Know Your Rights Explained

Know Your Rights
Cover:Knowyourrights.png
Type:single
Artist:The Clash
Album:Combat Rock
B-Side:First Night Back in London
Released:1982
Genre:Rockabilly[1]
Length:3:41
Label:CBS
Producer:The Clash
Prev Title:This Is Radio Clash
Prev Year:1981
Next Title:Rock the Casbah
Next Year:1982

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

The song begins with the words "This is a public service announcement... with guitar!" 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.

The three are:

  1. "The right not to be killed. Murder is a crime, unless it is done by a policeman, or an aristocrat".
  2. "The right to food money, providing, of course, you don't mind a little investigation, humiliation, and if you cross your fingers, rehabilitation".
  3. "The right to free speech (as long as you're not dumb enough to actually try it)".

Cover versions

"Know Your Rights" has been performed live many times by Pearl Jam, most notably during their Riot Act Tour in 2003, and it also has been recorded on their live albums 7/11/03 – Mansfield, Massachusetts, 7/9/03 – New York, New York, and 3/3/03 – Tokyo, Japan.

Track listing

7" vinyl
  1. "Know Your Rights" (Joe Strummer/Mick Jones) – 3:35
  2. "First Night Back in London" (The Clash) – 3:00

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sendra . Tim . The Clash – Combat Rock – Album Review . . 14 March 2023.