The band gained recognition in the United Kingdom and United States during 2006 and 2007 due to the success of their single "Young Folks", whilst staying virtually unknown in their homeland, Sweden.
In This Town
Peter Bjorn and John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everywhere you go you meet someone you know
You can't steal a kiss in a place like this
How the rumors do fly in a town this size
In a smokey bar in the backseat of your car
In your own little house someone's sure to find you out
What you do and what you think
What you eat and what you drink
In a town this size, there's no place to hide
Everywhere you go you meet someone you know
You can't steal a kiss in a place like this
How the rumors do fly in a town this size
Oh, I had a fight with my girlfriend last night
Before the moon went down it was all over town
How he made me cry how I said goodbye
If it's true or not doesn't seem to count alot
In a town this size, there's no place to hide
Everywhere you go you meet someone you know
You can't steal a kiss in a place like this
How the rumors do fly in a town this size
In a town this size In a town this size
The lyrics of "In This Town" by Peter Bjorn and John paint a picture of a small town where privacy is nearly impossible to come by. The song captures the sense of intimacy and interconnectedness that can exist in a close-knit community. It highlights the challenges of keeping secrets and maintaining a sense of privacy in such an environment.
The lyrics suggest that in a town this small, there is no escape from familiarity. Everywhere you go, you are bound to run into someone you know, making it difficult to find solitude or engage in discreet actions. The mention of stealing a kiss implies that even simple acts of affection are not private in this town. The rumors that circulate are a testament to the gossip-driven nature of such communities, where people are quick to talk about others' actions, thoughts, and even personal hygiene.
The second verse adds another layer to the narrative, providing a specific example of how rumors can spread quickly in this town. The singer shares their personal experience of having a fight with a girlfriend, only to find that news of the argument spreads rapidly throughout the community. The lyrics suggest that it doesn't matter whether the rumors are true or not; what matters is the impact they have on the individuals involved.
Overall, "In This Town" reflects on the challenges of living in a tight-knit community, where privacy is scarce and rumors have a way of defining people's perceptions and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
In a town this size, there's no place to hide
In a small community like this town, it's impossible to keep secrets or avoid being noticed.
Everywhere you go you meet someone you know
No matter where you go, you always come across familiar faces and acquaintances.
You can't steal a kiss in a place like this
In this close-knit town, it's challenging to have intimate moments without being seen or talked about.
How the rumors do fly in a town this size
Gossip and hearsay spread rapidly in this small community due to its size and interconnectedness.
In a smokey bar in the backseat of your car
Even in shady locations like a smoke-filled bar or the privacy of a car, one's actions can't go unnoticed.
In your own little house, someone's sure to find you out
Even within the confines of your own home, it's highly likely that someone will discover your secrets or questionable behavior.
What you do and what you think
People in this town are interested in and talk about your actions and thoughts.
What you eat and what you drink
Even your dietary choices, including what you consume and drink, become topics of conversation.
If you smoke a cigarette they'll be talkin' about your breath
Even something as simple as smoking a cigarette leads to gossip about your breath, illustrating the town's tendency to focus on trivial details.
Oh, I had a fight with my girlfriend last night
I recently had a disagreement with my girlfriend.
Before the moon went down it was all over town
Before the night was even over, news of the fight had already spread throughout the entire town.
How he made me cry, how I said goodbye
People in the town know about the details of our fight, including how my boyfriend made me cry and how I said goodbye to him.
If it's true or not doesn't seem to count a lot
The truthfulness of the information being spread doesn't carry much importance within this town, as rumors hold significant weight.
In a town this size, there's no place to hide
Once again emphasizing that in a small community, hiding personal matters or avoiding attention is impossible.
Everywhere you go you meet someone you know
Reiterating that familiarity is constant in this town, with familiar faces and acquaintances encountered wherever you go.
You can't steal a kiss in a place like this
Continuing to highlight the lack of privacy and the inability to engage in intimate moments without being noticed or talked about.
How the rumors do fly in a town this size
Once again emphasizing the rapid spread of gossip and rumors due to the town's small size and interconnectedness.
In a town this size, In a town this size
Emphasizing the overall theme of the song, that being in a small town has its challenges and limitations.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KIERAN KANE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
RCT killer
These guys need more recognition. Found them through "Young Folks" and started exploring them more and they're truly amazing! I like that they are original as well :)
Hobodarkness
Same
Nick Backerman
This sounds like it could have come from Writer's Block. I love that they've stayed consistent over all these years :)
Rick Lundgren
played in Ogden, UT about a week ago...beautiful. Fan for life. Tak!
Cash Eddy
good song/album
Cielo Estrellado
magic!
AtibaVV
God I wish there tickets were cheaper
Marco Muto
@Atiba"s Videogame videos Oh
AtibaVV
+Marco Muto there playing at a festival in my town and u have to pay for the whole thing and it's $120
Marco Muto
is 25 bucks expensive?