(White Man) in Hammersmith Palais – English Lyrics

• By: The Clash
• Album: Best of The Clash

Lyrics & Translation

Explore one of the most important songs in punk history with The Clash's '(White Man) in Hammersmith Palais.' This isn't just a song; it's a lesson in how to blend music genres to create something entirely new. By delving into the lyrics, you can learn about the social and political landscape of 1970s London and witness how music can be a powerful vehicle for sharp social commentary and a call for unity. It's a perfect example of how The Clash became known as 'the only band that matters.'

[English]

(punk rock music)

♪ Midnight to six man ♪

♪ For the first time from Jamaica ♪

♪ Dillinger and Leroy Smart ♪

♪ Delroy Wilson, your cool operator ♪

♪ Ken Boothe for UK pop reggae ♪

♪ With backing bands sound systems ♪

♪ If they've got anything to say ♪

♪ There's many black ears here to listen ♪

♪ But it was Four Tops all night ♪

♪ With encores from stage right ♪

♪ Charging from the bass knives to the treble ♪

♪ But onstage they ain't got no roots rock rebel ♪

♪ Onstage they ain't got no roots rock rebel ♪

♪ Dress back jump back this is a bluebeat attack ♪

♪ 'Cos it won't get you anywhere ♪

♪ Fooling with the gun ♪

♪ The British Army is waiting out there ♪

♪ An' it weighs fifteen hundred tons ♪

♪ White youth, black youth ♪

♪ Better find another solution ♪

♪ Why not phone up Robin Hood ♪

♪ And ask him for some wealth distribution ♪

(instrumental)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
midnight /ˈmɪdnaɪt/ A2	noun - twelve o'clock at night; the middle of the night.
cool /kuːl/ A1	adjective - fashionable or attractive.
pop /pɒp/ A2	noun - popular music.
bands /bændz/ A1	noun - a group of people who play music together.
black /blæk/ A1	adjective - of the darkest color; of or relating to people of African descent.
listen /ˈlɪsən/ A1	verb - to pay attention to sound.
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period from sunset to sunrise.
stage /steɪdʒ/ A2	noun - a platform in a theater or hall where performers stand.
bass /beɪs/ B1	noun - the lowest male voice; the lowest-pitched instrument in a band or orchestra.
rebel /ˈrɛbəl/ B2	noun - a person who resists authority, control, or tradition.
attack /əˈtæk/ B1	noun - an aggressive and violent action against someone or something.
gun /ɡʌn/ A2	noun - a weapon incorporating a metal tube from which bullets, shells, or other projectiles are fired by explosive force.
army /ˈɑːrmi/ A2	noun - an organized military force equipped for fighting on land.
youth /juːθ/ A2	noun - the period between childhood and adult age.
solution /səˈluːʃən/ B1	noun - a means of solving a problem or dealing with a difficult situation.
wealth /wɛlθ/ B2	noun - an abundance of valuable possessions or money.
distribution /ˌdɪstrɪˈbjuːʃən/ B2	noun - the action of sharing something out among a number of recipients.

Key Grammar Structures

• Midnight to six man

  ➔ Ellipsis (Omission of words)

  ➔ This is an example of ellipsis. The complete sentence would likely be something like: "From midnight to six, man...". The words "From" and the implied subject are omitted for brevity and rhythm. It shows the speaker is directly addressing a "man".

• If they've got anything to say

  ➔ Conditional Clause (Zero Conditional with "If") / Present Perfect (they've got)

  ➔ This line uses a conditional clause beginning with "If". "They've got" is a contraction of "they have got", using the present perfect to express the possession of something they have to express (ideas, messages). The use of the zero conditional implies that if they have something to say, there are people willing to listen. It is considered a "zero" conditional because it states a general truth or fact.

• There's many black ears here to listen

  ➔ There is/are + Plural Noun / Incorrect use of "many"

  ➔ While grammatically incorrect in standard English, this line uses "There's" (contraction of "There is") with a plural noun phrase "many black ears". The correct form would be "There are many black ears...". This usage adds to the song's colloquial, almost stream-of-consciousness feel. The word "many" should be followed by a plural countable noun.

• But onstage they ain't got no roots rock rebel

  ➔ Double Negative / Non-standard English / Contraction ('ain't')

  ➔ This line contains a double negative, "ain't got no", which is grammatically incorrect in standard English but common in some dialects and informal speech. "Ain't" is a contraction used in place of "isn't", "aren't", "am not", "hasn't", or "haven't". In standard English, the sentence should be "But onstage they haven't got any roots rock rebel". The double negative emphasizes the lack of a root rock rebel.

• Dress back jump back this is a bluebeat attack

  ➔ Imperative (Dress back, jump back)

  ➔ The phrases "Dress back" and "Jump back" are in the imperative mood. They are commands or instructions. In this context, they likely refer to dance moves or a reaction to the music. They are not full sentences as they don't explicitly state a subject (the implied subject is 'you').

• Cos it won't get you anywhere

  ➔ Subordinating conjunction "Cos" / Future Simple (won't get) / Contraction ('Cos', 'won't')

  ➔ "Cos" is a shortened, informal version of "Because", a subordinating conjunction. "Won't" is a contraction of "will not", indicating the future simple tense. The entire line means "Because it will not get you anywhere".

• Why not phone up Robin Hood

  ➔ Interrogative sentence structure / Modal verb "Why not" / Phrasal verb "phone up"

  ➔ This line is a suggestion framed as a question. "Why not" is used as a modal phrase to offer a suggestion or piece of advice. "Phone up" is a phrasal verb meaning to make a phone call. It is an interrogative sentence because it poses a question to the listener.