Ghost Town

The Specials

This town is coming like a ghost town
All the clubs have been closed down
This place is coming like a ghost town
Bands won't play no more
Too much fighting on the dance floor

Do you remember the good old days before the ghost town?
We danced and sang and the music played in natty-boom town

This town is coming like a ghost town
Why must the youth fight against itself?
Government leaving the youth on the shelf
This place is coming like a ghost town
No job to be found in this country

Can't go on no more
The people getting angry

This town is coming like a ghost town
This town is coming like a ghost town
This town is coming like a ghost town
This town is coming like a ghost town

This town is coming like a ghost town
This town is coming like a ghost town
This town is coming like a ghost town
This town is coming like a ghost town


Lyrics submitted by BeautifulDisaster

Ghost Town Lyrics as written by Jerry Dammers

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave

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Ghost Town song meanings
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24 Comments

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  • +5
    General Comment
    What? No comments?!? This is the song that knocked Michael Jackson off the UK number one spot in 1981 (And stayed there for two or three weeks!). Fantastic song relating to both the state of the 2-tone scene, and the state of politics in the UK at the time.
    skacore_dudeon November 20, 2004   Link
  • +5
    General Comment
    Though the band were from Coventry Jerry Dammers has said that the song was actually inspired by seeing the state of decay of other cities like Liverpool when they were in tour. Whatever, it perfectly catches the decay and neglect of Britain's inner cities in Thatcher's Britain that would see them errupt into riot just as the song was released.
    SuitBoyon September 01, 2006   Link
  • +4
    General Comment
    History repeats itself under the Tories once again - mass unemployment amongst the young with little hope of escaping poverty for a decent life - demonised, miunderstood and misrepresented by the media. It's like little has changed in 30 years - even the great songs like this remain.
    ooSagon June 02, 2012   Link
  • +3
    General Comment
    Althought the band are from Coventry (As am i) they are telling the story of the entire UK "no job to be ofund in this country" the booming car industry was falling into disrepair, unemployment was up to nearly a 1/5 of the population. So it wasn't just about coventry.
    Tony_P 5000on August 08, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General Comment
    it`s funny but it`s gone full circle and todays society is getting like it..i know there`s no rioting but it could speak about any inner city and gorden browns government leaving the youth on the shelf!!!!!!!!no wonder they`re so popular again,they speak up for the downtrodden
    spikemaidstoneon September 02, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    Thatcher's Britain, urban decay and rioting. I great song of immense urban frustration.
    BoHoon May 20, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    Also, we should add that is brilliantly kicks off one of the best movies of today "Shaun of The Dead"
    ShesMyAlcatrazon May 30, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    Last single featuring the original line-up. Dammit! The Specials could have been truly massive.
    Boss Manon June 30, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    Absoloutly excellent piece of social commentry for its time, and a damned fine piece of music too.
    Comrade_Liaron July 28, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    Stuck this on tonight cos the town does feel like a ghost town - pubs and clubs have shut down and no-one has a job - exactly like the Eighties.
    whalefshon February 28, 2013   Link

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