After attending a reggae festival where he was the only white person in the crowd, lead vocalist and guitarist, Joe Strummer, found himself dissecting the uncomfortable segregation he had witnessed. This aroused a socio-political commentary that flowed forth into one of The Clash's most stirring anthems. It was daring. It was different, it was a cross-cultural grenade that blew the music scene wide open.

The Clash, proud punks with a heart rooted in working-class revolt, took a bold move with this track. Having already experimented in reggae with the Police and Thieves cover on their debut album, they decided to gamble on an original reggae-inspired track. This risky move was a testament to Strummer’s vision to initiate a dialogue between white and black music – unapologetic and bold.

Despite the band’s reputation for disruption, Strummer feared the fans' reaction to such unexpected experimentation. He needn't have worried, the track was a major success and earned its place as a one of the biggest tunes in The Clash’s anthology.

The impact of the song was not just auditory, it penetrated societal structures, and opened conversations about race, socio-economic disparity and the commercialisation of counter-culture. The lyrics were a loud echo of the socio-political landscape - raw, relatable, and rebellious.

This clarion call of urgency for white youth, black youth to find another solution is as relevant today as it was in 1978. The Clash remain one of the most influential British bands ever. Whether musically, socially, politically or even stylistically.

Lucky for you this song has inspired at least three tees in the Slogun range, featuring lyrics from the song. Joe, Mick, Paul, Topper, these tees are a tribute to your genius. Check them out below, true icons never go out of style.