I play this one differently from the posting at
the archive. Corrections welcome. Turn the treble way up for best
Mick Jones (or maybe Mr. Strummer) sound. No solo except for
heavy feedback on a high B note (listen to the record).
Chords:
Em Am7 G D
7-----8----7----5-----------------------------------------------
8-----8----8----7-----------------------------------------------
9-----9----7----7-----------------------------------------------
9-----7----9----7-----------------------------------------------
7---------------5---------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
Intro
Em Am7 G Am7
Em Am7
London calling to the faraway towns
Em G
Now that war is declared and battle come down
Em Am7
London calling to the underworld
Em G
Come out of the cupboard, all you boys and girls
Em Am7
London calling, now don't look to us
Em G
Phony Beatlemania has bitten the dust
Em Am7
London calling, see we ain't got no swing
Em G
Except for the ring of that truncheon thing
Em G
The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in
Em G
Meltdown expected the wheat is growing thin
Em G
Engines stop running but I have no fear
Em Em7 D
Cuz London is drowning and I live by the river
Em Am7
London calling to the imitation zone
Forget it brother, you can got it alone
London calling to the zombies of death
Quit holding out and draw another breath
London calling and I don't wanna shout
But while we were talking I saw you noddin' out
London calling, see we ain't got no highs
Except for that one with the yellowy eyes
The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in
Engines stop running the wheat is growing thin
A nuclear error but I have no fear
Cuz London is drowning and I live by the river
Now get this
London calling, yes I was there too
An' you know what they said - well some of it was true!
London calling at the top of the dial
An' after all this, won't you give me a smile?
Em
I never felt so much a' like...
London calling to the faraway towns
Now war is declared and battle comes down
London calling to the underworld
Come out of the cupboard, you boys and girls
London calling, now don't look to us
Phony Beatlemania has bitten the dust
London calling, see we ain't got no swing
'Cept for the ring of that truncheon thing
The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in
Meltdown expected, the wheat is growing thin
Engines stop running but I have no fear
'Cause London is drowning and I live by the river
(London calling) To the imitation zone
Forget it, brother, you can go it alone
London calling to the zombies of death
Quit holding out and draw another breath
London calling and I don't wanna shout
But while we were talking I saw you nodding out
London calling, see we ain't got no high
Except for that one with the yellowy eyes
The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in
Engines stop running, the wheat is growing thin
A nuclear era but I have no fear
'Cause London is drowning and I, I live by the river
The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in
Engines stop running, the wheat is growing thin
A nuclear era but I have no fear
'Cause London is drowning and I, I live by the river
Now get this
London calling, yes, I was there too
And you know what they said?
Well, some of it was true
London calling at the top of the dial
And after all this, won't you give me a smile?
London calling
I never felt so much alike
Traducción literaria al español — fiel al sentimiento del autor, no es cantable.
Londres llama a los pueblos lejanos
Ahora que la guerra fue declarada y la batalla se avecina
Londres llama al inframundo
Salgan del escondite, todos ustedes, chicos y chicas
Londres llama, no nos busquen a nosotros
La falsa beatlemanía mordió el polvo [*]
Londres llama, ya no tenemos swing
Salvo por el golpe de esa porra
La era de hielo se acerca, el sol se abalanza
Se espera el derretimiento, el trigo se hace escaso
Los motores dejan de funcionar pero yo no tengo miedo
Porque Londres se está hundiendo y yo vivo junto al río
Londres llama a la zona de las imitaciones
Olvidalo, hermano, podés arreglártelas solo
Londres llama a los zombis de la muerte
Dejá de aguantar y tomá otro respiro
Londres llama y no quiero gritar
Pero mientras hablábamos te vi cabeceando [*]
Londres llama, ya no tenemos euforia
Salvo por ese de los ojos amarillentos
La era de hielo se acerca, el sol se abalanza
Los motores dejan de funcionar, el trigo se hace escaso
Un error nuclear pero yo no tengo miedo
Porque Londres se está hundiendo y yo vivo junto al río
Ahora escuchen esto
Londres llama, sí, yo también estuve ahí
Y saben lo que dijeron, ¡bueno, algo de eso era verdad!
Londres llama en lo más alto del dial
Y después de todo esto, ¿no me van a regalar una sonrisa?
Nunca me sentí tanto como...
Traducción literaria al italiano — fiel al sentimiento del autor, no es cantable.
