Right Profile
Right Profile

The Clash - Right Profile Lyrics

Punk
Sep 6, 2013
159
Right Profile Music Video

Right Profile Lyrics

Say, where did I see this guy?
In "Red River"?
Or a "Place In The Sun"?
Maybe "The Misfits"?
Or "From Here To Eternity"?

And everybody say, "Is he all right?"
And everybody say, "What's he like?"
And everybody say, "He sure looks funny"
That's Montgomery Clift, honey

New York, New York, 42nd Street
Hustlers rustle and pimps pimp the beat
Monty Clift is recognized at dawn
He ain't got no shoes and his clothes are torn

And everybody say, "Is he all right?"
And everybody say, "What's he like?"
And everybody say, "He sure look funny"
That's that Montgomery Clift, honey

I see a car smashed at night
Cut the applause and dim the light
Monty's face is broken on a wheel
Is he alive? Can he still feel?

And everybody say, "Is he all right?"
And everybody say, "Shine a light"
And everybody say, "It's not funny"
That's Montgomery Clift, honey

Shoot his right profile

And everybody say, "Is he all right?"
And everybody say, "What's he like?"
And everybody say, "He sure look funny"
That's Montgomery Clift, honey

Nembutol numbs it all
But I prefer alcohol

And everybody say, "What's he like?"
And everybody say, "Is he all right?"
And everybody say, "He sure look funny"
That's Montgomery Clift, honey!

He said go out and get me my old movie stills
Go out and get me another roll of pills
There I go again shaking, but I ain't got the chills

And everybody say, "What's he like?"
And everybody say, "Is he all right?"
And everybody say, "He sure looks funny"
I was trapped, Montgomery Clift, honey

Writer(s): Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper Headon
Copyright(s): Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

Attach an image to this thought

Drag image here or click to upload image

The Meaning of Right Profile

Be the first!

Post your thoughts on the meaning of "Right Profile".

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Who is Montgomery Clift mentioned in 'The Right Profile'?

    Montgomery Clift was a renowned American actor, known for his roles in 'A Place in the Sun', 'From Here to Eternity', and 'The Misfits'. He had a troubled life marked by issues with pills and alcohol and tragically died in 1966.

  2. Why was the song titled 'The Right Profile'?

    The song is titled 'The Right Profile' because, following a severe car accident that left Montgomery Clift's face mangled, he needed plastic surgery for his broken jaw. To look good on camera, he had to be shot from his 'right profile'.

  3. What event does the 'car smashed at night' in the lyrics refer to?

    The 'car smashed at night' refers to Montgomery Clift's car accident in 1956. He crashed into a tree while driving home from a party at Elizabeth Taylor's house. This accident severely damaged his face, requiring significant plastic surgery.

  4. Did Montgomery Clift have any support after his car accident?

    Yes, Elizabeth Taylor, who was also a close friend, saved his life after the car accident in 1956. Despite his severe injuries and subsequent struggles with addiction, he continued his acting career.

  5. What role did Guy Stevens play in the creation of 'The Right Profile'?

    Guy Stevens, the producer of 'London Calling', suggested the idea for 'The Right Profile'. He lent Joe Strummer a copy of Patricia Bosworth's biography on Montgomery Clift. Stevens' own struggles with alcohol and drugs may have drawn him to Clift's story.

  6. Why is Montgomery Clift described in a troubled manner in the song?

    The song depicts Montgomery Clift's troubled life, highlighting his struggles with addiction to pills and alcohol, and the long-lasting impact of his car accident, which many believed led to what was called the 'slowest suicide' in cinema history.

Latest Blog Posts
Lyrics Discussions
Hot Songs
Recent Blog Posts