The Clash - Red Angel Dragnet

Artist: The Clash

Song: Red Angel Dragnet

Album: Combat Rock (1982)

The Sex Pistols may have been the first British punk rock band, but the Clash were the definitive British punk rockers. Where the Pistols were nihilistic, the Clash were fiery and idealistic, charged with righteousness and a leftist political ideology. more

According to author Marcus Gray, the song Red Angel Dragnet was inspired by the January 1982 shooting death of Frank Melvin, a New York member of the Guardian Angels. The song contains extensive quotes from the 1976 movie Taxi Driver's main character Travis Bickle, delivered by Kosmo Vinyl. Bickle sports a mohawk in the later part of the film and that hairstyle was adopted by Joe Strummer during the album promotion.

music

I come from a long way away

And I know a fine thing when I see it.

See it

For the same reason no one ever

Pointed a telescope at the sun

Talking about the Red Angels of New York City

CHORUS

Who shot the shot?

Who got shot tonite?

Not even five enforcement agencies can save their own.

Never mind the people

Tonite it's raining on the Angels of the City

Did anyone prophesize these people?

Only Travis

Come in Travis

One of these days I'm gonna get myself organized.

All the animals come out at night.

Queens, fairies, dopers, junkies, sick venal.

Some day a real rain will come and wash all the scum off the streets.

Thank god for the rain to wash the trash off the sidewalk. Listen you screwheads:

Here is a man who would not take it anymore.

A man who stood up against the scum, the filth.

Now I see clearly.

Personally I know the alley

Where Jack feeds on the birds of night

Not even bubbies on bicycles 2x2

Can stop the blood and feathers flying

Waring overalls and for once and for all

What is the dream?

I'll tell it

To live like they do in the movies

San Juan you listening?

Yeah I bet you are

Hands up for Hollywood

Hooray

I hear you

Snappy on the air

Hang in their

Wall to wall

You saved the worled

What else? You saved the girl

Chmpagne on ice

No stranger to Alcatraz

To boot

Or strip it down

Chop it a little

Being reasonable

Just freedom to move

To live

For women to take a walk in the park at midnite

Hey, but this is serious

She can't even get back home

I come from a long way off

And I know a lifegiver over a lifetaker

For the same reason no-one ever pointed

A gun at a policeman

Talking about the Red Angels of New York City

Yeah