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.
I'm not one to look behind I know that times must change
But over there in Barrytown they do things very strange
And though you're not my enemy
I like things like they used to be
And though you'd like some company
I'm standing by myself
Go play with someone else
I can see by what you carry that you come from Barrytown
Don't believe I'm taken in by stories I have heard
I just read the Daily News and swear by every word
And don't think that I'm out of line
For speaking out for what is mine
I'd like to see you do just fine
But look at what you wear
And the way you cut your hair
I can see by what you carry that you come from Barrytown
In the beginning we recall that the word was hurled
Barrytown people got to be from another world
Leave me or I'll be just like the others you will meet
They won't act as kindly if they see you on the street
And don't you scream or make a shout
It's nothing you can do about
It was there where you came out
It's a special lack of grace
I can see it in your face
I can see by what you carry that you come from Barrytown
But over there in Barrytown they do things very strange
And though you're not my enemy
I like things like they used to be
And though you'd like some company
I'm standing by myself
Go play with someone else
I can see by what you carry that you come from Barrytown
Don't believe I'm taken in by stories I have heard
I just read the Daily News and swear by every word
And don't think that I'm out of line
For speaking out for what is mine
I'd like to see you do just fine
But look at what you wear
And the way you cut your hair
I can see by what you carry that you come from Barrytown
In the beginning we recall that the word was hurled
Barrytown people got to be from another world
Leave me or I'll be just like the others you will meet
They won't act as kindly if they see you on the street
And don't you scream or make a shout
It's nothing you can do about
It was there where you came out
It's a special lack of grace
I can see it in your face
I can see by what you carry that you come from Barrytown
Lyrics submitted by AbFab, edited by snowdm2000
Barrytown Lyrics as written by Walter Carl Becker Donald Jay Fagen
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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The narrator in Barrytown is the one who is conservative: "I'm not one to look behind I know that times must change" and "I like things like they used to be". The narrator doesn't read a high brow newspaper and isn't very critical: "I just read the Daily News and swear by every word". But the narrator also tries to justify himself and stresses that he isn't oppositional: "And don't think that I'm out of line / For speaking out for what is mine". He would be happy to see others do just fine. But look at their clothes! Flairs, flowery? And their hair! Presumably very long and presumably something that scares him. No, the narrator just cannot embrace the others, which I presume to be the youth. I can't see anything about moonies or race in any of the lyrics. "Go play with someone else" makes it sound like a child has intruded on the narrator's space. This theme of being pestered reappears at the end of the song with "Leave me or I'll be just like the others you will meet/ They won't act as kindly if they see you on the street". (Notice again the narrator is conservative but pleading that he's actually good at heart.) It is almost as if hippies have come too close for comfort with their flowers and free love. While you might guess that it is the conservative narrator who is being mocked, he doesn't come out of it too badly. I don't even see the song as being about prejudice, it is more about a cultural attitude that Marge Simpson summed up: "I fear the unknown".
@rosssams What a crock