Garageland

Producer

After an album full of examination of societal flaws and inequalities, “The Clash” closes with an introspective, restrained and simple pledge: “I just want to stay in the… Read More

Apr. 8, 19771 viewer11.6K views

Garageland Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Back in the garage with my bullshit detector
Carbon monoxide makin' sure it's effective
People ringin' up makin' offers for my life
I just want to stay in the garage all night

[Chorus]
We're a garage band
(Oh-oh-oh)
We come from Garageland
(Oh-oh-oh)
(Oh-oh-oh)

[Verse 2]
Meanwhile things are hottin' up in the West End alright
Contracts in the offices, groups in the night
My bumming slumming friends have all got new boots
And someone just asked me if the group would wear suits

[Chorus]
We're a garage band
(Oh-oh-oh)
We come from Garageland
(Oh-oh-oh)
(Oh-oh-oh)

[Verse 3]
I don't wanna hear about what the rich are doin'
I don't wanna go to where, where the rich are goin'
They think they're so clever, they think they're so right
But the truth is only known by guttersnipes

[Chorus]
We're a garage band
(Oh-oh-oh)
We come from Garageland
(Oh-oh-oh)
(Oh-oh-oh)

[Bridge]
Twenty-two singers
One microphone
Back in the garage
Five guitar players
One guitar
Back in the garage
Complaints, complaints
What an old bag

[Outro]
Back in the garage
Back in the garage
Back in the garage

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Genius Annotation

After an album full of examination of societal flaws and inequalities, “The Clash” closes with an introspective, restrained and simple pledge: “I just want to stay in the garage.”
‘Garageland’ also looks disdainfully at music industry bigwigs looking to cash in on the rise of punk as well as bands like The Jam who are willing to tag along with the money making game.

This was Joe’s response to a review by NME Magazine saying “They are the kind of garage band who should be speedily returned to the garage with the motor running”. It’s a great bitter response to such a bad first review.