Suburbia Lyrics
It's not about London it's about Downey, California--but not Karen Carpenter's Downey--Downey by way of the 1984 movie Suburbia--dissaffected punk youth, middleclass anomie, and a motley pack of runaway dogs gone feral.
Another glorious example of how to write catchy pop about something everyone can relate to, this time we're out of the West End and into council estates but the romance is somehow drawn from the violent imagery of the barking dogs and litter/graffitti strewn pavements.... good comment again on the state of 80's Britain! Due for a cover this one methinks
A bunch of hopeless suburban boys are making their usual mess around their town and I assume it's for expressing a kind of revolt over the 'social system' where they are forced to live in, since they tend to consider they are excluded from it ("I only wanted something else to do but hang around"). And the line "Break the window by the town hall" serves to show how revolted they are indeed... At the same time this same 'social system' repress their revolt with the policemen, but without considering to offer to them good opportunities for trying to conquer a better life for themselves.
If this song was written today, It would be about chavs, infact it certainly relates to chavs,
For once this is is a song that relates to the common hoodie, Instead of saying "Lets revolt against these vandals" Its saying "These are the members of the community that the rest of the community has failed"
Its a masterpiece in my opinion
"You can't hide, run with the dogs tonight In Suburbia" I can think of at least a couple of meanings for this metaphor.
I love this song so much! It's catchy and typically PSB! I agree with what you all have said about 80's teen rebellion in the suburbs.
Leeeeets take a ride run with the dogs tonight! In suburbia!