Listening to Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros on Radio Paradise

Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros — Bhindi Bhagee

Album: Global A Go-Go
Avg rating:

7.1

Your rating:

Total ratings: 1693

Released: 2001
Length: 5:26
Plays (last 30 days): 0

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Well, I was walking down the High Road
And this guy stops me
He'd just got in from New Zealand
And he was looking for mushy peas
I said, no, we hadn't really got 'em round here
I said, but we do got

Balti, Bhindi, strictly Hindi
Dall, Halal and I'm walking down the road
We got rocksoul, okra, bombay duck-ra
Shrimp beansprout, comes with it or without - with it or without
Bagels soft or simply harder
Exotic avocado or toxic empenada
We got akee, lassi, Somali waccy baccy
I'm sure back home you know what tikka's all about - what tikka's all about

Welcome stranger, to the humble neighbourhoods
You can get inspiration along the high road

Hommus, cous cous in the jus of octopus
Pastrami and salami and lasagne on the go
Welcome stranger, there's no danger
Welcome to this humble neighbourhood

There's Balti, Bhindi, strictly Hindi
Dall, Halal and I'm walking down the road
Rocksoul, okra, bombay duck-ra
Shrimp beansprout, comes with it or without

So anyway, I told him I was in a band
He said, "Oh yeah, oh yeah - what's your music like?"
I said, "It's um, um, well, it's kinda like
You know, it's got a bit of, um, you know."

Ragga, Bhangra, two-step Tanga
Mini-cab radio, music on the go
Um, surfbeat, backbeat, frontbeat, backseat
There's a bunch of players and they're really letting go
We got Brit pop, hip hop, rockabilly, Lindy hop
Gaelic heavy metal fans fighting in the road
Ah, Sunday boozers for chewing gum users
They got a crazy D.J. and she's really letting go

Oh, welcome stranger
Welcome stranger to the humble neighbourhoods

Well, I say, there's plenty of places to eat round here
He say, "Oh yeah, I'm pretty choosy."

You got
Balti, Bhindi, strictly Hindi
Dall, Halal, walking down the road
Rocksoul, okra, bombay duck-ra
Shrimp beansprout, comes with it or without
Let's check it out

Welcome stranger to the humble neighbourhoods, neighbourhoods
Check out all that

Por-da-sol, por-da-sol
Walking down the high road

Comments (157)add comment

Strummer was a genius with the Clash and then the Mescalero’s. Fantastic music and lyrics.

Posted 1 year ago by cambuddyf [ Reply ]

It's even more the case today than twenty years ago that London is the restaurant capital of the world. Anyone who thinks the food in the UK isn't very good is still imagining stereotypes from the 1950s. You can get mushy peas in a chippy generally, although it might have swordfish or oysters on the menu alongside cod and haddock.

Posted 1 year ago by ElCamoteLoco [ Reply ]

kiwilistener wrote:

Mushy peas is not a New Zealand thing. That’s from England. FYI 😊

LOL another kiwi here and YUP!

(still on my favoUrites tho :)

Posted 1 year ago by IvanTheMediocre [ Reply ]

Mushy peas is not a New Zealand thing. That’s from England. FYI 😊

Posted 1 year ago by kiwilistener [ Reply ]

Good Lord how has this song managed to stay out my radar for so long?

Pure magic

Posted 2 years ago by doktorkev [ Reply ]

Ihatethissong wrote:

Joe Strummer's early life is fascinating:
As his father was in the British Foreign Service it so happened that Joe Strummer was born in Ankara, Turkey.
At the age of 9 he was packed off to boarding school in London with his older brother and thereafter saw his parents once a year.
By age 18 his brother had become a Nazi and committed suicide. Joe had to identify the corpse, which had gone undiscovered for 3 days.
I don't know how he managed to maintain sanity but he did.
A year or so later he started his musical career busking in London with a £1.99 ukulele

That's some story.

