Town Called Malice

Paul Weller, The Jam

About Town Called Malice

"Town Called Malice" is a song recorded by British band the Jam from the album The Gift. It debuted at number one in the UK Singles Chart in February 1982.


Year:
2007
2:54
94 
#2

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Better stop dreaming of the quiet life, 'cause it's the one we'll never know
And quit running for that 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-ba-ba
Ba-ba-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

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

In this town called malice, yeah
In this town called malice, ooh yeah

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The Jam

The Jam were an English punk rock/New Wave/mod revival band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were formed in Woking, Surrey. While they shared the "angry young men" outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore smartly tailored suits rather than ripped clothes, and they incorporated a number of mainstream 1960s rock and R&B influences rather than rejecting them, placing The Jam at the forefront of the mod revival movement. more »

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Written by: Paul Weller

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Release Information
"Town Called Malice" was released by the English band The Jam in January 1982.
Album Placement
The song was included on their sixth studio album, "The Gift."
Song Ranking
It quickly rose to number one on the UK Singles Chart, making it the band's third UK number one hit.
Musical Influence
The song's title pays tribute to the novel "A Town Like Alice," while its music is inspired by the Motown sounds of the early 60s, particularly "You Can't Hurry Love" by The Supremes and "I Can't Help Myself" by the Four Tops.
Soundtrack Feature
"Town Called Malice" was prominently featured in Billy Elliot, a 2000 British drama film about a boy who aspires to be a professional ballet dancer.
Song Theme
Paul Weller, the songwriter, described it as a song about growing up in a small town and wanting to escape. He grew up in the town of Woking, Surrey, England.
Awards and Recognition
In 2006, "Town Called Malice" was voted the 6th Best Song by the band, The Jam in an NME reader poll.
End of The Jam
The song was one of their final hits before the band broke up later in 1982.
Unique Release
It was released as a double A-Side single along with "Precious", although it is "Town Called Malice" that has largely remained popular.
Modern Usage
In 2010, it was used in a television commercial for Robinsons fruit drink, in which a digitally aged 'future' version of the company's animated brand character, 'Fruit Shoot man', is seen retiring.
Popular in Live Performances
Despite departing from the straightforward punk rock of The Jam's early years, "Town Called Malice" remains a popular anthem and is often performed live by Paul Weller in his solo sets.
Song Interpretation
The lyrics "stops you from dreaming, stops you from smoking" are often interpreted as a critique of Margaret Thatcher's Britain, reflecting the disillusionment of the era.

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