Living and dying
In Chinatown
Yes they're living and dying down in old Chinatown
In Chinatown
You better look around
Man, you don't stand a chance if you go down in Chinatown
Man, you don't stand a chance if you go down in Chinatown

Laughing and crying you know it's a fact
They're not laughing they are crying
'Cause they won't be back
Oh no you don't come back
Not from Chinatown
Man, you don't stand a chance if you go down in Chinatown
Man, you don't stand a chance if you go down in Chinatown

Chinatown, it's a different scene
There are people there, they are so obscene
If you see what I mean
Then they've sold you the dream
Down in Chinatown
What goes up it must come down

Living and dying
There is no release
Living and dying
There is no relief
There is no beliefs
Not in Chinatown
Man, you don't stand a chance if you go down in Chinatown
Man, you don't stand a chance if you go down in Chinatown


Lyrics submitted by foolsgold

Chinatown Lyrics as written by William Scott Gorham Brian Michael Downey

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Chinatown song meanings
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3 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    this song rocks.i just love the crunchy tone off the guitar at the start of the song.This is a serious rock song for any party-just gets people rockin!

    cureheadon May 03, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think it's about Lynots addiction to Heroin and quite posssibly gambling. Heroin is often called "China".

    dannystevensonon December 22, 2015   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is a seriously good rock song. It's hard to say why it stands above the rest (maybe the riff or the way he sings "Chinatown" or that solo) and maybe it doesn't, but I find myself coming back to this one more than any other TL song.

    Spooky_Toothon April 08, 2023   Link

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