High school literature teaches you that when happy music is paired with gloomy lyrics, the effect is irony. A slightly more perceptive reading of London Calling acknowledges the irony that is characteristic of 20th century popular music but realises that reducing the effect of the album to irony does it a great disservice. When Mick Jones sings 'everything I need / He gives it but not for free' on 'Hateful', the joy is sincere. When he urges the audience to smash up their seats and 'mash up the nation', the joy is sincere. One could only say there is a kind of cathartic joy in watching the world burn, especially when it burns as colourfully as through the lenses of Clash lyrics.