The band drew upon a variety of stylistic influences over the course of their career, including 1960s beat music, soul, rhythm and blues and psychedelic rock, as well as 1970s punk and new wave. The trio was known for its melodic pop songs, its distinctly English flavour and its mod image. The band launched the career of Paul Weller, who went on to form The Style Council and later had a successful solo career. Weller wrote and sang most of The Jam’s original compositions, and he played lead guitar, using a Rickenbacker. Bruce Foxton provided backing vocals and prominent basslines, which were the foundation of many of the band’s songs, including the hits "Down in the Tube Station at Midnight", "The Eton Rifles", "Going Underground" and "Town Called Malice".
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Town Called Malice
The Jam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
The Jam's "Town Called Malice" is a commentary on the bleakness and frustration of working-class life in suburban England. The lyrics are a call-to-arms for the listener to stop dreaming of a better life and start taking action to change their situation. The opening lines, "Better stop dreaming of the quiet life, 'cause it's the one we'll never know," are a warning that the fantasy of escape is illusory, and the reality of life is tough.
The song's title "Malice" is a play on words. It refers to the town's stagnation and the bitterness it creates in its residents, but it also evokes the sense of anger and resentment toward the system that keeps them trapped. The song describes the town's dilapidation, with rows of disused milk floats and lonely housewives, and the frustration of struggling to make ends meet, as Sunday's roast beef becomes a luxury that few can afford.
The song's chorus "it's up to us to change this town called Malice" is a call to action to create a better life, and the final lines, "I could go on for hours and I probably will, but I'd sooner put some joy back in this town called Malice," are a rallying cry to create a better future by injecting hope and positivity into the community.
● The song was released in 1982 and became The Jam's only No.1 hit in the UK
● Paul Weller wrote the song in response to the economic downturn in the UK at the time
● The intro keyboard riff was inspired by the dance track "Funky Worm" by the Ohio Players
● The song was originally released as a double A-side with "Precious," which reached No.4 on the UK charts
● The music video was shot in East London and features footage of local residents
● The song has been covered by many artists, including Dexys Midnight Runners, The Wonder Stuff, and Kaiser Chiefs
● In 2013, the song was used in a UK TV ad campaign for Sainsbury's supermarket
● The song was played at The Jam's farewell concert at the Brighton Centre in 1982
● The Jam were known for their politically charged lyrics and social commentary
● The title of the song itself became a catchphrase in the UK and is still used today to refer to stagnant or unpleasant environments.
Chords:
Intro: G , A , B , A
Verse: A , D , A , D
Chorus: G , A , B , A
Bridge: F , B , E , A , F , B , G , E , A
Line by Line Meaning
Better stop dreaming of the quiet life, 'cause it's the one we'll never know
We should stop hoping for a peaceful and calm life because it's not attainable
And quit running for the runaway bus 'cause those rosy days are few
We shouldn't chase after things that are fleeting because they won't last
And stop apologizing for the things you've never done
Don't apologize for things you didn't do
'Cause time is short and life is cruel but it's up to us to change
Although life is limited and difficult, it's in our power to make it better
This town called malice
The place we live in, which is full of destructive and harmful actions and attitudes
Rows and rows of disused milk floats stand dying in the dairy yard
Abandoned milk trucks are wasting away in the milk depot
And a hundred lonely housewives clutch empty milk bottles to their hearts
Many isolated housewives are holding onto empty milk bottles for comfort
Hanging out their old love letters on the line to dry
The wives hang up their old love letters to dry, suggesting that love itself has dried up
It's enough to make you stop believing when tears come fast and furious
The situation is so despairing that it can evoke a sense of hopelessness
In a town called malice, yeah
In the town that is plagued by malice
Struggle after struggle, year after year
Constant hardships over an extended duration
The atmosphere's a fine blend of ice, I'm almost stone cold dead
The environment is cold and unfeeling, almost causing a sense of emotional death
In a town called malice, ooh yeah
In a town filled with harmful actions, ooh yeah
A whole street's belief in Sunday's roast beef
The entire neighborhood's faith in Sunday roast, the one reliable thing, is shattered
Gets dashed against the Co-op
The rise of a chain store ruins the neighborhood's cohesion
To either cut down on beer or the kid's new gear
Families must decide between reducing alcohol or buying essential items for their children
It's a big decision in a town called malice, ooh yeah
It's a significant choice in a town consumed by negative actions, ooh yeah
(Ooh)
An instrumental break
The ghost of a steam train, echoes down my track
The faint memory of a steam train can be heard along the train tracks
It's at the moment bound for nowhere
It's aimlessly traveling with no particular destination
Just going round and round, oh
Endlessly traveling in a cycle
Playground kids and creaking swings
Children playing alongside creaky swings
Lost laughter in the breeze
The sound of children's laughter is absent and forgotten
I could go on for hours and I probably will
The singer can continue talking about these issues for hours, and likely will
But I'd sooner put some joy back
But the singer would prefer to bring joy back
In this town called malice, yeah
In this town filled with harmful actions, yeah
(Ooh)
An instrumental break
In this town called malice, yeah
In this town of negative behavior and attitudes, yeah
In this town called malice, ooh yeah
In this town plagued by harmful actions and attitudes, ooh yeah
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Paul Weller
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind