41 Joe Strummer Quotes From The Iconic Punk Rocker

John Graham Mellor also known as Joe Strummer was a famous British punk, musician and performer.

He was a singer, songwriter, composer and also a radio host. He was well known as the vocalist and co-founder of the punk rock band 'The Clash'.

His popular work as a musician also led him to explore other genres of the media. He did many television and radio shows which added to his fame. A quote "Ignore alien orders" written on his guitar created quite an inquisition among the fans back in the '70s. Joe Strummer sadly passed away on 22 December 2002 in Broomfield at the age of 50. Joe Strummer quotes about control and dedication for music still continue to inspire budding musicians. Here are some of the best quotes from the legend himself.

If you like this article about what goes Joe Strummer quotes, you may also want to check our other quotes articles rock and roll quotes and [Jim Morrison quotes].

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Here are some of the best Joe Strummer quotes that are still remembered by people.

1. “I don't have any other message than don't forget you are alive”

- Joe Strummer.

2. "When you're out to get the honey you don't go killing all the bees."

- Joe Strummer.

3. “The way you get a better world is, you don't put up with substandard anything.”

- Joe Strummer.

4. "I don't want to look back. I want to keep going forward, I still have something to say to people."

- Joe Strummer.

5. "If you're allowed to make your mistakes, I think you should."

- Joe Strummer.

6. "The roots of rock 'n' roll is rhythm and blues and that's like really where I'm at, where I was always at."

- Joe Strummer.

7. "The future is unwritten."

- Joe Strummer.

Some lines from famous songs just cling on to your mind long after you have listened to it. You just can't help but keep repeating them. Here are some of the most popular lines from his songs which made the crowd go wild.

8. "My mind don't need it but my body do, a little bit of lovin' and attention for you."

- Joe Strummer.

9. "I don't care 'cause I'm not all there. No Elvis, Beatles, or the Rolling Stones."

- Joe Strummer.

10. "I'm gonna go out dancin' every night. I'm gonna see all the city lights."

- Joe Strummer.

11. "I've combed this town from top to bottom. Try to get around but my legs are broken."

- Joe Strummer.

12. "Standing in a queue of a school canteen, guys on the corner they were laughin' at me. But I don't mind if they see it all you know I gotta come clean, I got a crush on you."

- Joe Strummer.

13. "Oh, I do a lot of things I know is wrong. Hope I'm forgiven before I'm gone."

- Joe Strummer.

14. "Now I've been to California and I've been to New South Wales. Sometimes I, I pull over when I realise I've left no trace."

- Joe Strummer.

15. "In 1977, I hope I go to heaven. I too long on the dole and I can't work at all."

- Joe Strummer.

16. "It'll take a lot of prayers to save my soul and I got to hurry up before I grow too old."

- Joe Strummer.

17. "There is a towing zone, east of Chavez Ravine where I met my Queen!"

- Joe Strummer.

18. "Some dreams are made for children but most grow old with us."

- Joe Strummer.

19. "Friday or Saturday, what does that mean? Short space of time an' needs a heavy scene. Monday is comin' like a jail on wheels."

- Joe Strummer.

20. "Sometimes there's no star shining scounting the edge of the universe. Sometimes you can't see the horizon between the ocean and the earth."

- Joe Strummer.

21. "I'm not the only one watching the sky for mankind's friend.  Oh, you've caught an even atom tan!"

- Joe Strummer.

22. "No flower can say what perfume is. We got all this and bird and diz!"

- Joe Strummer.

23. "I've been a long haul driver moving things but the cops don't know. Now I can see the writing you are the last of the buffalo."

- Joe Strummer.

24. "We're gonna show all the crews. How to make that rhythm and blues!"

- Joe Strummer.

25. "Burning lights in the desert such a sign only you would know. Your running tyres, they're out of pressure. Such a sign only you would know."

- Joe Strummer.

26. "Born in a depression, born out of good luck. Born into misery in the back of a truck."

- Joe Strummer.

27. "They say the stars can't see their rays nor can they count their numbered days."

- Joe Strummer.

28. "Where do nomads go when the Dow Jones falls too low? Crazy world!"

- Joe Strummer.

29. "I'm telling you this mister, don't be put off by looks. I've been in the ring and I took those right hooks."

- Joe Strummer.

30. "I'll do everything silver and gold. I got to hurry up before I grow too old."

- Joe Strummer.

31. "And it was me, drove off the off ramp of the sweetheart highway. It was me, I admit I had the map. This is what I gotta say."

- Joe Strummer.

32. "May I remind you of that scene the spirit is our gasoline. May I remind you of that scene we were arms aloft in Aberdeen."

- Joe Strummer.

33. "The loneliness used to knock me out harder than the rest. And I've worked for breakfast and I haven't had no lunch. Been on delivery and received every punch."

- Joe Strummer.

34. "We're in Bummed Out City that's what the sign says. I plead your mercy and your pity. Is not life a mirror maze?"

- Joe Strummer.

Some people have music in their blood. It is all that they can ever think of. It not only gives them fame and money, but is also their escape from the world. Here are some of the best Joe Strummer quotes on music which show his passion towards it.

35. "Punk rock isn't something you grow out of Punk rock is an attitude, and the essence of that attitude is give us some truth."

- Joe Strummer.

36. "Mimicking some American rock singer's accent. That's just pretending to be something you ain't."

- Joe Strummer.

37. "To me, our music is like Jamaican stuff - if they can't hear it, they're not supposed to hear it. It's not for them if they can't understand it."

- Joe Strummer.

38. "People don't really like hearing you admit mistakes. Although I'd never wanted to dump on the musicians that were involved in that."

- Joe Strummer.

39. "For me the music is a vehicle for my lyrics."

- Joe Strummer.

40. "What's holding me up is I'm confused about the nature of the music. Modern music doesn't reach me."

- Joe Strummer.

41. "The sound of the modern electric production, a lot of sequencers. That is something people are buying. That doesn't reach me, it throws me back but I don't want to be there."

- Joe Strummer.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Joe Strummer quotes then why not take a look at Paul McCartney quotes, or Freddie Mercury quotes