Know Your Rights

"Know Your Rights"
Single by The Clash
from the album Combat Rock
B-side	"First Night Back in London"
Released	23 April 1982
Format	7" vinyl
Recorded	1982
Genre	Punk rock
Length	3:51
Label	CBS A2309
Writer(s)	Joe Strummer and Mick Jones
Producer	The Clash
The Clash singles chronology
"This Is Radio Clash" (1981) "Know Your Rights" (1982) "Should I Stay or Should I Go" (1982)

"Know Your Rights" is a song by The Clash. It was released as a single prior to the release of the album, Combat Rock, on which it appears. The song was the first single from 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.

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).

The song is featured on the compilation album, Songs and Artists That Inspired Fahrenheit 9/11, which followed up the 2004 documentary film Fahrenheit 9/11 by filmmaker Michael Moore, where the track listing was selected by Moore based on the songs and the artists he listened to while creating the documentary.

Cover versions

Primal Scream covered the song as a b-side to their 'Kowalski' single in 1997.

"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.

The Frisk also recorded a version of the song on their EP "Rank Restraint."

Charts

Chart Peak position Date UK Singles Chart 43

References

Sources

• Gilbert, Pat (2005) [2004]. Passion Is a Fashion: The Real Story of The Clash (4th edition ed.). London: Aurum Press. ISBN 1845131134. OCLC 61177239. 
• Gray, Marcus (2005) [1995]. The Clash: Return of the Last Gang in Town (5th revised edition ed.). London: Helter Skelter. ISBN 1905139101. OCLC 60668626. 
• Green, Johnny; Garry Barker (2003) [1997]. A Riot of Our Own: Night and Day with The Clash (3rd edition ed.). London: Orion. ISBN 0752858432. OCLC 52990890. 
• Gruen, Bob; Chris Salewicz (2004) [2001]. The Clash (3rd edition ed.). London: Omnibus. ISBN 1903399343. OCLC 69241279. 
• Needs, Kris (2005-01-25). Joe Strummer and the Legend of the Clash. London: Plexus. ISBN 085965348X. OCLC 53155325. 
• Topping, Keith (2004) [2003]. The Complete Clash (2nd edition ed.). Richmond: Reynolds & Hearn. ISBN 1903111706. OCLC 63129186.