On a recent episode of the best show on WFMU, The Best Show on WFMU, host Tom Scharpling made an aside about all the years he’s spent feeling like an idiot for not knowing how to pronounce the last word in The Clash song “White Man (in Hammersmith Palais).” I knew exactly where he was coming from. I’ve loved that song for 33 years, yet despite my pride in knowing just enough French to get myself in trouble by trying to use it when I’m over there, I’ve always resisted pronouncing it “pal-ay.” It’s an actual concert hall in London, I presume, so for all I know the Brits butcher the word, as they seem to do with most French words, and comfortably pronounce it “palace.”

To avoid sounding pretentious I’ve always referred to the song, when it comes up in conversation with friends, as “White Man in Hammersmith Palace—or whatever it’s called.” Folks, I’m tired of feeling like an idiot. Can someone assure me of the proper pronunciation?

If you’ve been hiding your ignorance of some rock-related thing you really should know by now, we’re offering a judgment-free window to pose your deep-seated point of ignorance and stop feeling like an idiot around your rock-nerd friends once and for all.