The Clash's 'London Calling': overused advertising slogan or definition of an era?

Although The Clash's 'London Calling' is forever being overused as an advertising slogans, keen to get tourists into London (which is the opposite to what the song is actually preaching) I have to argue that it is on the list of songs that defined an era, an era that was full of uncertainty and collective depression. This song will forever go down in Punk history as it contains everything a punk song should have; raw energy, crackling vocals, a message of impending doom and the dismissal of society as 'phoney' (phoney Beatlemania has bitten the dust).

The ominous beat of the drums in the intro tells us that this song is a warning; a prophecy of nuclear disaster accompanied by the wailing warning sirens. Joe Strummer's husky, masculine vocals then suddenly explode into his tale of dystopia as he tells us that the positive ideology of the 1960s has gone for good.  London Calling is THE anthem of the 1970s, summing up the fear of nuclear technology and the decay of society. In fact, it would have been the ideal soundtrack to the government issued 'protect and survive' instruction videos as they are both acceptance of the grim situation. Strummer is preparing us for battle, telling us that the dream is over and we have to 'come out of the cupboard' to face the apocalypse. He isn't scared of London drowning and he lives by the river. 

The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in....

Following the second chorus, Strummer caws like a bird of prey circling the city. Such a raw expression of anger and frustration that was felt by many in a time of mass strikes and unemployment before he assures us that we cannot tell anything new as he was there too. London Calling is still today a punk classic which gets pulses racing and as far of prophecies of doom go, this is my favourite.