Town's Dead
Kojaque Lyrics
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Tryna buy a bit of smoke
Cause my face didn′t look the way it should have when I paid him
Drank 6 tins, just to get the head straight
Pulla straight, spittin' in the cold
Wish I had have bate him
Patience
Had the bookie bet and then I went and got notions
Fed up of the system still broken
Tried to open up and people took it like a joke then
Fed up of the "My da′d punch 'round your da"
If I ever found mine I'd
Punch him ′round for ya
Dwellin′ on the past
Got my present in a corset
Pony on the dashboard
Bookie bound, floor it
Life's that thing that ya do when ya can′t face pintin'
Head up in a bucket, teeth grindin′
Tried to buzz a buddy
Better luck I'd strike lightning
They all settled down or moved out or quit fighting
Are you an expat? Sell patsy?
Have a da that′s a keyboard Nazi?
You could be the big shot, 'round campus
Help gentrify the flats to the Hamptons
You could try the house share, try rentin'
Bit of money for the landlord′s pension
Heads are gonna roll soon, no warning
This town′s not dead it's just dormant
Are you an expat? Sell patsy?
Have a da that′s a keyboard Nazi?
You could be the big shot, 'round campus
Help gentrify the flats to the Hamptons
You could try the house share, try rentin′
Bit of money for the landlord's pension
Heads are gonna roll soon, no warning
My town′s not dead it's just dormant
Now the corpos knockin' down the flats
Just to build a few gaffs
Just to fill ′em with some triple barrel surnames
Door frame wouldn′t fit the halo on your head
Tell ya butter wouldn't melt in your mouth ′round your way
Wanna be a real big deal like Christ or Brexit
Give the mission statement no one gets it
Restless
Made a bit of money
Not enough to live from it
Just enough that all my buddies think I'm gonna get the next drink
Call, don′t text it
Message all cryptic
"When you coming up I wanna duck and watch Netflix"
Aww wait, fixed it
Had it in predictive
Walkin' ′round the city with my mug up in her necklace
Risque texts from the pub relentless
Gee-eyed, squintin' at the screen like sent it
When I get big, Imma ditch this kip
Big swig for the minute getting sick up on the exit
Kojaque's song "Town's Dead" is a gritty portrayal of life in a small town in Ireland. The lyrics describe the frustration and hopelessness felt by young people who feel trapped in their surroundings. The first verse tells a story of a drug deal gone wrong, with the singer being beaten for not looking the part. He drinks to forget and wishes he had fought back, but he has learned to be patient in a violent world. The second verse explores the themes of class, gentrification, and the futility of trying to escape the town. The landlord profits while the tenants struggle to make ends meet. The chorus repeats, "This town's not dead, it's just dormant," suggesting that there is still life, but it is hard to see.
The imagery in the song is vivid and evocative, painting a picture of a bleak and barren landscape. The "bookie bound" protagonist drives around with a "pony on the dashboard," trying to find a way out of the town. He has made some money, but it's not enough to escape. He dreams of a better life, but the reality is harsh. The song is a powerful commentary on the struggles faced by young people in rural Ireland, but it's also a universal story of hope and despair.
Line by Line Meaning
I just got my head kicked in
I just faced physical assault
Tryna buy a bit of smoke
I was trying to buy some drugs
Cause my face didn't look the way it should have when I paid him
The drug dealer attacked me because he didn't think I looked right when I paid him
Drank 6 tins, just to get the head straight
I drank 6 cans of beer to clear my head
Pulla straight, spittin' in the cold
I was walking straight and spitting in the cold
Wish I had have bate him
I wish I had beaten him up
Patience
I need to have patience
Had the bookie bet and then I went and got notions
I made a bet with the bookie and then got some ideas
Had to cheat the dealer got my nose bust open
I had to cheat the card dealer and got my nose injured in the process
Fed up of the system still broken
I am tired of the broken system
Tried to open up and people took it like a joke then
I tried to express myself, but people didn't take me seriously
Fed up of the "My da′d punch 'round your da"
I am tired of the phrase "my dad can beat up your dad"
If I ever found mine I'd punch him ′round for ya
If I ever find my dad, I would fight him for you
Dwellin' on the past
I am thinking too much about the past
Got my present in a corset
I have my current situation under control
Pony on the dashboard
There is a toy pony on the car dashboard
Bookie bound, floor it
I am driving to see the bookie, speeding up the car
Life's that thing that ya do when ya can't face pintin'
Life is what you do when you can't face going to the pub
Head up in a bucket, teeth grindin'
I am feeling very sick and stressed
Tried to buzz a buddy
I tried to contact a friend
Better luck I'd strike lightning
I would have better luck if lightning came down
They all settled down or moved out or quit fighting
Everyone has settled down, moved out, or stopped fighting
Are you an expat? Sell patsy?
