The 2 Tone sound was developed by young musicians (mostly in Coventry, West Midlands) who grew up hearing 1960s Jamaican music. They combined 1960s ska with contemporary punk and pop music. Bands considered part of the genre include: The Specials, The Selecter, The Beat, Madness, Bad Manners, and The Bodysnatchers.
The term 2 Tone was coined by Jerry Dammers of The Specials. Dammers, with the assistance of Horace Panter, also created the Walt Jabsco logo to represent the 2 Tone movement. It was based on an early album cover photo of Peter Tosh, and included an added black-and-white check pattern.
Ghost Town
The Specials Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All the clubs have been closed down
This place is coming like a ghost town
Bands won't play no more
Too much fighting on the dance floor
Do you remember the good old days before the ghost town?
We danced and sang and the music played in natty-boom town
This town is coming like a ghost town
Why must the youth fight against itself?
Government leaving the youth on the shelf
This place is coming like a ghost town
No job to be found in this country
Can't go on no more
The people getting angry
This town is coming like a ghost town
This town is coming like a ghost town
This town is coming like a ghost town
This town is coming like a ghost town
This town is coming like a ghost town
This town is coming like a ghost town
This town is coming like a ghost town
This town is coming like a ghost town
The lyrics to The Specials' song Ghost Town paint a bleak picture of a town that is slowly dying. The opening lines of the song set the tone for what is to come: "This town is coming like a ghost town, all the clubs have been closed down." The verse describes a place that is no longer vibrant with activity and where people have stopped going out to have fun. The chorus repeats the line "This town is coming like a ghost town," emphasizing the sense of despair and hopelessness that permeates the song.
The second verse shifts the focus to the reasons behind the town's decline. It questions why the youth are fighting against each other instead of working together, and criticizes the government for not doing more to help the young people of the town. The final verse indicates that the situation in the town has become so dire that the people are beginning to get angry and can't go on anymore. The repetition of the chorus drives home the message that the town is in a downward spiral and that there is little hope for the future.
Line by Line Meaning
This town is coming like a ghost town
The town is becoming desolate and empty, mirroring the eerie and haunting feeling of a ghost town.
All the clubs have been closed down
The social and entertainment scene in the town has shut down, leaving little to no options for leisure activities.
This place is coming like a ghost town
The place is becoming deserted, with a lack of people and activity.
Bands won't play no more
Musicians and performers have stopped coming to the town to perform, possibly due to the lack of audience or financial support.
Too much fighting on the dance floor
The social gatherings that used to take place have now become violent and disruptive, creating an unpleasant atmosphere for everyone involved.
Do you remember the good old days before the ghost town?
Reflecting on the past when the town was lively and bustling, before it became deserted and lifeless.
We danced and sang and the music played in natty-boom town
Recalling the vibrant and exciting music scene that used to exist in the town, with people enjoying themselves and having fun.
Why must the youth fight against itself?
Questioning why the younger generation is turning to violence and conflict within their own community.
Government leaving the youth on the shelf
The government is neglecting or ignoring the needs of the younger generation, leaving them feeling forgotten or unsupported.
No job to be found in this country
The lack of employment opportunities in the area, making it difficult for people to find work and support themselves.
Can't go on no more
The situation has become unbearable and unsustainable, with people feeling overwhelmed and unable to continue living like this.
The people getting angry
The frustration and anger of the community is escalating, potentially leading to further conflict and unrest.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Jerry Dammers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@redrev674
RIP Terry Hall. I was 14 at comprehensive school when this came out. Loved everything Terry Hall was involved with. It was very much a track of its time but it is timeless
@davefb
About the same age.
We were leaving the uk for a family holday in france and this was the last tune we heard getting on the ferry. Just felt so 'right'.
RIP indeed. I feel broken..
@davidlester7066
RIP Terry Hall,Skinhead til i die
@Warp75
RIP Terry
@rayjr62
Agreed. One absurdly underrated singer. And admittedly even his own former band mates didn't know he was gravely ill. R.I.P..
@prbsnoop1974
Not really - it feels like we've come full circle
@LeeSparkes
Let us stand for our national anthem
@MacaqueStinx
Couldn't be any more relevant nowadays. The situation and cause may be different from back then, but the world is more of a ghost town now than ever before.
@thetopcat8946
@@MacaqueStinx Yes, I live in a very small town. This is the song I keep hearing replaying in my mind when I walk up a once busy road
@youngpotatoe6268
Father ted