Complete Control – English Lyrics

• By: The Clash
• Album: Best Of The Clash

Lyrics & Translation

Explore The Clash's rebellious spirit with “Complete Control,” a fiery track exposing the band's struggle against record label interference. Learn about punk autonomy and the band's fight for artistic freedom, all while dissecting potent lyrics and a driving punk sound. This song offers a lesson in resisting corporate control and staying true to your values.

[English]

("Complete Control" by The Clash playing)

♪They said, "Release Remote Control" ♪

♪ But we didn't want it on the label ♪

♪ They said, "Fly to Amsterdam" ♪

♪ The people laughed, but the press went mad ♪

♪ Ooh-oh, someone's really smart ♪

♪ Ooh-oh, complete control, yeah, that's a laugh ♪

♪ On the last tour, my mates they couldn't get in ♪

♪ I'd open up the back door but they'd get run out again ♪

♪ And at every hotel we was met by the law ♪

♪ Come for the party, just to make sure ♪

♪ Ooh-oh, someones really smart ♪

♪ Ooh-oh, complete control, not on this song ♪

♪ They said we'd be artistically free ♪

♪ When we signed that bit of paper ♪

♪ They meant "Let's make a lots of money ♪

♪ And worry about it later" ♪

♪ Ooh-oh, someones really smart ♪

♪ Ooh-oh, complete control ♪

♪ I don't trust you ♪

♪ so why trust me ♪

♪ All over the town spread fast ♪

♪ They're dirty, they're filthy ♪

♪ They ain't going to last ♪

♪ Control ♪

♪ C-O-N trol ♪

♪ Control ♪

♪ Parent control ♪

♪ C-O-N trol ♪

♪ Control ♪

♪ Felling like a running at a damn train ♪

♪ C-O-N trol ♪

♪ This is the public speaking ♪

♪ Oh yeah, control ♪

♪ This is the public ♪

♪ C-O-N trol ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
control /kənˈtroʊl/ B1	noun - the power to influence or direct people's behavior or the course of events. verb - to have power over; to manage; to restrain.
laugh /læf/ A2	verb - to make the sounds and facial expressions which show you think something is funny noun - an act or sound of laughing
mad /mæd/ B1	adjective - mentally ill; insane. adjective - very angry; furious.
smart /smɑːrt/ B1	adjective - intelligent; clever.
tour /tʊr/ A2	noun - a journey for pleasure in which you visit several different towns, areas, etc.
door /dɔːr/ A1	noun - a hinged, sliding, or revolving barrier at the entrance to a building, room, or vehicle.
hotel /hoʊˈtel/ A2	noun - an establishment providing accommodation, meals, and other services for travelers and tourists.
law /lɔː/ B1	noun - the system of rules which a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and which it may enforce by the imposition of penalties.
party /ˈpɑːrti/ A2	noun - a social gathering for pleasure and amusement.
free /friː/ A1	adjective - not under the control or power of someone else; able to do or say what you want.
money /ˈmʌni/ A1	noun - a current medium of exchange in the form of coins and banknotes.
town /taʊn/ A1	noun - an urban area that has a name, defined boundaries, and local government, and that is generally larger than a village and smaller than a city.
dirty /ˈdɜːrti/ A2	adjective - covered or marked with dirt or an unclean substance.
filthy /ˈfɪlθi/ B2	adjective - disgustingly dirty.
train /treɪn/ A1	noun - a series of railway carriages or wagons moved as a unit by a locomotive or by integral motors.
public /ˈpʌblɪk/ B1	noun - ordinary people in general; the community. adjective - of or concerning the people as a whole.