Are you an expatriate? Do you sell drugs?
Have a da that′s a keyboard Nazi?
Do you have a dad who is a keyboard warrior?
You could be the big shot, 'round campus
You could be popular around campus
Help gentrify the flats to the Hamptons
Help make the flats more upscale like the Hamptons
You could try the house share, try rentin'
You could try renting a room in a shared house
Bit of money for the landlord's pension
The rent would be a little money for the landlord's pension
Heads are gonna roll soon, no warning
There is going to be trouble soon, without warning
This town's not dead it's just dormant
The town is not dead but is merely inactive
Now the corpos knockin' down the flats
The corporations are tearing down the buildings
Just to build a few gaffs
They are doing it just to build some flats
Just to fill 'em with some triple barrel surnames
The new buildings will be occupied by the rich with long, fancy surnames
Door frame wouldn't fit the halo on your head
You have a very high opinion of yourself
Tell ya butter wouldn't melt in your mouth 'round your way
You look innocent, but people in your area know you differently
Wanna be a real big deal like Christ or Brexit
You want to be a very significant person like Jesus Christ or Brexit
Give the mission statement no one gets it
You have a goal or purpose, but no one understands it
Restless
You are feeling unsettled or bored
Made a bit of money
You have earned some money
Not enough to live from it
But you can't make a living from it
Just enough that all my buddies think I'm gonna get the next drink
You have enough money to buy the next drink with your friends
Call, don't text it
You prefer to receive phone calls instead of texts
Message all cryptic
You send messages that are difficult to understand
When you coming up I wanna duck and watch Netflix
You want someone to come over to watch Netflix with you
Aww wait, fixed it
Oh wait, I figured it out
Had it in predictive
It was predicted by my phone
Walkin' 'round the city with my mug up in her necklace
Walking around the city, holding a mug with a necklace
Risque texts from the pub relentless
You are receiving daring messages from the pub non-stop
Gee-eyed, squintin' at the screen like sent it
You are looking at the screen with squinted, tired eyes
When I get big, Imma ditch this kip
When I become successful, I will leave this place
Big swig for the minute getting sick up on the exit
You take a big drink to feel better before leaving the place
Writer(s): Alan Duggan, Kevin Smith, Dara Benjamin Kiely, Daniel Fox, Ryan Hargaddon, Adam Edward Faulkner
Contributed by Molly F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
KOJAQUE
This was by far one of the most difficult videos we’ve ever pulled off! Still can’t believe it! I love you all, TOWN’S NOT DEAD IT’S JUST DORMANT! 💕
Matt Boerner
"This Town's not dead its just boring" well that's how it was burnt into my head the first 20 times I heard it.. Love it regardless!! stay original KOJAQUE!!!
Raymond Tannor
Bro you're videos are a movie every time - keep pushing you're sick!
Simon Wyatt
👏
Dom Baron
The work shows homie
Sesh Hill
Got damn you can write a fucking track!! Big love, been putting all the homies on ova in AUS ❤️
Foxy Recycled Plastic Sculptor
This video is evidence that a Kojaque and Slowthai collaboration needs to happen
Protato TV
Saw this from an ad on a slow Thai song lol
Economically
Can't agree with this more!
Solomon Nevins
Dude I want to see a collab between them or kojaque and the Gorillaz so bad