Town Called Malice

Album: The Gift (1982)
Charted: 1
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  • Better stop dreaming of the quiet life, 'cause it's the one we'll never know
    And quit running for the runaway bus 'cause those rosy days are few
    And stop apologizing for the things you've never done
    'Cause time is short and life is cruel but it's up to us to change
    This town called malice

    Rows and rows of disused milk floats stand dying in the dairy yard
    And a hundred lonely housewives clutch empty milk bottles to their hearts
    Hanging out their old love letters on the line to dry
    It's enough to make you stop believing when tears come fast and furious
    In a town called malice, yeah

    Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
    Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba, oh
    Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
    Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba

    Struggle after struggle, year after year
    The atmosphere's a fine blend of ice, I'm almost stone cold dead
    In a town called malice, ooh yeah

    A whole street's belief in Sunday's roast beef
    Gets dashed against the Co-op
    To either cut down on beer or the kid's new gear
    It's a big decision in a town called malice, ooh yeah

    (Ooh)

    The ghost of a steam train, echoes down my track
    It's at the moment bound for nowhere
    Just going round and round, oh
    Playground kids and creaking swings
    Lost laughter in the breeze
    I could go on for hours and I probably will
    But I'd sooner put some joy back
    In this town called malice, yeah

    (Ooh)

    In this town called malice, yeah
    In this town called malice, ooh yeah Writer/s: Paul Weller
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 9

  • Pdiddy from Boston, MaThis song is one of the top 10 songs of the 80's. The message in the lyrics just adds to the appeal
  • New Town Boy from Stevenage , Herfordshire. UkThe Jam are our band. Little Boy Soldiers and Eton Rifles ARE relevant today in 2021. Paul, Rick & Bruce sussed the rich British upper-classes for what they are which is why the UK voted Brexit. Long Live The Jam.
  • Graham from BangkokSounds From the Street - The Jam - Town Called Malice (the story behind the song) http://albertjackchat.com/2012/11/22/town-called-malice/
  • John from Los Angeles, CaStrangely (and perhaps sadly) enough, this song is featured in Eurpoean Vacation.
  • Paul from Bristol, United Kingdomthe first single i ever bought and still the quintessential song about growing up under thatchers england, the jam emerged during a time of high unemployment and social unrest in the u.k and whent on to become the biggest post punk era group. still hugely popular in the u.k and will always be a part of brittish pop culture.
  • S.d. from Denver, CoThe seminal "mod" song, and one of the few near-perfect blends of music and lyric. Apart from having trouble understanding what Weller is shouting in the parts of the song where he shouts, I can't imagine a reason for anyone not liking this song. IMHO, it's just that good.
  • Leo from Davis, CaThis is a great song! The ultra-catchy bass line, however, is ripped off from "i'm ready for love" by Marth and the Vandellas. Check it out.
  • Terry from Ottawa, CanadaThis is one of the most poignant songs the Jam ever did. Paul Weller is lyricist without compare. Tha Jam suffered in North America as the were very British in mood and song. The album, Sound Affects, is tremendous and marked a sea change for the band musically. The anger that fuelled their music was still there but contained in tight songwriting, playing and particularly production.
  • Don from San Antonio, TxI don't know much about The Jam, except that THIS SONG SHREDS!
see more comments

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