London Calling – English Lyrics

• By: The Clash

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a fantastic journey, and 'London Calling' by The Clash is an excellent place to start with English. The song's lyrics are a rich tapestry of social commentary, using vivid and sometimes challenging vocabulary that will expand your understanding of the language. You'll encounter powerful metaphors and direct statements that reflect the anxieties of a generation, making it a lesson in both language and history. The song's raw energy and clear, passionate delivery make it easier to follow along and pick up the rhythm and flow of English speech.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
calling /ˈkɔːlɪŋ/ B1	noun - a strong urge toward a particular way of life or career; a vocation. verb - to cry out or shout.
war /wɔːr/ A2	noun - a state of armed conflict between different countries or groups within a country.
battle /ˈbætl/ B1	noun - a sustained fight between opposing forces. verb - fight or struggle tenaciously to achieve or resist something.
underworld /ˈʌndərwɜːrld/ B2	noun - the criminal world.
dust /dʌst/ A2	noun - fine, dry powder consisting of tiny particles of earth or waste material.
swing /swɪŋ/ B1	noun - a seat hanging from a frame or branch, used for swinging backwards and forwards.
ring /rɪŋ/ A2	noun - a small circular band, typically made of precious metal and worn on a finger.
truncheon /ˈtrʌntʃən/ C1	noun - a short, thick stick carried as a weapon by a police officer.
ice /aɪs/ A1	noun - frozen water; a brittle, transparent crystalline solid.
age /eɪdʒ/ A2	noun - the length of time that someone or something has existed.
sun /sʌn/ A1	noun - the star that provides light and heat to Earth.
meltdown /ˈmeltdaʊn/ B2	noun - a situation in which something fails or becomes less successful.
wheat /wiːt/ B1	noun - a cereal plant that is the most important kind grown in temperate countries, the grain of which is ground to make flour for bread, pasta, pastry, etc.
engines /ˈendʒɪnz/ A2	noun - a machine with moving parts that converts power into motion.
fear /fɪər/ A2	noun - an unpleasant emotion caused by the perception of danger, pain, or threat.
drowning /ˈdraʊnɪŋ/ B1	verb - die through submersion in and inhalation of water.
river /ˈrɪvər/ A1	noun - a large natural stream of water flowing in a channel to the sea, a lake, or another such stream.
zombies /ˈzɒmbiz/ B1	noun - a corpse said to be revived by witchcraft.
death /deθ/ A1	noun - the end of the life of a person or organism.
breath /breθ/ A2	noun - the air inhaled or exhaled when breathing.
nuclear /ˈnjuːkliər/ B2	adjective - relating to the nucleus of an atom.
smile /smaɪl/ A1	noun - a facial expression indicating pleasure or amusement, characterized by an upward curving of the corners of the mouth.

Key Grammar Structures

• Now war is declared and battle come down

  ➔ Passive Voice ('is declared'); Past Participle used as an adjective ('battle come down')

  ➔ "Is declared" uses the passive voice, indicating the war is being declared *by* someone. "Battle come down" is archaic, suggesting battle has *fallen* upon them.

• London calling, now don't look to us

  ➔ Imperative ('Don't look'); Preposition 'to' for direction.

  ➔ "Don't look" is an imperative, a command not to rely on them. "Look *to* us" means seek help *from* them.

• Phony Beatlemania has bitten the dust

  ➔ Present Perfect ('has bitten'); Metaphorical language ('bitten the dust')

  ➔ "Has bitten the dust" is an idiom meaning something has failed or ended. The present perfect suggests the failure is recent or ongoing.

• Except for the ring of the truncheon thing

  ➔ Preposition 'except for'; Noun 'thing' used vaguely.

  ➔ "Except for" indicates a specific exclusion. "Thing" is used informally to refer to something not precisely defined, making it colloquial.

• The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in

  ➔ Present Continuous for future prediction ('is coming,' 'is zooming');

  ➔ The present continuous is used to express an event happening now, and it's sometimes used for definite future arrangements and strong future predictions. In this context, it's used for future predictions based on current evidence (a climate crisis).

• Quit holding out and draw another breath

  ➔ Imperative ('Quit', 'Draw'); Gerund after 'Quit' ('holding').

  ➔ "Quit holding out" uses a gerund ('holding') after the verb 'quit'. Both 'quit holding out' and 'draw another breath' are commands.

• While we were talking, I saw you nodding out

  ➔ Past Continuous ('were talking'); Past Simple ('saw'); Phrasal Verb ('nodding out').

  ➔ "Were talking" describes an action in progress in the past. "Saw" describes a completed action in the past. "Nodding out" (a phrasal verb) means to be drifting off to sleep or losing consciousness, typically due to drug use.

• 'Cause London is drowning, I, I live by the river

  ➔ Present Continuous with metaphorical meaning ('is drowning'); Simple Present for habitual action ('live by').

  ➔ "Is drowning" is not literal; it's used metaphorically to suggest London is overwhelmed or collapsing under pressure. "Live by the river" implies a proximity or perhaps a reliance on the river.