Hometown
Ben Gibbard / Andrew Kenny Lyrics

The lyrics of "Hometown Fantasy" by Ben Gibbard/Andrew Kenny, are an ode to the concept of being someone’s perfect, yet unattainable, fantasy. The singer in the song imagines himself as the object of desire for someone, offering himself as a way to live out their wildest dreams. This is reflected in the opening lines, “Maybe I’ll be your hometown fantasy boy,” which suggests that he will be the embodiment of everything that the other person desires, but is unable to attain in their own life.

The singer goes on to describe himself as “not battery operated,” which could be interpreted as a way of saying that he is not just a robot, but a real person with emotions and feelings. He also acknowledges that he may not be as “sharp” or cutting as the person who desires him, highlighting the power dynamic between the two. However, he also offers himself as a “steam train all metal and black” if the other person is willing to lay down the tracks, suggesting that he is willing to fulfill their desires if they work together.

Overall, "Hometown Fantasy" is a song about longing and desire, exploring the idea of what it means to be someone’s ideal fantasy. Despite the power dynamic between the singer and the person desiring him, he is willing to offer himself up as a way for them to live out their imagined life.