This Town

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of a superficial, exclusive social scene, a place where "chosen toys" of "catty girls and pretty boys" dictate the pace. The repeated phrase "Life's a kick in this town" initially sounds like an invitation, but the subsequent verses reveal a darker undercurrent. It's a place that demands conformity, where "make up that face" and "jump in the race" are prerequisites for belonging. The core tension lies in the town's dual nature: it's presented as "glamorous" and desirable, a place where outsiders "bet you'd live here if you could / And be one of us." Yet, this allure is built on a foundation of disposability. The narrator suggests that within this "town," people are reduced to "discarded stars" and "worn out cars," littering the streets once their usefulness or novelty fades. This creates a sharp contrast between the outward appearance of glamour and the internal reality of exploitation and obsolescence. The most striking craft element is the ironic repetition of "This town is our town / It is so glamorous." This refrain, sung with apparent pride, becomes increasingly hollow as the verses detail the harsh social dynamics and the fate of those who fail to keep up. The lyrics "We're all dreamers - we're all whores" is a particularly potent, cynical observation that collapses aspirational desires into a transactional, perhaps even desperate, existence within this environment. The town's glamour is thus revealed as a facade masking a predatory, unforgiving system. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics stems from their unflinching portrayal of a social ecosystem that prizes surface appeal over substance and treats individuals as expendable commodities. The cyclical nature of the chorus, coupled with the stark imagery of decay in the verses, creates a sense of entrapment and disillusionment. The repeated "This town" in the outro hammers home the inescapable, perhaps even bleak, reality of this environment for those caught within its orbit.