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".
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Strange Town
The Jam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Though I've only been here for three weeks now
I've got blisters on my feet
Trying find a friend in Oxford Street
I bought an A to Z guide book
Trying to find the clubs and YMCAs
But when you ask in a strange town
And I've got to go, mate"
They worry themselves about feeling low
They worry themselves about the dreadful snow
They all ignore me 'cause they don't know
I'm really a spaceman from those UFOs
You've got to move in a straight line
You've got to walk and talk in four four time
You can't be weird in a strange town
You'll be betrayed by your accent and manners
You've got to wear the right clothes
Be careful not to pick or scratch your nose
You can't be nice in a strange town
'Cause we don't know, don't care
And we got to go, man
Rush my money to the record shops
I stop off in a back street
Buy myself a sniff
We got our own manifesto
Be kind to queers
And I'm so glad the revolution's here
It's nice and warm now
I've finished with clubs where the music's loud
'Cause I don't see a face in a single crowd
There's no one there
I look in the mirror
But I can't be seen
Just a thin, clean layer of Mister Sheen
Looking back at me
Oh, oh
Found myself in a strange town
Though I've only been here for three weeks now
I've got blisters on my feet
Trying find a friend in Oxford Street
I bought an A to Z guide book
Trying to find the clubs and YMCAs
When you ask in a strange town
They say "don't know, don't care
And I've got to go, mate"
They worry themselves about feeling low
They worry themselves about the dreadful snow
They all ignore me 'cause they don't know
I'm really a spaceman from those UFOs
(Strange town)
(Strange town)
Break it up, break it up
Break it up, break it up
Break it up, break it up
Break it up, break it up
Break it up, break it up
Burn it down, shake it up
Break it up, break it up
The Jam's song "Strange Town" tells the story of a person who moves to a new city and struggles to fit in. The singer feels isolated from the people around him, and his attempts to make friends are met with indifference. He tries to navigate the city with the help of an A to Z guidebook, but he still feels lost and disconnected. The chorus emphasizes the difficulty of being different in a strange place, warning that the singer must "walk and talk in four four time" and "be careful not to pick or scratch your nose."
The song's lyrics suggest a critique of conformity and the pressure to fit in. The singer's struggles to be accepted and his disappointment with the city's club scene show how difficult it can be to find a sense of belonging in a new place. Meanwhile, the refrain "they don't know, don't care" suggests that the people around him are too absorbed in their own lives to notice or empathize with him.
Overall, "Strange Town" is a song that speaks to the universal experience of feeling like an outsider. It captures the frustration and loneliness of trying to fit in and find your place in a new city.
Line by Line Meaning
Found myself in a strange town
I am in an unfamiliar place
Though I've only been here for three weeks now
I haven't been here long
I've got blisters on my feet
My feet are sore from walking
Trying find a friend in Oxford Street
I'm looking for a companion on a busy street
I bought an A to Z guide book
I purchased a guidebook
Trying to find the clubs and YMCAs
I'm looking for entertainment venues
But when you ask in a strange town
People here are unhelpful
They say "don't know, don't care
They are indifferent to my inquiries
And I've got to go, mate"
They have no time for me
They worry themselves about feeling low
They are concerned about their emotions
They worry themselves about the dreadful snow
They dread unpleasant weather
They all ignore me 'cause they don't know
People don't acknowledge me
I'm really a spaceman from those UFOs
I feel like I don't belong
You've got to move in a straight line
You have to be straightforward
You've got to walk and talk in four four time
You have to conform to social norms
You can't be weird in a strange town
Odd behavior doesn't go over well here
You'll be betrayed by your accent and manners
Your speech and behavior can give you away
You've got to wear the right clothes
You must dress appropriately
Be careful not to pick or scratch your nose
Don't exhibit impolite behavior
You can't be nice in a strange town
Being friendly won't get you far
'Cause we don't know, don't care
Because people here are indifferent
And we got to go, man
They're always in a rush
Rush my money to the record shops
I'm eager to spend my money on music
I stop off in a back street
I take a break in a quiet place
Buy myself a sniff
I indulge in a drug
We got our own manifesto
We have our own set of principles
Be kind to queers
We believe in treating everyone with respect
And I'm so glad the revolution's here
I'm happy for change
It's nice and warm now
It's a favorable climate now
I've finished with clubs where the music's loud
I'm done with noisy nightclubs
'Cause I don't see a face in a single crowd
I don't feel like I belong anywhere
There's no one there
No one can connect with me
I look in the mirror
I examine myself
But I can't be seen
I feel invisible
Just a thin, clean layer of Mister Sheen
Only a shiny surface is visible
Looking back at me
Reflecting back at me
(Strange town)
(Unfamiliar place)
(Strange town)
(Unfamiliar place)
Break it up, break it up
Stop disruption
Burn it down, shake it up
Rattle the status quo
Break it up, break it up
Stop disruption
Break it up, break it up
Stop disruption
Break it up, break it up
Stop disruption
Burn it down, shake it up
Rattle the status quo
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Paul John Weller
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Vortigan07
It's almost impossible to overstate how good this is! Weller was just off the edge of the world somewhere in terms of his songwriting and how he nailed the England of that time and in many cases, of any time!
@steelyman08
And what a trio! Bruce Foxton created punk/New Wave bass playing almost single handed. The Stranglers had another pretty special one as well.
@gary6514
Superb lyrics coupled with sublime basslines and brutal drumming. The Jam was just perfect.
@robertstewart239
Raw energy of the age.
@patrickbrett1552
Weller was a wally to leave bass n drums to die for. Still, what memories?
@bobballard1177
Favourite Jam song....and there are SO many great ones.
@paulwaddy8634
My favourite too
@robertstewart239
When I was 13 (1979-80) The Jam's big songs were Strange Town and the huge hit Going Underground. Eton Rifles was also huge, but Going Underground was definitely the biggest hit.Start! was also huge. Great songs!
@stretchmorgan
Masterful song writing. I wish I had that command of lyrics, to be able to dispense with rhyming couplets the way he is. Paul Weller was one fantastically focussed young man. Big respect!
@paulerrington9413
His words are just out of this world BTILLIANT