Posted 2 years ago by itsme_bygolly [ Reply ]

Pure fun

Posted 2 years ago by smartn1 [ Reply ]

Absolutely brilliant!!! The.whole.album. More, please! It will never not be on my playlists...

Posted 2 years ago by johnalexford [ Reply ]

Posted 2 years ago by Ihatethissong [ Reply ]

I think this is Joe Strummer's greatest, even including with The Clash. Although maybe tied with Death or Glory. Listen to how this song evokes what a modern, globalized city like London is. And how it does so through it's global, impossible-to-define music. This shit is the shit.

Posted 3 years ago by cely [ Reply ]

Definitely in my dance mix!

Posted 3 years ago by DanFHiggins [ Reply ]

The energy in this song is intense. Love it.

Posted 3 years ago by Zoonhollis [ Reply ]

cambuddyf wrote:

Latter day Joe Strummer is great. He ended on a high note imo. Lyrically interesting, musically very ambitious. What music and art is all about. I saw him live once after the album previous to Global a Go-Go and it ranks as one of the best concerts I ever saw.

Look after the king of R n R please

Posted 3 years ago by 69Grace_M [ Reply ]

Oh man -- I've had this disc for years, and just now read the words. What a blast!!! Joe Strummer -- International Treasure.

Posted 3 years ago by moto848 [ Reply ]

fredriley wrote:

This song makes me hungry! I could murder a biryani :o)

Then I hope you're not in New Zealand!

Posted 3 years ago by sjccroquet [ Reply ]

This song makes me hungry! I could murder a biryani :o)

Posted 4 years ago by fredriley [ Reply ]

Genius. Just pure freakin' genius. Whole album kicks it.

Rock in Peace, Mr. Strummer.
c.

Posted 4 years ago by cc_rider [ Reply ]

Rapping about international cuisine...I love it!

Posted 4 years ago by Jelani [ Reply ]

We're more multicultural here than just about anywhere, and we still suck at it to be fair. Now more than in 2001. Regression.

Posted 4 years ago by MattRudely [ Reply ]

Absolutely wonderful.

Posted 4 years ago by jmkate [ Reply ]

Posted 4 years ago by cambuddyf [ Reply ]

Bhindi Bhagee.....okra masala is delicious.

Posted 5 years ago by funkyalfonso [ Reply ]

RIP Joe, died WAY too young.

Posted 5 years ago by wtango [ Reply ]

Joe, we lost ‘ye way too soon...

Posted 5 years ago by jirvin8387 [ Reply ]

Every couple of months RP plays a song that's new to me that I download and play the hell out of, over and over, just like when I was 13. This is one of those songs.

Posted 5 years ago by newbolddrive [ Reply ]

Welcome stranger, there's no danger

Welcome to this humble neighbourhood

Posted 5 years ago by Michael_Dean [ Reply ]

This is fun

Posted 5 years ago by be4con [ Reply ]

This sort of rides a thin line between brilliance and atrocity for me. Today it seems more brilliant so 5→7.

Posted 5 years ago by jukes1 [ Reply ]

It should be acknowledged that there is also a time for mushy peas. Joe is throwing out the baby with the bath water here.

Posted 5 years ago by Jakethemuss [ Reply ]

Joe Strummer was one of those "soundtrack of my teens" voices that takes you back

Posted 5 years ago by rgio [ Reply ]

Happiness in diversity in one song!

Posted 6 years ago by maryte [ Reply ]

Love this!

Posted 10 years ago by jen3005545 [ Reply ]

This song is soooo good for the ears...

Posted 11 years ago by Lazarus [ Reply ]

bam23 wrote:

March 3: This sequence of songs may be a repeat, but the vibe is really incredible. Not only because there are a number of pieces in this mix that I would not know about without this resource (RP), but the continuity is really well worked out. Bravo! I ignored the Clash in their day, but discovered Joe Strummer here, for which I give thanks.

Cheers to that bambam!
now I'm all perked up for a toxic empanada and some wacci bacci

Posted 11 years ago by hayduke2 [ Reply ]

Posted 11 years ago by bam23 [ Reply ]

mikec09 wrote:

BEST song about India and its food and Joe Strummer's band . . . EVER!

I can't get enough of this song . . .

It's um . . . uh . . . well it's kinda like . . . and it's got a bit of . . .

You gotta love it!

Exactly my sentiments mikec09 simply amazing.... °º©©º°

Posted 11 years ago by Toke [ Reply ]

Posted 11 years ago by mikec09 [ Reply ]

Fun Fun Fun

Posted 12 years ago by DanFHiggins [ Reply ]

I'm quite a fan of Bindi (Okra) Bhaji as an accompaniment to a good curry. Damn, I'm feeling hungry already :o)

Posted 12 years ago by fredriley [ Reply ]

THANKS FOR PLAYING! A "TOP 100 OF ALL TIME" SONG!!!

Posted 12 years ago by mikec09 [ Reply ]

New Zealand in da house!

. Thankfully Mushy Peas remain a blighty only thing.
Edit: For a proper curry in ChCh, check out "South of India" in New Brighton. Nummy Num nums.

Posted 12 years ago by sajitjacob [ Reply ]

Tosko wrote:

I thought for a second with the intro that this was Jethro Tull . . . .

Eewwwww! bite your tongue.

Posted 12 years ago by OneSpyGirl [ Reply ]

I miss Joe.....

Posted 13 years ago by neuticle [ Reply ]

This video was posted early - found on pg 2 - but it deserves a bump up. Joe looks like he's having a great time.

Posted 13 years ago by peter_james_bond [ Reply ]

It's been a 9 with me for years—I don't know why it's taken me so long to give it a 10. Trying to reserve space I guess but at this point I have to admit that there's really nothing I like better ...

Posted 13 years ago by run4more [ Reply ]

Yes, that's some good music!

Posted 13 years ago by Whimary [ Reply ]

Does anyone think Bill would ever seguey into the Spike Jones version? It has only been about 48 years since I heard it played on someone else's HiFi from theur LP.

Talkin' 'bout a cover playoff!

Posted 13 years ago by Lyle8888 [ Reply ]

crunchy tune

Posted 13 years ago by thejake [ Reply ]

Strum it, Joe

Posted 13 years ago by d-don [ Reply ]

Can't stop my leg from bouncing during this one.

Posted 13 years ago by Dave_Mack [ Reply ]

imklammer wrote:

...The song is about cultural diversity in London...

Not getting a lot of diversity per se; more like voluntary segregation and celebration of a single culture within a city - one of the things that makes Toronto such a great town. Every group celebrates their own traditions while respecting others. Diversity is more like the melting pot we have here. Some pretty cool mashups result, no doubt - but much is lost as well. Man, I'm hungry.Time for tikka masala!

Posted 13 years ago by Businessgypsy [ Reply ]

Joe and the Mescaleros....it's all good stuff.

Posted 13 years ago by BigIslandBlues [ Reply ]

calebstewart wrote:

I can't think of a more exciting, innovative, or passionate artists since Louis Armstrong picked up a trumpet!

Totally agree. Joe was conscious, literate, subtle, humorous, and human most beautifully and all at once. It took me about 20 listens to understand the real message—the beauty of diversity—behind of this deceptively punky tune. And plus, it rawks!

Posted 14 years ago by lmic [ Reply ]

Mari wrote:

Adelaide is the place to get mushy peas, called a pie floater which is a meat pie floating on a bed of mushy peas and it's surprisingly yummy!

ok then, if it's big in Oz, then mushy peas are back in big time in New Zealand. I'll retract my claim immediately.

btw "wot's your music like?" has me in fits each time for obvious reasons.

