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sundown
Josh Woodward Lyrics
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On this sleepy old Ohio town
The people think that change is the devil
So the sun is not allowed to go down
And the drivers eyes are glued to the rearview
Cuz his car is always in reverse
And if you race to where you've already been, then
Welcome to the town of the sundown
Welcome to the town of the sundown
Welcome to the land that time forgot
Welcome to the town of the sundown
Welcome to the town of the sundown
It sure ain't much, but it's the only town I've got
Every time I open the paper
To the letters to the editor page
The trogolodytes who can't keep their mouths shut
They've really got me in a fumin' rage
This self-appointed king of the virtues
Trying to sell us what we threw away
He's a dumpster-diving prophet
He could rule the USA
Welcome to the town of the sundown
Welcome to the town of the sundown
Welcome to the land that time forgot
Welcome to the town of the sundown
Welcome to the town of the sundown
It sure ain't much, but it's the only town I've got
So this is what our children inherit
It's what our parents left behind for us
The trophies from our grandpa's old basement
With a thicker coat of rust and dust
I guess there's nothing left to discover
So let's just park our cars and rest
Cuz the mission here's accomplished
Don't it feel like a success?
The lyrics of Josh Woodward's song "Sundown" describe a sleepy old town in Ohio that is resistant to change. The people of the town fear the unknown and, as a result, keep trying to hold onto the past. They refuse to let the sun go down as they think that change is the devil. The lyrics imply that the town is stuck in the past and is not making progress, causing its inhabitants to go around in circles, constantly look back. The drivers in the town always have their eyes glued to the rearview mirror, which means they are always looking back on where they have been instead of looking forward.
The song's title represents the town's people's reluctance to move forward, hence being referred to as the town of the sundown, where the sun never sets. The lyrics also touch on the self-appointed king of virtues, who continually tries to sell people what they threw away. The reference could be to someone who makes empty promises, something that the people of the town hold on to as they fear change. The lyrics in the end point out how the inhabitants of this town haven't progressed and are fine with parking their cars and resting. The song highlights how the town's stubbornness and fear of change have ultimately limited its growth and development.
Line by Line Meaning
The sun is hanging low on the skyline
The sun is setting on this old town
On this sleepy old Ohio town
This town is quiet and hasn't changed much
The people think that change is the devil
The locals are resistant to change
So the sun is not allowed to go down
They try to prevent change by holding onto the past
And the drivers eyes are glued to the rearview
The people here are stuck in the past
Cuz his car is always in reverse
They don't want to move forward
And if you race to where you've already been, then
If you keep repeating the past
You are always gonna get there first
You will never move from the past
Every time I open the paper
Whenever I read the news
To the letters to the editor page
I see opinions of others
The trogolodytes who can't keep their mouths shut
People who speak without knowing the facts
They've really got me in a fumin' rage
It makes me angry
This self-appointed king of the virtues
Someone who thinks they know better
Trying to sell us what we threw away
Trying to make us want what we rejected
He's a dumpster-diving prophet
He thinks he can find treasure in trash
He could rule the USA
He thinks he knows how to run a country
So this is what our children inherit
This is what the next generation inherits
It's what our parents left behind for us
Our parents passed down this legacy
The trophies from our grandpa's old basement
Old objects from previous generations
With a thicker coat of rust and dust
Covered in layers of time
I guess there's nothing left to discover
The town has reached its limit
So let's just park our cars and rest
Let's stop trying to move forward
Cuz the mission here's accomplished
They think they've achieved their goal
Don't it feel like a success?
They believe they have succeeded
Welcome to the town of the sundown
Welcome to this town stuck in time
Welcome to the land that time forgot
Welcome to a place that hasn't changed
It sure ain't much, but it's the only town I've got
Despite its flaws, it's home
Contributed by Maria L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.