The Sharif is the local strong man, aka the sheriff. The casbah is a public marketplace, typically open air. Minarets are the spires atop mosques. The muezzin sings the calls to prayer. The Clash wrote the song as push back to religious edicts against music. In the lyrics the pilots ordered to bomb the casbah to stop the people from rocking out ignore their orders and rock out along with them instead.

The Clash were often called "The Only Band That Matters" back when for good reason. They were a punk-rock band willing to experiment with their sound. They were the early pioneers of fusing punk rock with reggae and ska and funk and proto-hip-hop. For a taste, check out their proto-hip hop banger "Radio Clash" (aka "This is Radio Clash"). Punk rock was still a relatively new genre in the US back when they dropped that song and I remember being a bit confused hearing "Radio Clash" for the first time as my introduction to The Clash and punk rock because the song is super funky and not at all what I expected. For a taste of how they fused reggae into their sound, check out their 1977 cover of Junior Murvin's "Police & Thieves". Bob Marley wrote "Punky Reggae Party" in response to it. Also check out "Revolution Rock" or "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" or the ska infused "Rudie Can't Fail" from their London Calling album.

Joe Strummer was lead vocal and his voice is unique is very recognizable.

I was eight when this song came out in '82. I had no idea what it was about but I knew I liked it and am still rockin' to it 42 years later! 🤘🏼

The Clash, yassss! The only band that mattered. (That was a term used and still is about them). Please react to Magnificent Seven. It's arguably the first hip hop song by an all white band. Yes, they were known as a 'punk' band, but they did everything. Joe Strummer is a legend. London Calling is considered one of the best albums ever done. Blondie (another mostly punk band) and The Clash (from London) were in NYC in 79 where the original hip hop (grand master funk, etc.) were hitting the scene but not known essentially anywhere else, and both bands went to see some hip hop there one night and were so impressed they both wrote hip hop songs. Blondie's is called Rapture, and The Clash's is Magnificent Seven. It has a very funky bass, and it's irresistable. Joe raps throughout the song and it is fire. You MUST listen to it! It's nothing like this one. Joe was about the working class. He tried to insist that their three record album Sandinista be the same price as a single album. They are so much more than this one pop punk tune! Do the MV or the live either one of Magnificent Seven! White Man In Hammersmith Palais is a good one, too, as is the title track from London Calling. This song you reacted to, Train In Vain, Should I Stay Or Should I Go are their more mainstream/commercial songs, but they were SO much more than that. I might join your patreon just to get you to do Magnificent Seven if I have to. It was recorded in April 1980 and there wasn't a lot of hip hop at the time. No one liked it nor did they like Blondie's Rapture outside of NYC at the time because the world wasn't ready for hip hop/rap LOL!

Bongos are smaller than Congas that are taller and usually wider with deeper tones. I own 6 sets of each in my percussion kit.

♥ The Clash! All time classic song! You gotta check out their songs: London Calling, Should I Stay or Should I Go & This is Radio Clash

Aw man..the actual music video is sick!

Bummer you didn't do the original video. It really helps to see them perform and better grasp the song and who they are. DEFINITELY worth the watch on your own.

80's British Punk Rock... I heard most of it on the radio, watched the videos, and was never inspired to spend any money on the music or live shows. The best thing about music is so many styles and we all have our favorites.

The Kasbah is a place.

The first time I heard this (1982 senior in high school), I laughed so hard because I thought, man, this guy can't carry a tune at all! But it was funny, fun, catchy, great to dance to and a great 80s tune! We didn't have a clue what it was about...most of the time we were guessing lyrics and words.

This is a great one! Once again, your program has lit a fire at the end of a long day! Now you're inspiring me to come up with some new recommendations! More to follow!

What time! The 80s was a time of great music. This was early 80s when MTV was born. You need to watch the video. It was so crazy but typical of that time.

Just saw u did hot rod Lincoln was a fish song to im look it up here i found it very cool song Wet Dream - Kip Addotta .

Loving your reaction, fantastic song and with The Clash you get great lyrics, amazing live too.

This song was played in Desert Storm durring the first bomb run on Iraq.

Be sure to check out the Clash's version of the rock 'n' roll classic, "I Fought the Law"....

I had this cassette and it was one of my favorites to dance to!

For years i've goofed people by singing the chorus one of two ways. The first - "Sharif don't like it , robbing the cash box". The second - "Sharif don't like it , raking the cat box". Its a riot to hear people singing that way an hour later !

No caring kind of feeling. That’s The Clash ☮️ Great band

🎙🎶👍🎸😎💣

There's a video of this song and it's pretty funny 😁

In re: all of your comments; check out the original MTV video made for this; you are right on, on all accounts. Great reaction. Already subbed, but if I hadn't, I'd have subbed on this.

The I don't care what people think "thing" is called PUNK :-D

❤

oh ya! This one is oddly appropriate for the times!

LOVE THE CLASH! Total Punk Rock. This song came out around the time that the US deployed the military to the Middle East. Up to that time, the US vowed to never interfere in the Middle East - at least that's what we were being told. As expected, their leadership wasn't happy with us being there, nor were many Americans.

The music video for this is a lot of fun (though the audio quality always drops a bit on those).

It was Congas. Almost no one plays bongos.

The official video was half the song.

Okay after 9/11 this is what the pilots played when they took out to go bomb in Iraq what's Rock the Casbah this was play it in the cockpits when they were taking off to bomb the countries that hurt us Rock the Casbah

As you know I am a Wizard and can cast a spell on you.... Watch this video, So Sez The Wizard.....Pink Floyd - On the Turning Away Remastered 2019

I'm not a big fan of the Clash - apart from anything else, they were a strange band in that they had two lead singers, neither of whom could really sing. Anyway, gripes aside, I *love* this song, not so much for the lyrics, but for the sheer brilliance of the music, for which their drummer Topper Headon was largely responsible. He wrote the music, and played the piano as well as the drums - he might even have been responsible for that absolutely superb bassline. One of my favourite Clash songs, along with London Calling, Train In Vain and Straight To Hell.

The orginal video will also show you a glimpse of how cool Austin, Texas USED TO BE....not the woke-infested toilet it is now.😢