It is sung by Joe Strummer (and Mick Jones, with Paul Simonon in the chorus), who starts the song shouting "London's Burning!"
The song continues talking about London's automobile traffic, where young people try to get their kicks driving around in their cars through the night, feeling bored and far from happy.
This message is clearly seen in the next verse: I'm up and down the Westway, in an' out the lights What a great traffic system – it's so bright I can't think of a better way to spend the night Than speeding around underneath the yellow lights The song alludes to the boredom of TV and may also reflect the racial theme often treated by the band, notably in the first verse with the line: "Black or white turn it on, face the new religion".
Mick Jones' improvised guitar solo at the end of the song is not very typical for punk rock, which often has a minimalist attitude.
An alternative version taken from the "White Riot" promo film in April 1977 was released on the B-side of the controversial "Remote Control" single in May 1977.