Rock the Casbah
The Clash
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Now the king told the boogie men You have to let that raga drop The oil down the desert way Has been shakin' to the top The Sheik he drove his Cadillac He went a-cruisin' down the ville The muezzin was a-standing On the radiator grille Shareef don't like it Rock the Casbah, rock the Casbah Shareef don't like it Rock the Casbah, Rock the Casbah By order of the prophet We ban that boogie sound Degenerate the faithful With that craazy Casbah sound But the Bedouin they brought out the electric camel drum The local guitar picker got his guitar-picking thumb As soon as the Shareef had cleared the square They began to wail Shareef don't like it Rock the Casbah, rock the Casbah Shareef don't like it Rock the Casbah, Rock the Casbah Now, over at the temple Oh, they really pack 'em in The in-crowd say it's cool To dig this chanting thing But as the wind changed direction Then the temple band took five The crowd caught a wiff Of that crazy Casbah jive Shareef don't like it Rock the Casbah, rock the Casbah Shareef don't like it Rock the Casbah, Rock the Casbah The king called up his jet fighters He said you better earn your pay Drop your bombs between the minarets Down the Casbah way As soon as the Shareef was chauffeured outta there The jet pilots tuned to the cockpit radio blare As soon as the Shareef was outta their hair The jet pilots wailed Shareef don't like it Rock the Casbah, rock the Casbah Shareef don't like it Rock the Casbah, Rock the Casbah Shareef don't like it, he thinks it's not kosher Rock the Casbah, rock the Casbah Shareef don't like it, fundementally can't take it Rock the Casbah, Rock the Casbah Shareef don't like it, you know he really hates it Rock the Casbah, rock the Casbah Shareef don't like it, really, really hates it
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6 fans
Written by: Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Topper Headon
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Chart Performance"Rock the Casbah" is considered one of The Clash's most successful songs. It topped at number eight on the "Billboard Hot 100" in the U.S, marking their highest charting single there.
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Song InspirationThis song was largely a response to the banning of music in Iran by Ayatollah Khomeini after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
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Video Bodyssey"Rock the Casbah's" music video was filmed in Austin, Texas and not in an actual Casbah. It was famously directed by Don Letts.
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Radio BanAfter the 9/11 attacks in the United States, "Rock the Casbah" was temporarily interiorized in the list of "lyrically questionable" songs by Clear Channel Communications.
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Song CreationThe initial piano part that forms the structure of the song was composed by their drummer, Topper Headon. He intended it to be a spoof on disco music.
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Title MeaningThe term "Casbah" essentially refers to a citadel or fortress in many North African cities. The phrase "rock the Casbah" in the context of the song suggests disrupting the status quo.
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Album AppearanceRock the Casbah is from the band's album Combat Rock, released in 1982. This album was their fifth and became their best-selling album.
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Cover VersionsVarious artist over the years have covered "Rock the Casbah". Notably, Rachid Taha, an Algerian singer, recorded a version of it in Arabic.
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Personnel ChangeBefore the release of "Rock the Casbah", The Clash experienced changes in their line-up with Co-founder Mick Jones facing expulsion from the band.
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Group Achievement"Rock the Casbah" is one of two songs by The Clash (the other being "Should I Stay or Should I Go") that has been accredited Gold in the United States, selling over half a million copies.
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Citation
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"Rock the Casbah Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 18 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/119204/The+Clash/Rock+the+Casbah>.
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