Dirty Old Town
David Byrne & Richard Thompson Lyrics
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16 people are living in there
Remember the days of rent control
Grandpa remembers rock and roll
These days won't last forever
These days won't last for long
You know, somebody somewhere owes us a favor
In this World of Opportunities, it's a Land of Possibilities
We want to live in a dirty old town
Building it up, tearing us down
With our head in the clouds and our feet on the ground
We want to live ? dirty old town
Now when the ladies come from Kansas
They wear their traditional colors
Today the fabrics are ragged and torn
The clothes on their backs is all that they own
They say, "Don't draw attention to yourself
They'll tear you apart for a couple a bucks
Keep your head down and keep your nose clean
'Cause people who're scared do dangerous things"
These days can't last forever
These days can't last for long
You know someday things will get better
Somehow things will get done
It's a World of Possibilities,
It's a Land of Opportunities
We want to live in a dirty old town
Building it up, tearing us down
Head in the clouds and our feet on the ground
We want to live ? dirty old town
These days shoes are worn only on special occasions
Battles are fought for fam'ly and nations
Maybe you pray, but God isn't home
And there's no guarantee that justice be done
We want to live in a dirty old town
Building it up, tearing us down
Head in the clouds and our feet on the ground
We want to live ? dirty old town
The song "Dirty Old Town" by David Byrne is a melancholic reflection on life in a rundown urban environment where many people are living in one apartment. The first verse describes how 16 people are crammed into Danny's apartment, and the singer remembers the days when there was rent control and his grandpa used to listen to rock and roll. The second verse describes how outsiders who come to the city are warned not to draw attention to themselves, as doing so could make them a target for people who are scared and will do dangerous things. The singer acknowledges that these days can't last forever, and suggests that someday things will get better.
The chorus expresses a desire to live in a dirty old town, building it up and tearing it down, with our head in the clouds and our feet on the ground. The third verse describes how shoes are only worn on special occasions, battles are fought for family and nation, and God isn't home to guarantee justice is done. The repeated suggestion that these days cannot last forever gives the song a resigned but hopeful tone.
Overall, the song is a commentary on the difficult but enduring nature of urban life, and the importance of hope and possibility in the face of difficult circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, there are 16 people in Danny's apartment
Sixteen individuals reside in Danny's apartment
Remember the days of rent control
Recall the times when rent was regulated
Grandpa remembers rock and roll
Grandfather recalls the music genre rock and roll
These days won't last forever
The current moments are temporary
These days won't last for long
The present times will not endure
You know, somebody somewhere owes us a favor
It's not what you know but who you know
That's how things really get done
Connections are key to getting tasks accomplished
In this World of Opportunities, it's a Land of Possibilities
The world is replete with opportunities
We want to live in a dirty old town
Our preference is to reside in a run-down city
Building it up, tearing us down
Despite the urge to improve, we also destroy
With our head in the clouds and our feet on the ground
Despite the inspiration, we remain grounded in reality
Now when the ladies come from Kansas
Referring to female travelers from Kansas
They wear their traditional colors
They dress in their customary attire
Today the fabrics are ragged and torn
Currently, the clothes are worn and damaged
The clothes on their backs is all that they own
The apparel they wear is all their possession
They say, "Don't draw attention to yourself
They advise, "Don't attract unwarranted notice
They'll tear you apart for a couple a bucks
Individuals will assault and rob for just a few dollars
Keep your head down and keep your nose clean
Stay perturbed and out of trouble
'Cause people who're scared do dangerous things"
Fear may result in reckless actions
These days can't last forever
This era will inevitably end
These days can't last for long
This moment will eventually pass
You know someday things will get better
Optimistically, one day the future will improve
Somehow things will get done
Somehow tasks will be accomplished
It's a World of Possibilities,
The globe is full of possibilities
It's a Land of Opportunities
Everywhere offers opportunities
These days shoes are worn only on special occasions
Shoes nowadays are reserved for significant events
Battles are fought for fam'ly and nations
Conflict is waged among relatives and countries
Maybe you pray, but God isn't home
Despite attempts to reach a deity, responses are absent
And there's no guarantee that justice be done
Justice cannot be guaranteed
We want to live in a dirty old town
Our preference is to inhabit a dilapidated city
Building it up, tearing us down
Despite the urge to improve, we also destroy
Head in the clouds and our feet on the ground
Despite the inspiration, we remain grounded in reality
We want to live ? dirty old town
Our desire is to reside in a disheveled metropolis
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID BYRNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Da Jac
It's nice to see ol' Richard "educating" David Byrne! Two of my greatests heroes on the same stage at the same time
Bernard Johnson
Good man Richard,acoustic unplugged.More of this genre should be pursued...
Bob Jones
Many thanks for posting - two of my heroes that I never expected to see together singing this! I live across the canal from Salford and the song gets sung regularly still in the pubs. Some ignorant comments though..
Scorpion11381
This is one of my favorite and first versions ever heard of this song.
Michael Scales
I liked Byrne's singing better than Thompson's, but Thompson is a great guitarist.
Leo Bluesy
great song to hear and to play
Bill Bennett
According to the Google machine, An Acoustic Evening with David Byrne and Richard Thompson, recorded live at St. Ann & The Holy Trinity, Brooklyn Heights on March 24th, 1992, CD released the same year.
Steve Ogden
Written by accident. Theatre Workshop were doing a version of "Romeo Juliet" based in Salford and were five minute short for a scene change so Joan Littlewood asked Ewan MacColl (her then husband) to write another song to fill the gap. By such accidents are classics born.
JohnnyArt Pavlou
The song is about courting a girl in Salford which was at the time a very smoky dirty industrial city. The gas yard croft is a bit of spare ground in front of the gas works. There was nowhere very romantic to take a girl in Salford so a walk down the canal tow path would be a reasonable option. Many factories were built along the canal banks.
djangolad
Folk music is meant to evolve. Lyrics rarely remain as they were first written and what's more it's not important.