Who Does The Best Verion Of "I Fought The Law"

[Dinger]

Bobby Fuller Four (Original):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPXnoLAEUSQ



Green Day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TOVkiBE2r4&feature=fvw



Stray Cats:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfzVDZWV4mw&feature=related



The Clash:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBeT4ptY9sY&feature=related



Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSCkAfW1Gaw&feature=related

[Amerigo Vespucci]

1. Lou Reed's snippet of the song in HIS song, "Dirt," from the "Street Hassle" album:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyb6lGh5-To



It's been a long time, since I've spoken to you
was it the right time
Your current troubles, and you know, they'll get much worse
I hope you know how much you enjoy them
You're a pig of a person, If there's a justice in this world
hey, how about that
Your lack of conscience and your lack of morality
well, more and more people know all about it

Do you remember that song by a dude named Bobby Fuller
It went like this:
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won

We sat around the other night, me and the guys
trying to find the right word
That would best fit and describe
you people like that
That no principle has touched, no principle's baptized
how about that
They'd eat shit and say it tasted good
if there was some money in it for them

Hey, you remember that song about this guy from Texas
Whose name was --- Bobby Fuller
I'll sing it for you, it went like this:
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won

You're just dirt
You're just dirt, The only word for you is dirt
That's the only word that -

- hurt, You're just dirt
That's all you're worth - cheap, cheap dirt
You know they call it -
Cheap, cheap, cheap, cheap, uptown dirt
you're just - cheap, cheap, cheap, cheap, uptown dirt
You're just dirt - nothing but - cheap uptown dirt
That's all you're worth - It's just - cheap, cheap, uptown dirt
That's all you're worth now (cheap, cheap, cheap, cheap, uptown dirt)
You're just dirt (cheap, cheap, cheap, cheap uptown dirt)
(Cheap, cheap, cheap, cheap, uptown dirt)
(Cheap, cheap, cheap, cheap, uptown dirt)
(Cheap, cheap, cheap, cheap, uptown dirt)

[mitchum]

5. Ya beat me to it, sir

One of Mr Reed's most venomous songs
I think Street Hassle even edges out Berlin as Reed's masterpiece album

[abq e streeter]

2. HUGE Clash fan here, but they didn't get the right feel of this one; Bobby Fuller all the way

although I sheepishly admit to not having heard Sonny Curtis's original . But either way, it's West Texas rocknroll, and The Bobby Fuller Four remain the greatest band to ever come out of El Paso, so gotta vote for their version .

[rebel with a cause]

3. Bobby Fuller is the original and the best

but I voted for Green Day because if anyone could fight the law they look like they could. :)

No, actually I like Green Day and loved their American Idiot CD, so I couldn't let them go with no votes. Anyway I liked them best of the other three singing the song and besides Billy Joe has the same name as a cousin of mine.

[brendan120678]

4. I like the vocal sound of...

Bobby Fuller version the best, but I like the speed and guitars of the Green Day version the best.

So I chose Green Day.

[Deep13]

6. Dead Kennedys nt

[Chan790]

7. yep. n/m

[wysimdnwyg]

8. None compare to The Clash

Green Day's version was actually quite good, and Bobby Fuller's was pretty rockin' for the time, but the Stray Cat's version was way too rushed. It sounded like they were playing it fast so they could get out of there. Oh, and Joe and the Mescaleros really just sounded like The Clash live, but not quite as good.

I would invite people to give Mike Ness's (Social Distortion) version a listen. It's as good as Green Day or Bobby Fuller's takes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJB-AzHysoA

[Tikki]

9. Bobby Fuller Four...

Tikki

[NJmaverick]

10. Green Day with Joe Strummer a close second