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Chinatown Lyrics

You can't believe
The way the wind's talking to the sea.
I heard that someone said it before,
I don't care,
I can't walk away, I can't walk away...
In Chinatown...

The wind and the rain:
To your detriment you try to explain
A government swallowed up in the squall.
I can't walk away, at all,
In Chinatown...

You can't believe,
Though I'm sure somebody's said it before:
I know you and I know the score...
I can't walk away, you can't walk away...
I can't walk away, you can't walk away...
I can't walk away, you can't walk away...
I can't walk away, you can't walk away...

I can't walk away...
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Cover art for Chinatown lyrics by Destroyer

he makes me believe I should never leave Vancouver

Cover art for Chinatown lyrics by Destroyer

My initial interpretation of this song was it being about a relationship where as in both people are not willing to "give up" or "walk away" due to how much potential and possibility the relationship has, or possibly because the people love each other too much to. Possibly Chinatown being where the people met, or knew each other, or probably something else symbolic.

However it sounds like the song might actually have more to it; I just can't decipher it. But my initial guess was the relationship and the not being able to leave it due to it's potential.

My Interpretation
Cover art for Chinatown lyrics by Destroyer

Destroyer > God

Cover art for Chinatown lyrics by Destroyer

so nice on the ears!!! destroyer > everything

Cover art for Chinatown lyrics by Destroyer

The song almost certainly refers to the Jack Nicholson film Chinatown where he plays a private detective investigating a case in the Chinatown district of San Francisco, an area that has something of a lawless reputation (in the film at least)...essentially, it is better to walk away for your own good than pursue an investigation there! Really is a top notch film anyway.

Song Meaning

@Onde I think of that movie every time, with that line as they lead Jack Nicholson away, "Forget it Jake, it's Chinatown." The second line, 'The way the wind's talking to the sea', really calls to mind San Francisco – or Bejar's hometown of Vancouver – but the movie actually took place in Los Angeles. Walking through any West Coast Chinatown will make this song come into your head.

 
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