This Town
Cale J.J. Lyrics
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This town I live in ain't fit for man or beast
There's a man down here, a man down there
They all want to rob you or take you somewhere
This town I live in ain't fit for man or beast
I'm going down to the store, boy
And get myself a dog
I'm going down to the store, boy
I'm going to chain, chain, chain him
Up to my fence
Make him bark, bark, bark
Understand my French
I'm going down to the store, boy
And get myself a dog
If I had a hundred dollars
I'd buy myself a gun
If I had a hundred dollars
I'd buy myself a gun
I'd stick it out the door
And wait for an attack
I'll need somebody just to cover my back
If I had a hundred dollars
I'd buy myself a gun
The moral of the story
You better watch where you go
The moral of the story, boy
You better watch out where you go
They'll get you in the morning
They'll get you at night
Some, then want to rob you
But most, they want to fight
This town I live in, I got to go
This town I live in
This town I live in, I got to go
The lyrics to JJ Cale's "This Town" are a commentary on the rough and dangerous nature of the town the singer finds himself in. He describes it as being unfit for both man and beast, with a palpable sense of danger lurking around every corner. He sings about the people in the town, with "a man down here, a man down there," all of whom seem to be out to rob or harm others. The singer feels the need to protect himself, both by getting a dog and by buying a gun. He ultimately decides that he has to leave the town behind.
The lyrics paint a bleak picture of a lawless, dangerous environment where survival is a constant concern. The singer's decision to leave the town underscores his feelings of isolation and desperation. The final verse, with its warning to "watch where you go," suggests that the dangers of this town are not limited to its physical boundaries, but extend to the choices and actions of its inhabitants.
Overall, "This Town" is a powerful song that speaks to the human desire for safety and security, and the lengths we will go to in order to protect ourselves in an uncertain world.
Line by Line Meaning
This town I live in ain't fit for man or beast
This place is not suitable for anyone or anything to live in
There's a man down here, a man down there
There are shady characters all around this town
They all want to rob you or take you somewhere
These shady characters have bad intentions and are looking to harm you
I'm going down to the store, boy
And get myself a dog
I need a pet to protect me from the danger in this town
I'm going to chain, chain, chain him
Up to my fence
Make him bark, bark, bark
Understand my French
I will train my dog to bark and protect me from anyone who tries to harm me in this town
If I had a hundred dollars
I'd buy myself a gun
I need to arm myself in case of an attack in this dangerous town
I'd stick it out the door
And wait for an attack
I'll need somebody just to cover my back
I will be on the lookout for any potential danger in this town and need someone to watch my back
The moral of the story
You better watch where you go
This town is dangerous and you need to be careful where you go
They'll get you in the morning
They'll get you at night
Some, then want to rob you
But most, they want to fight
There is danger lurking in this town at all times, and some people are looking to hurt you
This town I live in, I got to go
I need to leave this town for my own safety
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: J. J. CALE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Boo GG
its better than this town from Erick Clapton