This Old Ghost Town
The Fratellis Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Come now honey
I may be just a fool, but I've got my principles
I'm unlucky
You may be alive but you're not invincible
It's just blindness
Kicking up a fuss and it's not for the first time
Oh, your highness
Someone must've told you, you once were a friend of mine

I've never been shy but I've kept my head down
Oh oh oh
Knowing about enough to get by this old ghost town
Oh oh oh

Put on your best dress
I'll take you dancing under the street lights
Oh you're charmless
You ain't too pretty but I've seen you tonight
It's just kindness
I was brought up a way that I won't leave you crying
Oh, your highness
You ain't too bright but as long as you're trying

I'll do my best to keep my head down
Oh oh oh
Putting my brains to the test in this old ghost town
Oh oh oh

I've never been shy but I've kept my head down
Oh oh oh
Knowing about enough to get by this old ghost town
Oh oh oh

I'll do my best to keep my head down
Putting my brains to the test this in old ghost town
Oh oh oh




Oh oh oh
oh oh oh

Overall Meaning

The Fratellis's song This Old Ghost Town tells the story of a man who is unlucky in love but who still adheres to his principles. He acknowledges that he is not a perfect person but that he is trying his best. The woman he is addressing is not invincible despite being alive, and he sees through her facade of charm and prettiness. He remembers their friendship, but she has clearly moved on and no longer values it. The man puts on a brave face amidst the adversity that surrounds him, keeping his head down and persevering through the trials of living in an old ghost town.


The lyrics convey a sense of resignation, regret, and perhaps even bitterness towards the woman who has disregarded their friendship. Yet, there seems to be an undercurrent of hope and determination in the man's words. He acknowledges that the town is ghostly and that life is tough, but he remains steadfast in his principles and his desire to keep going. The repetition of the phrase "Oh oh oh" adds a haunting and melancholic quality to the song, emphasizing the feeling of being stuck in a rut and unable to move forward.


Line by Line Meaning

Come now honey
Addressing a person in a condescending yet endearing way


I may be just a fool, but I've got my principles
I may not be the smartest, but I stick to my morals


I'm unlucky
Things never seem to go my way


You may be alive but you're not invincible
No matter how powerful one feels, they are still vulnerable


It's just blindness
Not seeing the obvious and making a fuss about nothing


Kicking up a fuss and it's not for the first time
Causing a commotion and being a chronic complainer


Oh, your highness
Sarcastic term of addressing someone who thinks highly of themselves


Someone must've told you, you once were a friend of mine
Pointing out that the person has changed for the worse and is no longer a friend


Put on your best dress
A suggestion to dress one's best for a special occasion


I'll take you dancing under the street lights
Offering to take someone out for a night of fun


Oh you're charmless
Observing that the person lacks charm or grace


You ain't too pretty but I've seen you tonight
Acknowledging that the person may not be conventionally attractive but still caught their attention


It's just kindness
Doing something kind out of the goodness of one's heart


I was brought up a way that I won't leave you crying
Raised to treat others with compassion and not cause them harm


You ain't too bright but as long as you're trying
Not the smartest, but putting in effort is what counts


I'll do my best to keep my head down
Trying to stay under the radar and avoid trouble


Putting my brains to the test in this old ghost town
Using one's wits to navigate through a stagnating place


Knowing about enough to get by this old ghost town
Having enough knowledge to survive in a place that's lost its vigor