Londra chiama le città lontane
La guerra è dichiarata e la battaglia comincia
Londra chiama il mondo sotterraneo
Uscite allo scoperto, ragazzi e ragazze
Londra chiama, non guardate a noi
La beatlemania fasulla ha fatto il suo tempo [*]
Londra chiama, non abbiamo più ritmo
Solo il suono di quel manganello
L'era glaciale si avvicina, il sole brucia sempre più forte
Si prevede lo scioglimento, il grano scarseggia
I motori si fermano ma io non ho paura
Perché Londra sta annegando e io vivo vicino al fiume
Londra chiama la zona delle imitazioni
Lascia perdere, fratello, puoi farcela da solo
Londra chiama gli zombie della morte
Smettila di resistere e tira un altro respiro
Londra chiama e non voglio urlare
Ma mentre parlavamo ti ho visto cedere
Londra chiama, non abbiamo più euforia
Tranne quello con gli occhi giallastri
L'era glaciale si avvicina, il sole brucia sempre più forte
I motori si fermano, il grano scarseggia
Un errore nucleare ma io non ho paura
Perché Londra sta annegando e io vivo vicino al fiume
Ora ascolta bene
Londra chiama, sì, c'ero anch'io
E sai cosa dissero — beh, qualcosa era vero!
Londra chiama a tutto volume
E dopo tutto questo, non mi dai neanche un sorriso?
Non mi sono mai sentito così tanto come...
Traducción literaria al portugués — fiel al sentimiento del autor, no es cantable.
Londres chamando para as cidades distantes
Agora que a guerra foi declarada e a batalha começou
Londres chamando para o submundo
Saiam do armário, todos vocês, meninos e meninas
Londres chamando, agora não olhem pra nós
A beatlemania de mentira mordeu o pó [*]
Londres chamando, veja que não temos swing
A não ser pelo barulho daquele cassetete
A era do gelo está chegando, o sol está se aproximando
O derretimento é esperado, o trigo está rareando
Os motores param de funcionar, mas eu não tenho medo
Porque Londres está afogando e eu vivo perto do rio
Londres chamando para a zona das imitações
Esquece, irmão, você pode se virar sozinho
Londres chamando para os zumbis da morte
Para de segurar e dá mais uma respirada
Londres chamando e eu não quero gritar
Mas enquanto a gente conversava eu te vi cabecear [*]
Londres chamando, veja que não temos euforia
A não ser aquele com os olhos amarelados
A era do gelo está chegando, o sol está se aproximando
Os motores param de funcionar, o trigo está rareando
Um erro nuclear, mas eu não tenho medo
Porque Londres está afogando e eu vivo perto do rio
Agora presta atenção
Londres chamando, sim, eu também estava lá
E você sabe o que eles disseram — bem, parte era verdade!
Londres chamando no topo do dial [*]
E depois de tudo isso, você não vai me dar um sorriso?
Eu nunca me senti tanto assim...
From the album
London Calling
The Clash · 1979 · Track 1
The story behind
The third studio album by British punk band The Clash, titled "London Calling", was released on December 14, 1979 by CBS Records in the United Kingdom and in January 1980 by Epic Records in the United States. This record marked an evolution in the group's sound, incorporating genres such as ska, pop, soul, rockabilly and reggae, styles they had not previously explored. The lyrics address topics such as unemployment, racial tensions, drug use and adult responsibilities. The album was well received by critics and in 2003 was ranked eighth on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. In addition, the same publication considered it the best album of the 1980s. "London Calling" reached the top ten in the United Kingdom, and its lead single, also titled "London Calling", was notably successful on the charts. The album sold approximately two million copies worldwide and received platinum certification from the RIAA in the United States. After recording their 1978 album "Give 'Em Enough Rope" in the United States, the band parted ways with their manager Bernie Rhodes, which forced them to leave their rehearsal space in Camden Town and look for a new space to create music. Under the direction of their new manager Johnny Green, they found a rehearsal space called Vanilla Studios in Pimlico, located behind a garage. During the summer of 1979, they began working on their new album, influenced by rockabilly, ska, reggae and jazz. Jones was responsible for composing and arranging most of the music, while Strummer wrote the lyrics. In August 1979, the band entered Wessex Studios to record "London Calling". Despite the disapproval of CBS Records, Guy Stevens was chosen as producer. Stevens, known for his problems with alcohol and drugs, used unconventional methods, such as throwing chairs and ladders during sessions to create an intense atmosphere. However, The Clash maintained a good relationship with him, especially bassist Paul Simonon, who collaborated effectively with Stevens. During the recordings, the band would often play football to relax and strengthen their cohesion, which facilitated the recording process, completed in a few weeks with many songs recorded in one or two takes. The album title refers to a phrase used in BBC broadcasts during World War II: "This is London calling...", which translates as "Here is London broadcasting...". The album cover features a photograph of Simonon smashing his Fender Precision bass during a concert at the Palladium in New York on September 21, 1979, on the American tour "Clash Take the Fifth". The image was captured by Pennie Smith, who initially hesitated to use it as a cover due to technical considerations, but Strummer and graphic designer Ray Lowry chose it. In 2002, Q magazine named it the greatest rock and roll photograph of all time, highlighting its capture of the ultimate rock and roll moment: the total loss of control.