Rudie Can't Fail

"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.

"Rudie Can't Fail"
Dutch single release
Song by the Clash
from the album London Calling
B-side	"Bankrobber" / "Rockers Galore... UK Tour"
Released	14 December 1979
Recorded	June–July, 1979
Genre	Reggae ska dub[1]
Length	3:26
Label	CBS
Songwriter(s)	Joe Strummer, Mick Jones
Producer(s)	Guy Stevens

Composition

Like some songs on London Calling, "Rudie Can't Fail" has a strong reggae, rocksteady 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".^[2]

Lyrics

"Rudie Can't Fail" praises the rude boys of Jamaica in the 1960s who challenged their elders' status quo. The song is about a fun-loving young man who is criticised by his elders for not acting as a responsible adult, drinking beer at breakfast,^[3] 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 in service."^[2] The song's title derives from Desmond Dekker's 1967 song "007 (Shanty Town)", and is in homage to Ray Gange, who had portrayed a roadie who quits his job to follow the Clash around in the 1980 film Rude Boy.^[4] Rudie Can't Fail was the working title of a planned second movie for which The Clash would provide the soundtrack.^[5] Reference is made also to Dr Alimantado and his 1977 song "Born for a Purpose" in the line "Like the doctor who was born for a purpose".^[6] The line "You're looking pretty smart in your chicken skin suit", may refer to Alimantado's debut album, Best Dressed Chicken in Town.

See also

• Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe, a diner in California named after the song