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

blt4649

Come now honey
( 来てくれよハニー )
I may be just a fool, but I've got my principles
( おかしいかもしれないけど、信念はあるぜ )
I'm unlucky
( 不幸だったのさ )
You may be alive but you're not invincible
( まだ死んだわけじゃないだろ、不死身ではないけどさ )
It's just blindness
( ただ盲目なだけさ )
Kicking up a fuss and it's not for the first time
( 事を荒立てるのは、今回が初めてじゃないだろ )
Oh, your highness
( あぁ、殿下 )
Someone must've told you, you once were a friend of mine
( 誰かがあなたに伝えるべきだった、あなたは私の友人だったと )
I've never been shy but I've kept my head down Oh oh oh
( 決して内気だったわけじゃない、ずっと我慢してたんだ )
Knowing about enough to get by this old ghost town Oh oh oh
( この古いゴーストタウンをすり抜けるくらいには知ってるよ )
Put on your best dress
( 一番良い服をきせて )
I'll take you dancing under the street lights
( 町のライトの下で踊りに連れて行くよ )
Oh you're charmless
( かわいげがないんだよ )
You ain't too pretty but I've seen you tonight It's just kindness
( かわいくもないけど、今夜会いにいった 親切心さ )
I was brought up a way that I won't leave you crying
( こうやって出てきて、君を泣かせて帰るなんてことはない )
Oh, your highness
( あぁ殿下 )
You ain't too bright but as long as you're trying
( 輝いているわけではありませんね、がんばっているとは思うけど )
I'll do my best to keep my head down Oh oh oh
( なんとか冷静になるさ )
Putting my brains to the test in this old ghost town Oh oh oh
( この古いゴーストタウンで知恵を試すのさ )
I've never been shy but I've kept my head down Oh oh oh
( シャイだったわけじゃない、気持ちは静めてたのさ )
Knowing about enough to get by this old ghost town Oh oh oh
( この古いゴーストタウンをやり過ごすくらいには知ってるよ )
I'll do my best to keep my head down Oh oh oh
( なんとか冷静になるさ )
Putting my brains to the test this in old ghost town Oh oh oh Oh oh oh Oh oh oh
( この古いゴーストタウンで知恵を試すのさ )



All comments from YouTube:

Liz

Thanks for uploading this, it's been stuck in my head ever since it came out. Can't wait until October!

MarsProbe

This album can't come soon enough! What a song! Jeannie Nitro ain't too bad either. :D

100nitrog

I'd say this is definitely one of their top 5 out of their entire catalog.

kayteekisskiss

Oh my good god I can't stop listening to this

aazhie

tell me about it.  I keep forgetting which Fratellis' song it is and feeling so relieved when i find it again XD

Sean McCoy

best song on the album

blt4649

Come now honey
( 来てくれよハニー )
I may be just a fool, but I've got my principles
( おかしいかもしれないけど、信念はあるぜ )
I'm unlucky
( 不幸だったのさ )
You may be alive but you're not invincible
( まだ死んだわけじゃないだろ、不死身ではないけどさ )
It's just blindness
( ただ盲目なだけさ )
Kicking up a fuss and it's not for the first time
( 事を荒立てるのは、今回が初めてじゃないだろ )
Oh, your highness
( あぁ、殿下 )
Someone must've told you, you once were a friend of mine
( 誰かがあなたに伝えるべきだった、あなたは私の友人だったと )
I've never been shy but I've kept my head down Oh oh oh
( 決して内気だったわけじゃない、ずっと我慢してたんだ )
Knowing about enough to get by this old ghost town Oh oh oh
( この古いゴーストタウンをすり抜けるくらいには知ってるよ )
Put on your best dress
( 一番良い服をきせて )
I'll take you dancing under the street lights
( 町のライトの下で踊りに連れて行くよ )
Oh you're charmless
( かわいげがないんだよ )
You ain't too pretty but I've seen you tonight It's just kindness
( かわいくもないけど、今夜会いにいった 親切心さ )
I was brought up a way that I won't leave you crying
( こうやって出てきて、君を泣かせて帰るなんてことはない )
Oh, your highness
( あぁ殿下 )
You ain't too bright but as long as you're trying
( 輝いているわけではありませんね、がんばっているとは思うけど )
I'll do my best to keep my head down Oh oh oh
( なんとか冷静になるさ )
Putting my brains to the test in this old ghost town Oh oh oh
( この古いゴーストタウンで知恵を試すのさ )
I've never been shy but I've kept my head down Oh oh oh
( シャイだったわけじゃない、気持ちは静めてたのさ )
Knowing about enough to get by this old ghost town Oh oh oh
( この古いゴーストタウンをやり過ごすくらいには知ってるよ )
I'll do my best to keep my head down Oh oh oh
( なんとか冷静になるさ )
Putting my brains to the test this in old ghost town Oh oh oh Oh oh oh Oh oh oh
( この古いゴーストタウンで知恵を試すのさ )

Giuseppe Lombardo

Non mi stancherò mai di ascoltare questa canzone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Viva i Fratellis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    
by Lunaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

AvoidLloyd14

This song sounds a lot like Brown-Eyed Girl. Good album.

xXEPICPOEXx

haha i said the same thing.

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