Posted 14 years ago by NoEnzLefttoSplit [ Reply ]

Ericac wrote:

I hear Elmer Fud on vocals.

Perhaps you're thinking of "Guabi Guabi" by Pork Tornado.

Posted 14 years ago by IrieTom [ Reply ]

DigitalJer wrote:

Quirky, catchy, fun.

'Sactly what I was thinking. Another first listen, another winner from Bill.

Posted 14 years ago by michaelgmitchell [ Reply ]

Strummer could have walked down Rte. 9 in Absecon and made it look and sound interesting.

Posted 14 years ago by WonderLizard [ Reply ]

True story!

So anyway, I told him I was in a band
He said, "Oh yeah, oh yeah? What's your music like?"
I said, "It's um, um, well, it's kinda like
You know, it's got a bit of, um, you know...."

pure joy

Posted 14 years ago by lmic [ Reply ]

really good to cook to —-and all the songs after also, excellent.

Posted 14 years ago by Giselle62 [ Reply ]

Wow, this song and sound are really unusual. It doesn't bring the Clash to mind at all. I really like this.

Posted 14 years ago by twitterpated [ Reply ]

quirky catchy fun

Posted 14 years ago by DigitalJer [ Reply ]

I'm not sure I've ever heard this song, though I do like JL&tM. FUN song! I'm chair dancin!

Posted 14 years ago by Pyro [ Reply ]

dbailey wrote:

waccy baccy = khat

Bingo. We have a winner.

Posted 14 years ago by alux [ Reply ]

Simply. Awesome.

Posted 14 years ago by Bosami [ Reply ]

Discovered this driving up the west coast of Baja Mexico at sunset, after a day of driving in the desert. Stunning scenery and inspiring tune kept the pedal to the metal.

Posted 15 years ago by ArbiterOfGoodTaste [ Reply ]

Love the song. Hate mushy peas.

Posted 15 years ago by ronniegirl [ Reply ]

Rather splendid eh

Posted 15 years ago by EssexTex [ Reply ]

ThePoose wrote:

waccy baccy = maryjane

waccy baccy = khat

Posted 15 years ago by dbailey [ Reply ]

Can't go wrong with Joe Strummer.

Posted 15 years ago by melissab [ Reply ]

I think Warren Zevon would dig this.

Posted 15 years ago by dBdwg [ Reply ]

imklammer wrote:

Bhindi = okra, bhagee/bhaji = fritter

The song is about cultural diversity in London.

Well, I was walking down the high road
And this guy stops me
He'd just got in from New Zealand
And he was looking for mushy peas
I said, no, we hadn't really got 'em round here
I said, but we do got...

Balti, Bhindi, strictly Hindi
Dall, Halal and I'm walking down the road
We got rocksoul, okra, bombay duck-ra
Shrimp beansprout, comes with it or without
With it or without
Bagels soft or simply harder
Exotic avocado or toxic empenada
We got akee, lassi, Somali waccy baccy
I'm sure back home you know what tikka's all about!
What tikka's all about

And so on.........

waccy baccy = maryjane

Posted 15 years ago by ThePoose [ Reply ]

I thought for a second with the intro that this was Jethro Tull . . . .

Posted 15 years ago by Tosko [ Reply ]

Love it .... + hi to Travel Rat .. I'm in Siberia too... chilly right now aint' it :-)

Posted 15 years ago by brians201 [ Reply ]

I've been a fan of Strummer's stuff for (gulp) the last 25 years—never heard this tune though. Very cool!

Posted 15 years ago by TravelRat [ Reply ]

madra wrote:

I've loved this song since the first time I heard it, I listen to it all the time. And then a few days ago, it hit me: It's a song about food. And dancing. Pure joy.

And so on.........

Posted 15 years ago by imklammer [ Reply ]

westslope wrote:

And here I thought givin' 'er was something Canadians had borrowed from the culture to the south....

