The Doors - Strange Days
Welcome to my apology of a post.
An apology for not writing, yesterday. Becoming more of an online, 'Smash Hits' [Magazine].
How about this? 1980, (Joe) Strummer, does a runner. Right-to-be, pissed-off, at CBS claiming they wouldn't put out the single, Bankrobber.
Recorded February in Wessex Studios with Mikey Dread at the controls. Intended as the first, post-London Calling, single. CBS hated it and sought to tough it out and not release it. Someone at CBS had called it, "all of David Bowie's records played backwards". Stuck at an impasse. Not the first 'clash'. The LP sold 'cheap' and the refusal to do Top of The Pops (everyone mimed), leading to this little-wonderful:
I saw London Calling come in. Took the first copies to each of the music rags with Kosmo Vinyl.
Asked to call him in France to transcribe the lyrics over the phone. Joe had written it. His one request, and only CBS-communication; "give the lyrics to Smash Hits".
Here's the lyrics below and what I transcribed from Joe over the phone, re-posted a copy of the Smash Hits page on plantaseed.org.uk/bankrobber-the-clash.
2 b. cont. inc. the headings on yesterday's post.
My daddy was a bank robber
But he never hurt nobody
He just loved to live that way
And he loved to steal your money
Some is rich, and some is poor
That's the way the world is
But I don't believe in lyin' back
Sayin' how bad your luck is
So we came to jazz it up
We never loved a shovel
Break your back to earn our pay
An' don't forget to grovel
The old man spoke up in a bar
Said "I never been in prison
A lifetime serving one machine
Is ten times worse than prison"
Imagine if all the boys in jail
Could get out now together
Whadd'ya think they'd want to say to us?
While we was bein' clever
Someday you'll meet your rockin' chair
'Cause that's where we're spinnin'
There's no point to wanna comb your hair
When it's grey and thinning
So we came to jazz it up
We never loved a shovel
Break your back to earn our pay
An' don't forget to grovel
Hey
Get away, get away, get away, get away, get away, get away, get away
Run rabbit run
Strike out boys, for the hills
I can find that hole in the wall
And I know that they never will
My daddy was a bank robber
But he never hurt nobody
He just loved to live that way
And he loved to steal your money
Some is rich, and some is poor
That's the way the world is
But I don't believe in lyin' back
Sayin' how bad your luck is
So we came to jazz it up
We never loved a shovel
Break your back to earn our pay
An' don't forget to grovel
The old man spoke up in a bar
Said "I never been in prison
A lifetime serving one machine
Is ten times worse than prison"
Imagine if all the boys in jail
Could get out now together
Whadd'ya think they'd want to say to us?
While we was bein' clever
Someday you'll meet your rockin' chair
'Cause that's where we're spinnin'
There's no point to wanna comb your hair
When it's grey and thinning
So we came to jazz it up
We never loved a shovel
Break your back to earn our pay
An' don't forget to grovel
Hey
Get away, get away, get away, get away, get away, get away, get away
Run rabbit run
Strike out boys, for the hills
I can find that hole in the wall
And I know that they never will