# Groovy Times > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Groovy_Times > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Groovy_Times.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groovy_Times > Source revision: 1346642007 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (July 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message) 1979 promotional single by the Clash "Groovy Times" Promotional single by the Clash from the EP The Cost of Living Released 11 May 1979 Recorded 1979 Genre Punk rock Length 3:26 Label Epic Songwriters Joe Strummer Mick Jones "**Groovy Times**" is a song by the English [punk rock](/source/Punk_rock) band [the Clash](/source/The_Clash), featured on their [*The Cost of Living* EP](/source/The_Cost_of_Living_(EP)) and also included with initial pressings of the US release of the band's debut album. It was originally recorded as "Groovy Times Are Here Again" during the recording sessions for *[Give 'Em Enough Rope](/source/Give_'Em_Enough_Rope)*; however, this demo has never been officially released, but can be found on many Clash bootlegs. It was never performed live. The vinyl version contains the song "Gates of the West". The song's lyrics are filled with images of urban decay and civil unrest and focus on recurring Clash themes of alienation, monotony and oppression. According to their author, [Joe Strummer](/source/Joe_Strummer), the lyrics were sparked by his disgust at the erection of fences in Britain's football terraces, built to keep fans apart in response to football hooliganism. Ten years later the [Hillsborough Disaster](/source/Hillsborough_Disaster) would prove these fences fatal and his concerns irrefutably correct.[*[original research?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:No_original_research)*] The 'King of Early Evening [ITV](/source/ITV_Network)' mentioned in the song is confirmed as [Bill Grundy](/source/Bill_Grundy),[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] whose career was ruined after his [infamous interview](/source/Bill_Grundy#The_Today_show_incident) with the [Sex Pistols](/source/Sex_Pistols) and was indeed presenting early evening television on British terrestrial channel ITV. "I can remember his first appearance now look what's happened to him, so they put him in a dog suit like from 1964" is about singer-songwriter [Elvis Costello](/source/Elvis_Costello).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] The music, acoustic and guitar based, was predominantly written by [Mick Jones](/source/Mick_Jones_(The_Clash)) and feature [harmonica](/source/Harmonica) parts by him but credited to 'Bob Jones', a pseudonym that was apparently a reference to singer/songwriter [Bob Dylan](/source/Bob_Dylan).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] "Groovy Times" has subsequently been re-released on the *[Clash on Broadway](/source/Clash_on_Broadway)* and *[Singles Box](/source/Singles_Box)* box sets, its single-disc equivalent *[The Singles](/source/The_Singles_(2007_The_Clash_album))* and the *[Super Black Market Clash](/source/Super_Black_Market_Clash)* and *[The Essential Clash](/source/The_Essential_Clash)* compilations. ## Personnel - [Joe Strummer](/source/Joe_Strummer) – lead vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar - [Mick Jones](/source/Mick_Jones_(The_Clash)) – backing vocals, harmonica, acoustic lead guitars - [Paul Simonon](/source/Paul_Simonon) – bass guitar - [Topper Headon](/source/Topper_Headon) – drums ## Sources - Topping, Keith (2003). *The Complete Clash*. Reynolds & Hern LTD. - Gilbert, Pat (2005). *Passion Is a Fashion: The Real Story of The Clash*. [Aurum Press Ltd](/source/Aurum_Press). v t e The Clash Joe Strummer Mick Jones Paul Simonon Topper Headon Terry Chimes Keith Levene Rob Harper Pete Howard Nick Sheppard Vince White Studio albums The Clash Give 'Em Enough Rope London Calling Sandinista! Combat Rock Cut the Crap Live albums From Here to Eternity: Live Live at Shea Stadium Compilations Black Market Clash The Story of the Clash, Volume 1 1977 Revisited Clash on Broadway The Singles (1991) Super Black Market Clash The Essential Clash Singles Box The Singles (2007) Sound System The Clash Hits Back 5 Album Studio Set Extended plays Capital Radio The Cost of Living Singles "White Riot" "Remote Control" "Complete Control" "Clash City Rockers" "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" "Tommy Gun" "English Civil War" "I Fought the Law" "Groovy Times" "London Calling" "Clampdown" "Train in Vain" "Bankrobber" "The Call Up" "Hitsville U.K." "The Magnificent Seven" "This Is Radio Clash" "Know Your Rights" "Should I Stay or Should I Go" "Rock the Casbah" "Straight to Hell" "This Is England" "Return to Brixton" Other songs "Career Opportunities" "Capital Radio One" "Garageland" "I'm So Bored with the USA" "Janie Jones" "London's Burning" "Police and Thieves" "Jail Guitar Doors" "Brand New Cadillac" "Death or Glory" "Lost in the Supermarket" "Revolution Rock" "Rudie Can't Fail" "Spanish Bombs" "Junco Partner" "Washington Bullets" "Overpowered by Funk" Films Rude Boy Concert for Kampuchea Westway to the World Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten London Town Related articles Discography Songs Band members The 101ers London SS Public Image Ltd Big Audio Dynamite Havana 3am The Latino Rockabilly War The Pogues The Mescaleros Carbon/Silicon The Good, the Bad & the Queen Gorillaz Spirit of St. Louis Rock Against Racism The Joe Strummer Foundation Bernard Rhodes Don Letts Alex Michon Caroline Coon Sandy Pearlman Guy Stevens Kosmo Vinyl Mick Gallagher Norman Watt-Roy Tymon Dogg Mikey Dread Ellen Foley Futura 2000 Category This 1970s single–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. - [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:1970s-single-stub) - [t](/source/Template_talk%3A1970s-single-stub) - [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:1970s-single-stub) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Groovy Times](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groovy_Times) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groovy_Times?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.