I have heard this expression and probably been guility of using it in the wilds of Canada from Ontario the Terrible to the Barbarian Coast.

Yeah.

I'm pretty sure we made up "gonch," too.

Posted 15 years ago by cosmiclint [ Reply ]

And here I thought givin' 'er was something Canadians had borrowed from the culture to the south....

I have heard this expression and probably been guility of using it in the wilds of Canada from Ontario the Terrible to the Barbarian Coast.

Posted 15 years ago by westslope [ Reply ]

calebstewart wrote:

I can't think of a more exciting, innovative, or passionate artists since Louis Armstrong picked up a trumpet!

This one and the title track always get me dancing at my desk!

Posted 16 years ago by cosmiclint [ Reply ]

calebstewart wrote:

I can't think of a more exciting, innovative, or passionate artists since Louis Armstrong picked up a trumpet!

Man, I like your taste in music.

Posted 16 years ago by HarrO [ Reply ]

Ericac wrote:

I hear Elmer Fud on vocals.

I thought it was Mr.Magoo.

But I gotta say, Magoo's doing a great job!

Posted 16 years ago by Jelani [ Reply ]

I can't think of a more exciting, innovative, or passionate artists since Louis Armstrong picked up a trumpet!

Posted 16 years ago by calebstewart [ Reply ]

I hear Elmer Fud on vocals.

Posted 16 years ago by Ericac [ Reply ]

redtex wrote:

I must be missing something here, I don't get it.

yes..yes you are.

Posted 16 years ago by copymonkey [ Reply ]

xkolibuul wrote:

Get the whole CD. Brilliant.

Indeed.

Posted 16 years ago by cc_rider [ Reply ]

I've loved this song since the first time I heard it, I listen to it all the time. And then a few days ago, it hit me: It's a song about food. And dancing. Pure joy.

Posted 16 years ago by madra [ Reply ]

I must be missing something here, I don't get it.

Posted 16 years ago by redtex [ Reply ]

I'm sure Bhindi Bhagee appeared in a Red Dwarf episode.

Posted 16 years ago by jay299uk [ Reply ]

jjbix wrote:

perfectly average, time to go take a leak . . .

Perfectly made, time for a banana dance.......

Posted 16 years ago by lattalo [ Reply ]

perfectly average, time to go take a leak . . .

Posted 16 years ago by jjbix [ Reply ]

jim1964 wrote:

givin' 'er, what a great expression, I haven't that since I lived in the wilds of Alberta.

Well the quote is from a Canuck so that makes sense...

Posted 16 years ago by ScottFromWyoming [ Reply ]

ScottFromWyoming wrote:

originally posted in the forums somewhere:

givin' 'er, what a great expression, I haven't that since I lived in the wilds of Alberta.

Posted 16 years ago by jim1964 [ Reply ]

Just an amazingly tight and perfect song in my opinion. Truly awe-inspiring.

Posted 16 years ago by danimal3114u [ Reply ]

Get the whole CD. Brilliant. Waybo wrote:

Bill does it again: Never heard it. Pure sweetness. Must have. Buy it on iTunes. Bill, thank you for what you do.

Posted 17 years ago by xkolibuul [ Reply ]

Absolutely outstanding!

Posted 17 years ago by nigelr [ Reply ]

originally posted in the forums somewhere: smokinsean wrote:

The legendary Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros- Bhindi Baghee...LIVE!...I just love seeing this old punk rocker givin' 'er to this...so tight and cool!..

Posted 17 years ago by ScottFromWyoming [ Reply ]

Bill does it again: Never heard it. Pure sweetness. Must have. Buy it on iTunes. Bill, thank you for what you do.

Posted 17 years ago by Waybo [ Reply ]

eskles wrote:

Infectiously brilliant

Yep, gotta add this cd to my incredibly long "heard it on RP and now can't live without it" list.

