Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of a seemingly idyllic town, "Dover," that quickly reveals a deeply insular and hostile undercurrent. The initial welcome is undercut by a declaration of unchanging, self-proclaimed superiority: "We're the free-thinking, hard-drinking / Sun-breathing saviours of our race." This sets a tone of arrogant exceptionalism that permeates the rest of the song. The core tension lies in the stark contrast between the town's "fair and gentle" facade and its aggressive xenophobia. The invitation to Dover is conditional: "We don't care if you're poor / Just don't move in next door." This reveals a deep-seated fear of outsiders, not based on economic status but on perceived difference, leading to accusations that newcomers "were born to rob" and will "steal your job away." The writing cleverly uses repetition to hammer home the paranoia. The refrain about life, wife, and job being stolen is a relentless drumbeat of suspicion. Later, the lyrics shift to a more direct, almost contemptuous address, suggesting that anyone not fitting the mold "melt[s] into the crowd" elsewhere, implying that only a specific, perhaps "grubby," type of person belongs in a place like Dover, and even then, only if they conform. What makes these lyrics sting is their unflinching portrayal of exclusionary pride. The narrator's self-awareness, admitting Dover is the "Last bastion of stupidity," is a moment of dark, ironic honesty. It’s this blend of self-importance and blatant prejudice, delivered with a kind of defiant swagger, that makes the unwelcome feel so potent and specific.