New Model Army - Smalltown England Lyrics

Loved this when I first heard it. No rest was brilliant but this knocked me off my feet. It's a cynical look at life, but has all the elements of storytelling without bligerance

Lyrics:
Turn left at the lights about 50 yards down
There's a pub in the corner and I'll meet you inside
About quarter to eight and we'll go into town
And find out what everybody's been saying about us

Well, smalltown walls have eyes and ears
Stories fly thick and fast round here
Truth and lies are all the same
Whatever you do don't rock the boat
You've got to play the game, play the game
play the game, play the game

Is it a crime to want something else?
Is it a crime to believe in something different?
Is it a crime to want to make things happen?
To spit in the faces of the cynical fools

Well, the incrowd know that the shell is thin
So they all protect the cage they're in
Get drunk and stoned and wrecked again
No tears of rage, no cries of pain
Nothing ventured, nothing gained
In smalltown England

Because the world outside the pint in hand
Is all so hard to understand
And if visions of the world come clear
They're not allowed to interfere

Is it a crime to want something else?
Is it a crime to believe in something different?
Is it a crime to want to make things happen?
To spit in the faces of the cynical fools

The smell of hot food from the takeaway curry
Diesel fumes from a passing lorry
Waiting in the queue in the pouring rain
For the chip shop up on Bowling Lane
Well, last week we all got really smashed
We couldn't stand up, it was a real laugh
And this week's going to be just the same
And the next and the next, again and again
They say you've got to have fun while you're young
'Cause they can't believe there's anything else except this

Is it a crime to want something else?
Is it a crime to believe in something different?
Is it a crime to want to make things happen?
To spit in the faces of the cynical fools
Is it a crime to want something else?
In smalltown England, in smalltown England

Band: New Model Army
Song: Smalltown England
Album: Vengeance
Year: 1984
Origin: Bradford, England
Genre: Post-Punk/Alternative Rock
SMALLTOWN ENGLAND
Turn left at the lights about 50 yards down. There's a pub on the corner and I'll meet you inside. At a quarter to eight we'll go into town and find out what everybody's been saying about us. Smalltown walls have eyes and ears. Stories fly thick and fast around here. Truth and lies are all the same. Whatever you do don't rock the boat. You've got to play the game. Is it a crime to want something else? Is it a crime to believe in something different? Is it a crime to want to make things happen? To spit in the faces of the cynical fools? The in-crowd know that the shell is thin. They'll all protect the cage they're in. Get stoned and drunk and wrecked again. No tears of rage, no cries of pain. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. In smalltown England. The world outside the pint in hand is all so hard to understand. And if visions of the world come clear, they're not allowed to interfere. The smell of hot food from the takeaway curry, diesel fumes from a passing lorry. Waiting in the queue in the pouring rain, for the chip shop up on Bowling Lane. Well last week we all got very smashed. We couldn't stand up, it was a real laugh. And this week's going to be just the same. And the next and the next, again and again. They say you've got to have fun while you're young. 'Cuz they can't believe there's anything else except this.

Some things never seem to change

Classic. Remember listening to it when I was a Goth in the late '80s from London and moved in with a mate from Wigan who introduced me to it. This song was one of my favourites, along with Vengeance, Vagabonds and No Rest. Ended up seeing them twice. Pretty mental. Them Northern fans were pretty hardcore.

Yeah, 'The Family' were my abiding memory of the gig I went to.

Savage...

Aye so true.

True Story...

Loved them, Solem Bar Mcr Uni not many of us there and then the Marquee and loads more

Great song!

Priceless ......

cant believe no ones uploaded a DIY video to this ANTHEM!!! might do it myself.....

If you would like to actually collaborate with New Model Army click this link Record with New Model Army on WholeWorldBand - Seven Times and check out the new free to download app from Whole World Band !

this is so true...

forever loving this song.