The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Well, I was born in a small town
And I live in a small town
Probably die in a small town
Oh, those small communities
All my friends are so small town
My parents live in the same small town
My job is so small town
Provides little opportunity, hey
Educated in a small town
Taught to fear of Jesus in a small town
Used to daydream in that small town
Another boring romantic, that's me
But I've seen it all in a small town
Had myself a ball in a small town
Married an L.A. Doll and brought her to this small town
Now she's small town just like me
No, I cannot forget from where it is that I come from
I cannot forget the people who love me
Yeah, I can be myself here in this small town
And people let me be just what I want to be
Ooh nah, nah, nah, yeah, ooh yeah yeah
Got nothing against a big town
Still hayseed enough to say
Look who's in the big town
But my bed is in a small town
Oh, and that's good enough for me
Well, I was born in a small town
And I can breathe in a small town
Gonna die in a small town
Oh, and that's probably where they'll bury me, yeah
Ooh yeah yeah, yeah
Ooh yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
And I live in a small town
Probably die in a small town
Oh, those small communities
All my friends are so small town
My parents live in the same small town
My job is so small town
Provides little opportunity, hey
Educated in a small town
Taught to fear of Jesus in a small town
Used to daydream in that small town
Another boring romantic, that's me
But I've seen it all in a small town
Had myself a ball in a small town
Married an L.A. Doll and brought her to this small town
Now she's small town just like me
No, I cannot forget from where it is that I come from
I cannot forget the people who love me
Yeah, I can be myself here in this small town
And people let me be just what I want to be
Ooh nah, nah, nah, yeah, ooh yeah yeah
Got nothing against a big town
Still hayseed enough to say
Look who's in the big town
But my bed is in a small town
Oh, and that's good enough for me
Well, I was born in a small town
And I can breathe in a small town
Gonna die in a small town
Oh, and that's probably where they'll bury me, yeah
Ooh yeah yeah, yeah
Ooh yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Lyrics submitted by rabidpenguin
Small Town Lyrics as written by John Mellencamp
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
One of the things I love about this song is that it captures a sense of place, belonging and community that he identifies with small towns. But that feeling is not limited just to small towns.
I grew up in a large Midwestern city that is full of neighborhoods that people describe as being a lot like small towns...multiple generations living close by, friends who gre up together and know each other their whole lives, etc. I think this line captures that sense of community perfectly:
"I cannot forget where it is that I come from. I cannot forget the people who love me. Yeah I can be myself here in this small town and people let me be just what I want to be."
I love this song! It perfectly describes the advantages of a small town. The sense of individuality, and freedom from being judged by people. THe thing about a small town is that there are so little people, that everyone knows everyone and is close with them because there aren't many people to be close to. There's less gossip, hate, crime, traffic, noise... It feels more FREE.
i like this song. small towns = more gossip and more judgments. you can hide in big cities or blend in. but i wish i had grown up in melloncamps small town
Small towns are definitely what you make of them - if you live in a town, well even if you live in the city, if youre not involved in the community, and if you dont have friends and family and people you love and care about there then chances are youre gonna hate it and want to get out. then it becomes a whole 'the grass is greener on the other side' which is a situation its very easy to find yourself in, i know i'm feeling that now... its very easy to blame an entire town and the people in it... but yeah so evidently the city will provide more opportunity, especially nowadays, but you wont necessarily be happier. which is not really the message of this song, its not really comparing the city to the small town, its just mellencamp's reflection on his roots really...probably more simple than i think. but you can never be quite sure with songwriters, they tend to have a hidden meaning in many of their songs, or little clues that suggest that the song holds deeper meaning for them.
This song mnakes me appreciate my small town all the more
I am the same age as Mellencamp. I also grew up in a small town. This song is so special to me. There's one line in it that really sticks with me "But my bed is in a small town. Oh, and that's good enough for me." Now, I am retired. I live in a big town. There are several niceties that I could indulge in, but I don't. I think it's because my simple life is "good enough for me". a very special song.
The beautiful thing about Mellencamp's lyrics in many songs, but especially this one, is that they're so simple and straightforward, but they're still poetic. The meaning in this song is obvious, but I just wanted to comment on it because I love it so much! It talks about the amazing experience of being from a small town. There is more money in big cities, and there are more "opportunities," as defined by our culture, but the opportunities to find love and friendship are unparalleled in small towns. I'm from small town Indiana, and this song couldn't be a more accurate description of my childhood. I went to a big-name university out of state, but I can't wait to get back to my roots! I'm so proud that he has come back to small town Indiana, and I'm looking forward to doing the same.
Makes me want to move to a small town and forget the hassles of business life.
This was the campaign theme song for Senator John Edwards (D-NC) for his failed 2004 presidential campaign. Edwards is a native of the small town of Robbins, North Carolina and this song fit into his theme of "two Americas".
it's fitting cuz mellencamp is from a small town in indiana
I'm from a small town in Wisconsin, and I can definately relate to this song as well. I could pick apart this whole song and relate it to things in my hometown, but I don't want to bore anyone. :)