The Clash's "Spanish Bombs"/News from Another Time

It's fair to say that I came to poetry, and a certain kind of poetry, from music. Should I be embarrassed to say that I first learned about Steven Biko from Peter Gabriel's "Biko," Victor Jara from U2's "One Tree Hill," and the Spanish Civil War from The Clash's "Spanish Bombs"--among many other examples? Popular song has long carried the weight of the ballad--conveying the news in ways that makes it more than news, the kind of news that stays news.

Why can't poetry do the same? I once read an anecdote about the Clash that is suggestive of the kind of turn from love songs to punk songs; Mick Jones brought a song to Joe Strummer, called "I'm So Bored With You," an anti-love song, and Joe suggested that they call it "I'm So Bored With the U.S.A.." That's great revision.



In a funny, offbeat interview with Tom Snyder, The Clash don't divulge how they see themselves as a "News Group," as purveyors of the news--doesn't the music speak for itself? Shout-outs to my Clash brothers: Jim Doppke, Paul Scalia, Matt Longo, Brian Cook, Brian Gunn, Mark Gunn, E.J. McAdams, Dan Seltzer, and Tom Pace (who appears to have downloaded "London Calling" on his phone--revolution is just a cell ring away).

"Spanish Bombs" by the Clash

Spanish songs in Andalucia,
the shooting sites in the days of ’39.
Oh, please leave the VENTANA open.
Federico Lorca is dead and gone:
bullet holes in the cemetery walls,
the black cars of the Guardia Civil.
Spanish bombs on the Costa Rica -
I’m flying in a DC-10 tonight.

Spanish bombs; yo te quiero infinito.
Yo te quiero, oh mi corazón.
Spanish bombs; yo te quiero infinito.
Yo te quiero, oh mi corazón.

Spanish weeks in my disco casino;
the freedom fighters died upon the hill.
They sang the red flag,
they wore the black one -
but after they died, it was Mockingbird Hill.
Back home, the buses went up in flashes,
the Irish tomb was drenched in blood.
Spanish bombs shatter the hotels.
My señorita’s rose was nipped in the bud.

Spanish bombs; yo te quiero infinito.
Yo te quiero, oh mi corazón.
Spanish bombs; yo te quiero infinito.
Yo te quiero, oh mi corazón.

The hillsides ring with “free the people”
-or can I hear the echo from the days of ’39
with trenches full of poets,the ragged army,
fixing bayonets to fight the other line?
Spanish bombs rock the province;
I’m hearing music from another time.
Spanish bombs on the Costa Brava;
I’m flying in on a DC-10 tonight.

Spanish bombs; yo te quiero infinito.
Yo te quiero, oh mi corazón.
Spanish bombs; yo te quiero infinito.
Yo te quiero, oh mi corazón,
oh mi corazón,oh mi corazón.
Spanish songs in Andalucia:
mandolina, oh mi corazón.
Spanish songs in Granada, oh mi corazón,
oh mi corazón,
oh mi corazón,
oh mi corazón.