Rudie Can't Fail

"Rudie Can't Fail"
Song by The Clash from the album London Calling
Released	14 December, 1979
Recorded	June-July, 1979
Genre	Reggae, pop, soul
Length	3:26
Label	CBS
Writer	Joe Strummer, Mick Jones
Producer	Guy Stevens

"Rudie Can't Fail" is a song by the English punk rock band The Clash, featured on their 1979 album London Calling. The song was written by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, who sing it as a duet.

Composition

Like many songs on London Calling, "Rudie Can't Fail" has a strong reggae influence. Donald A. Guarisco of Allmusic described it as "an exuberant horn-driven number that mixes pop and soul elements in to spice up its predominantly reggae sound".

Lyrics

"Rudie Can't Fail" praises the rude boys of Jamaica in the 1960s who challanged their elders' status quo. The song is about a fun-loving young man who is criticized by his elders for not acting as a responsible adult and describe him as being "so crude and feckless", to which he responds "I know that my life make you nervous, but I tell you I can't live my life in service."