The title “London Calling” alludes to the BBC World Service’s station identification: “This is London calling …”, which was used during World War II, often in broadcasts to occupied countries.

Lyrically the… Read More [Verse 1]

London calling to the faraway towns

Now war is declared and battle come down

London calling to the underworld

Come out of the cupboard, ya 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

Except for the ring of that truncheon thing

[Chorus]

The ice age is comin', the sun's zoomin' in

Meltdown expected, the wheat is growin' thin

Engines stop runnin', but I have no fear

'Cause London is drownin' and I live by the river

[Verse 2]

(London calling) to the imitation zone

Forget it, brother, you can go it alone

London calling to the zombies of death

Quit holdin' 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 Hyde

'Cept for that one with the yellowy eyes

[Chorus]

The ice age is comin', the sun's zoomin' in

Engines stop runnin', the wheat is growin' thin

A nuclear error, but I have no fear

'Cause London is drownin' and I, I live by the river

[Instrumental Interlude]

[Chorus]

The ice age is coming, the sun's zoomin' in

Engines stop running, the wheat is growin' thin

A nuclear error, but I have no fear

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

[Bridge]

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

Ooh, ooh, ooh

Now get this

[Verse 3]

(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)

[Outro]

I never felt so much alike, alike, alike