The original idea for the song was that after each verse Russell would sing a movie dialogue cliché, one of which was "This town ain't big enough for the both of us". They dropped the idea of having different phrases and instead used only the one in the title.
An acoustic version of the song was recorded in 1985 for the B-side of the Change single.
In 1997, Sparks recorded two new versions of the song. The first was an orchestral reworking produced by Tony Visconti which reinstated a verse Muff Winwood had cut from the original. The other was for their album Plagiarism as a collaboration with Faith No More, which was released as a single and reached number forty in the British singles chart.
This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us
Sparks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The mammals are your favourite type, and you want her tonight
Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat
You hear the thunder of stampeding rhinos, elephants and tacky tigers
This town ain't big enough for the both of us
And it ain't me who's gonna leave
Flying, domestic flying
Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat
You are a khaki-coloured bombardier, it's Hiroshima that you're nearing
This town ain't big enough for both of us
And it ain't me who's gonna leave
Daily, except for Sunday
You dawdle in to the cafe where you meet her each day
Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat
As twenty cannibals have hold of you, they need their protein just like you do
This town ain't big enough for the both of us
And it ain't me who's gonna leave
Shower, another shower
You've got to look your best for her and be clean everywhere
Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat
The rain is pouring on the foreign town, the bullets cannot cut you down
This town ain't big enough for the both of us
And it ain't me who's gonna leave
Census, the latest census
There'll be more girls who live in town though not enough to go round
Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat
You know that this town isn't big enough, not big enough for both of us
This town isn't big enough, not big enough for both of us
I ain't gonna leave
The lyrics of Sparks's song This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us narrates an awkward and potentially dangerous love story between two individuals in a town where there isn't enough room and one of them believes that they have to leave. The song has a frantic energy, accentuated by the increasing heartbeat mentioned throughout the song, that mirrors the urgency of the singer's situation.
In the first verse, the singer's love interest is someone who loves animals, which the singer expresses by stating that "you want her tonight," and that "the mammals are your favourite type". The singer's heartbeat increases as he hears the stampeding of "rhinos, elephants and tacky tigers," indicating that he is overwhelmed and perhaps even intimidated by his love interest. The singer then asserts that this town isn't big enough for both of them, and that he won't be the one who leaves.
The second verse talks about the singer's occupation as a "khaki-colored bombardier." He is flying domestically and when the stewardess is near, he must not show any fear. A reference is made to the bombing of Hiroshima, which implies the singer is a pilot. The singer states that the town isn't big enough for both of them, and that he won't leave.
The third verse talks about how the singer meets his love interest at a cafe each day, but there isn't enough protein to go around. The singer's heartbeat increases as he thinks about twenty cannibals who have a hold of him, suggesting that the singer may be in danger. The singer again states that the town isn't big enough for both of them, and that he won't leave.
The final verse talks about how the singer needs to shower to look his best for his love interest. The rain is pouring on the foreign town, but the singer is unstoppable. The singer is aware that there are more girls in the town, but there isn't enough to go around. The song ends with the singer staunchly affirming that he isn't going to leave.
Line by Line Meaning
Zoo time, is she and you time?
Are you ready for a wild ride with her? Your favourite mammals are waiting to begin the adventure.
Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat
You hear the thunder of stampeding rhinos, elephants and tacky tigers
Your excitement level is skyrocketing as you anticipate the thrill of the chase. You can hear the sound of wild animals getting ready to pounce.
This town ain't big enough for the both of us
And it ain't me who's gonna leave
One of you has to go because this town can't handle two of you. But it won't be me who leaves.
Flying, domestic flying
And when the stewardess is near do not show any fear
You may be a fearless traveler, but you must mask your terror when the flight attendant comes to check on you.
You are a khaki-coloured bombardier, it's Hiroshima that you're nearing
You are a brave military pilot on your way to a critical mission that could change history forever.
Daily, except for Sunday
You dawdle in to the cafe where you meet her each day
Every day, you come to the same coffee shop where you're sure to find her, except on Sundays.
As twenty cannibals have hold of you, they need their protein just like you do
You're surrounded by people who want to consume you, but don't worry, they're just like you - they need their daily protein intake.
Shower, another shower
You've got to look your best for her and be clean everywhere
You take multiple showers to make sure you're perfectly clean for her, in every way.
The rain is pouring on the foreign town, the bullets cannot cut you down
You're in a strange place where you can't let your guard down. The weather may be bad, but it's not as dangerous as the people around you.
There'll be more girls who live in town though not enough to go round
There are more women available, but none of them quite match up to her.
You know that this town isn't big enough, not big enough for both of us
This town isn't big enough, not big enough for both of us
I ain't gonna leave
You're well aware that one of you has to go, but it won't be you. This town isn't big enough for the two of you, and you're not leaving.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RON MAEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@roiRenaud
Zoo time is she and you time
The mammals are your favourite type, and you want her tonight
Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat
You hear the thunder of stampeding rhinos, elephants and tacky tigers
This town ain't big enough for both of us
And it ain't me who's gonna leave
Flying, domestic flying
And when the stewardess is near do not show any fear
Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat
You are a khaki-coloured bombardier, it's Hiroshima that you're nearing
This town ain't big enough for both of us
And it ain't me who's gonna leave
Daily, except for Sunday
You dawdle in to the cafe where you meet her each day
Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat
As twenty cannibals have hold of you, they need their protein just like you do
This town ain't big enough for both of us
And it ain't me who's gonna leave
Shower, another shower
You've got to look your best for her and be clean everywhere
Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat
The rain is pouring on the foreign town, the bullets cannot cut you down
This town ain't big enough for both of us
And it ain't me who's gonna leave
Census, the latest census
There'll be more girls who live in town though not enough to go round
Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat
You know that: This town isn't big enough, not big enough for both of us
This town isn't big enough, not big enough for both of us
And I ain't gonna leave
@64HomeMade
My husband was the engineer on this album. He came up with the idea of gun shots, everyone had gone for lunch he stayed in the studio. They all came back he played it and everyone loved it.
@martw3240
now that 's a story. this is why we need youtube. Background context, makes it all the more realistic. Thank you, and, him
@grahambarrett5569
A truly amazing, exciting record
@64HomeMade
@@martw3240 thank you, he has so many stories : playing football with Rod Stewart, recording Cat Stevens so many he's had a very interesting life. He's actually written a book about his life as a recording engineer.
@martw3240
No ,thank you@@64HomeMade you forget one thing. He shared it with you. Never forget that
@64HomeMade
@@martw3240 Jesus christ I wish I'd never mentioned him I'll never hear the end of it. Actually I really don't give a shit what anyone else thinks... done.
@theIneffableTale
Congratulations if you are hearing this for the first time. You have stumbled into an alternate universe controlled by the band Sparks. They are time travellers. Way ahead of the curve.
@RUDI-UK
We all should regard guitarist Ian Hampton a true hero of the people. The man called out Jimmy Savile's behaviour to floor management at the Top of the Pops studio after he witnessed the scumbag exiting the set quietly with a very young female audience member. Obviously Ian wasn't listened to, and for that the BBC should hang it's head in shame for eteternity and a day. Not a lot of people might not know about you and what you did Ian, but i do. And for what you did the country owes you a massive thank you.
@dariowestern
Ian Hampton was not in the band when this clip was made, but he is a friend and a total hero. God bless him and Johnny Lydon for originally raising the alarm on Jimmy Savile.
@peterlawrence7851
RUDI UK deserved a medal