent anthem of punk energy and social critique, originally recorded for the 1979 album *London Calling*. While the track gained renewed prominence through its inclusion on the 1999 compilation *From Here To Eternity*, its core impact remains rooted in the band's early years. The song utilizes a driving, repetitive rhythm to deliver a scathing indictment of the Thatcher era, painting a grim picture of urban decay and the struggle of the working class in London. As a defining piece of the punk movement, it captures the raw urgency and political consciousness that characterized The Clash's discography, influencing countless artists who followed. Its enduring relevance lies in its unflinching portrayal of societal neglect and its call for collective action against oppression.