The Tears Come Fast and Furious

In my quest to have a well-nigh complete collection of 1980s pop and alternative music, this particular gem eluded me for years, I'm embarrassed to admit.

You'll remember that Paul Weller won one of my anti-Grammys for his 2005 solo album As Is Now. Well, back in the late 70s and early 80s, Weller was chief songwriter and lead singer of the seminal British band The Jam.

"A Town Called Malice" from 1982 is just one of the Jam's signature songs...and it's perhaps one of the most joyous-sounding records of the decade. It washed over Americans, its lyrics so very British and such a vivid snapshot of life in Thatcher's UK.

Like a lot of folks, I'd wager, I discovered how great this tune was after a scene in the nearly-perfect film Billy Elliott. "I need this," I immediately told myself, and went on a mad search to find it. If you have any interest at all in 80s British pop, you need to acquaint (or re-acquaint) yourself with "A Town Called Malice."

The lyrics are a little hard to decipher...I've pasted them below. They're fairly dire, and the fact they're set against such "get up and dance" music makes them even more profound, I think.

A Town Called Malice

Better stop dreaming of the quiet life - cos it's the one we'll never know
And quit running for that runaway bus - cos those rosey days are few
And - stop apologising for the things you've never done,
Cos time is short and life is cruel - but it's up to us to change
This town called malice.

Rows and rows of disused milk floats stand dying in the dairy yard
And a hundred lonely housewives clutch empty milk bottles to their hearts
Hanging out their old love letters on the line to dry
It's enough to make you stop believing when tears come fast and furious
In a town called malice.

Struggle after struggle - year after year
The atmosphere's a fine blend of ice
I'm almost stone cold dead
In a town called malice.

A whole street's belief in Sunday's roast beef
gets dashed against the Co-op
To either cut down on beer or the kids' new gear
It's a big decision in a town called malice.

The ghost of a steam train - echoes down my track
It's at the moment bound for nowhere
just going round and round
Playground kids and creaking swings
lost laughter in the breeze
I could go on for hours and I probably will
but I'd sooner put some joy back
In this town called malice.