The band drew upon a variety of stylistic influences over the course of their career, including 1960s beat music, soul, rhythm and blues and psychedelic rock, as well as 1970s punk and new wave. The trio was known for its melodic pop songs, its distinctly English flavour and its mod image. The band launched the career of Paul Weller, who went on to form The Style Council and later had a successful solo career. Weller wrote and sang most of The Jam’s original compositions, and he played lead guitar, using a Rickenbacker. Bruce Foxton provided backing vocals and prominent basslines, which were the foundation of many of the band’s songs, including the hits "Down in the Tube Station at Midnight", "The Eton Rifles", "Going Underground" and "Town Called Malice".
For artists called "Jam", please see http://www.last.fm/music/+noredirect/Jam.
Boy About Town
The Jam Lyrics
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See me walking the streets I'm on top of the world that you heard of
Oh like paper caught in wind
I glide upstreet, I glide downstreet
Oh and it won't let you go
Till you finally come to rest or someone picks you up
Upstreet downstreet and puts you in the bin
See me walking the streets I'm on top of the world that you heard
Oh I'm sitting watching rainbows
And watching the people go crazy
Oh please leave me aside
I want to be a, I want to be,
I want to live in,
Upstreet downstreet like paper caught in wind
Upstreet downstreet it won't let you go
Na na na nah, na na na nah
Na na na na na na nah
Na na na nah, na na na nah
There's more than you can hope for in this world
The song Boy About Town by The Jam describes the confidence and freedom of a young boy who is proud to be seen and heard in the city. The boy is described as always on the move, walking up and down the streets, enjoying every moment of it. The lyrics 'See me walking around, I'm the boy about town that you heard of' indicates how this boy is widely renowned in the city, and everyone knows who he is. The boy is viewed by others as confident and on top of the world, 'See me walking the streets, I'm on top of the world that you heard of'. The song compares the boy to paper caught in wind, which represents how he is light, agile, and can move anywhere he wants to, without a care in the world.
The phrase 'Upstreet downstreet' is repeated throughout the song, which serves as a reminder of the boy's carefree attitude. It is like he loves the uncertainty that life has to offer and doesn't mind where it takes him. The line 'I'm sitting watching rainbows and watching the people go crazy' shows how the boy is comfortable being alone and watching the world move around him. This line symbolizes how the boy is different from everyone else in the city, and he prefers it that way. The last lines of the song, 'There's more than you can hope for in this world,' is a message of hope that there is always something good to look forward to in life, and one should always have a positive outlook.
Line by Line Meaning
See me walking around I'm the boy about town that you heard of
I am the popular boy of the town that everyone knows, and I am taking a stroll around.
See me walking the streets I'm on top of the world that you heard
As I walk on the streets, I feel like I am on the top of the world, just as you have heard.
Oh like paper caught in wind
I am moving around aimlessly, without any specific direction, just like a paper caught in the wind.
I glide upstreet, I glide downstreet
I am effortlessly moving up and down the streets, without a care in the world.
Oh and it won't let you go
This carefree feeling will not let you go until you find rest, or you are picked up and discarded like garbage.
Till you finally come to rest or someone picks you up
The carefree feeling will persist until one finally settles down, or until they are picked up by someone and discarded.
Upstreet downstreet and puts you in the bin
You will be thrown away in the garbage bin, after you are picked up from the street.
Oh I'm sitting watching rainbows
I am sitting, and enjoying the beauty of the rainbow.
And watching the people go crazy
I am also observing how people around me are going crazy, while I am just sitting and enjoying my time.
Oh please leave me aside
I am requesting to be left alone, to enjoy my peaceful moment of solitude.
I want to be a, I want to be, I want to live in, Upstreet downstreet like paper caught in wind
I desire to live a carefree life, moving around aimlessly like a paper caught in the wind.
Upstreet downstreet it won't let you go
This carefree feeling will persist as you move around the streets aimlessly.
Na na na nah, na na na nah Na na na na na na nah Na na na nah, na na na nah
This is a musical interlude, with no specific meaning attached.
There's more than you can hope for in this world
This world has many opportunities and possibilities that you may not even be aware of, so don't give up hope.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL JOHN WELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind