Скачать или смотреть The Clash "Know Your Rights" (1982)

"Know Your Rights" is a song by The Clash. It was released as the first single from the album Combat Rock (1982), three weeks prior to the release of the album.

The song begins with the words "This is a public service announcement...with guitars!" The structure of the song revolves around the rights held by the poor and disenfranchised, in which the speaker of the song, presumably a villainous civil servant (whose identity is assumed in the song by vocalist Joe Strummer), names the three actual rights. At the end, the notion that more rights should be granted is rebuffed by the speaker.

Lyrics:

This is a public service announcement..with guitar!

[Chorus]
Know your rights
All three of 'em:

[Verse 1]
Number 1
You have the right not to be killed
Murder is a crime
Unless it was done
By a Policeman
Or an aristocrat

[Chorus]
Oh, know your rights

[Verse 2]
And Number 2
You have the right to food money
Providing of course you
Don't mind a little
Investigation, humiliation
And if you cross your fingers
Rehabilitation

[Chorus]
These are your rights
Oh, know these rights

[Verse 3]
Number 3
You have the right to free speech
As long as you're not
Dumb enough to actually try it

[Chorus]
Know your rights
These are your rights
Oh, know your rights
These are your rights
All three of 'em, ha

[Outro]
It has been suggested
In some quarters that this is not enough
Well, get off the streets