Posted 17 years ago by meydele [ Reply ]

drekar wrote:

I second that! This song is rockin, and is deserving of a banana JAM!

third!

raise ya !!

Posted 17 years ago by Mari [ Reply ]

laprincessa wrote:

Joe Strummer is incredible - near godlike. RIP, sweets.

Yep, "Get Down Moses" makes me a happy nanner...

Posted 17 years ago by DrCyKosis [ Reply ]

Man, it's hard to get any work done this morning. I keep looking up artist information on the great sets being played today - and adding to my wish list. Love Joe Strummer !

Posted 17 years ago by DChas [ Reply ]

The sound of Joe Strummer not giving a crap and having fun. And boy, there is a lot of fun to be had in this song!

Posted 17 years ago by Darkmatter [ Reply ]

Infectiously brilliant

Posted 17 years ago by eskles [ Reply ]

Marr wrote:

Now now. Not everybody in Texas wants this song to stop.

I second that! This song is rockin, and is deserving of a banana JAM!

Posted 17 years ago by drekar [ Reply ]

willmcnaught wrote:

STAY IN TEXAS you buffoon!

Now now. Not everybody in Texas wants this song to stop. Not to mention I don't really want Glockman to stay in Texas.

Posted 18 years ago by Marr [ Reply ]

Glockman45 wrote:

stop the insanity bill, please!

Yes, Play this one a lot! Insanity to shelve it for too long!

Posted 18 years ago by tnt_thomas [ Reply ]

Mescaleros meets bhagee-Iyeeeeee!

Posted 18 years ago by Shesdifferent [ Reply ]

Part of my brain keeps thinking that I ought to find this song annoying for some reason, yet the overwhelming response is quite positive. At the very least it deserves a dancing nanner!

Posted 18 years ago by MojoJojo [ Reply ]

Glockman45 wrote:

stop the insanity bill, please!

STAY IN TEXAS you buffoon!

Posted 18 years ago by willmcnaught [ Reply ]

Great song!

Posted 18 years ago by CCinSB [ Reply ]

"Wots the music like?" Love it.

Posted 18 years ago by Old_Pool_Skunk [ Reply ]

Posted 18 years ago by Little_Wing [ Reply ]

BRILLIANT. This is the tune that turned me on to the later Strummer stuff. Love it more every time I hear it.

Posted 18 years ago by catrip [ Reply ]

Dirktooth wrote:

A song full of raucous energy and life, it manages to be western punk in it's lyrics but indian in it's swirling upbeat tempo.....

Very nicely put! This is my first listen, and I too felt swept up in the amazing energy of this song. It's a novelty, but a great deal of fun.

Posted 18 years ago by meloman [ Reply ]

This is FUN!

Posted 18 years ago by noelbarnes [ Reply ]

NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote: For the record, mushy peas have long been out in NZ. vh1.com wrote: VH1.com: In "Bhindi Bhagee" you take a tourist on a culinary tour of London. Are the lyrics based on personal experience or did you make it up? Strummer: I was standing outside a newsagent about midnight, waiting for one of the guys in the band. This taxi pulls up and a guy jumps out with a suitcase and he says, "Ah, you're Joe Strummer, aren't you?" And I go, "Yeah." And he goes, "Oh, well I've just gotten in from New Zealand and you're the first person I've spoken to in Britain." We had a laugh about that. So I had to put it into a tune. Eventually he came and hung out in the studio and we got on quite well with him. He wasn't asking about food. I had to put the food thing in to get my food thing in. Adelaide is the place to get mushy peas, called a pie floater which is a meat pie floating on a bed of mushy peas and it's surprisingly yummy!

Posted 18 years ago by Mari [ Reply ]

stop the insanity bill, please!

Posted 18 years ago by Glockman45 [ Reply ]

Tireux_De_Roche wrote:

Indian food. Yuck!

Not surprising in central MA (although I had decent Vietnamese in Boston a couple years ago). You're missing out!