The Jam - Strange Town Reaction

In this video we're listening to one more from The Jam. We're really loving this music, from such a great band. We can't wait to get into this one. Enjoy!
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/ hanierfamily

[@davidellis5141]

The Jam were probably the biggest band in England for several years. Really good 👍.

[@Packard63]

You have no idea how awesome this sounded for the first time back in 1979. I bought the single ....and still have it. Many thanks for the song and reaction. 👋👋👋

[@hanierfamily]

Thanks for listening.

[@user-hb2sp7op8u]

62 now...and still gives me shivers. I saw them an untold number of times....they are part of my soul and my history. You have to play them turned up to 11 !!!.....break it up...burn it down...

[@jkthemod]

bless you!

[@pepelemoko2820]

Such a great song and they are so tight. Spot on drums and that wonderful Bruce Foxton bass, combines so great with Paul's voice and lead. Still hold a little greivance for the way Paul treated the guys when he broke up the band, if you know the story. That's rock n roll I suppose.

[@Edward1312]

While its fundamentally a song about alienation its Important to remember the song was released in March 79 so you also need to understand the historical context. For example the line in the song " They worry themselves about feeling low, they worry themselves about the dreadful snow" refers to what is know as "the Winter of Discontent in 1978/79" it was particularly cold and snowy in the UK during that Winter and it also saw an extended period of industrial action, strikes and high wage demands due to high inflation and recession.

[@paulcasey5486]

loved the jam this was my favourite song loved it.

[@davidbidgood3987]

Thanks for this, I am getting on now but The Jam is one of the few things that can still make me feel young.

[@gaz4840]

When i was posted to St helens for work in 1984, i used to sing this song as i got off the train, this and Boy about Town. Funnily enough, my first night was spent in the YMCA...!!!

[@delorangeade]

One of my favourites of the Jam's singles. Musically more complex and hard hitting than most of their work.

[@gaz4840]

Found myself in a strange town Though I've only been here for three weeks now I've got blisters on my feet Trying to find a friend in Oxford Street I bought an A to Z Guide Book Trying to find the clubs and YMCA's But when you ask in a strange town They say don't know, don't care and I've got to go, mate They worry themselves about feeling low They worry themselves about the dreadful snow They all ignore me, 'cause they don't know I'm really a spaceman from those UFO's You've got to move in a straight line You've got to walk and talk in four-four time You can't be weird in a strange town You'll be betrayed by your accent and manners You've got to wear the right clothes Be careful not to pick or scratch your nose You can't be nice in a strange town 'Cause we don't know, don't care and we got to go, man Rush my money to the record shops I stop off in a back street, buy myself a snort We got our own manifesto Be kind to queers I'm so glad the Revolution's here (It's nice and warm now) I've finished with clubs where the music's loud 'Cause I don't see a face in a single crowd There's no one there I look in the mirror But I can't be seen Just a thin, clean layer of Mister Sheen Looking back at me Oh, oh Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh Found myself in a strange town Though I've only been here for three weeks now I've got blisters on my feet Trying to find a friend in Oxford Street I bought an A to Z Guide Book Trying to find the clubs and YMCA's But when you ask in a strange town They say don't know, don't care and I've got to go, mate They worry themselves about feeling low They worry themselves about the dreadful snow They all ignore me, 'cause they don't know I'm really a spaceman from those UFO's Break it up, break it up Break it up, break it up Break it up, break it up Break it up, break it up Hmmm, break it up, break it up Burn it up, shake it up Break it up, break it up

[@johnhargreaves4689]

Found myself in a strange town Though I've only been here for three weeks now I've got blisters on my feet Trying find a friend in Oxford Street I bought an A to Zed guide book Trying to find the clubs and YMCAs But when you ask in a strange town They say don't know, don't care And I've got to go, mate They worry themselves about feeling low They worry themselves about the dreadful snow They all ignore me cause they don't know I'm really a spaceman from those UFOs You've got to move in a straight line You've got to walk and talk in 4/4 time You can't be weird in a strange town You'll be betrayed by your accent and manners You've got to wear the right clothes Be careful not to pick or scratch your nose You can't be nice in a strange town Cause we don't know, don't care And we got to go, man Rush my money to the record shops I stop off in a back street Buy myself a snort We got our own manifesto Be kind to queers And I'm so glad the revolution's here It's nice and warm now! I've finished with clubs where the music's loud Cause I don't see a face in a single crowd There's no one there I look in the mirror But I can't be seen Just a thin, clean layer of Mister Sheen Looking back at me Oh, oh

[@Malfie657]

Thanks guys. This one is all about someone arriving in London for the first time, trying to fit-in and 'find a friend in Oxford Street' only to be snubbed by the people they meet who say they 'don't know, don't care, and we gotta go'. It goes on to spell out the things you need to do to be accepted and how odd it all seems to someone who eventually rebels, which is why the song ends with Weller repeating 'Break it up, break it up, burn it down shake it up'.

[@normandavidtidiman9918]

"....our own manifesto, we're kind to queers"

[@Malfie657]

@@normandavidtidiman9918 Pardon??

[@gaz4840]

@@Malfie657 Found myself in a strange town Though I've only been here for three weeks now I've got blisters on my feet Trying to find a friend in Oxford Street I bought an A to Z Guide Book Trying to find the clubs and YMCA's But when you ask in a strange town They say don't know, don't care and I've got to go, mate They worry themselves about feeling low They worry themselves about the dreadful snow They all ignore me, 'cause they don't know I'm really a spaceman from those UFO's You've got to move in a straight line You've got to walk and talk in four-four time You can't be weird in a strange town You'll be betrayed by your accent and manners You've got to wear the right clothes Be careful not to pick or scratch your nose You can't be nice in a strange town 'Cause we don't know, don't care and we got to go, man Rush my money to the record shops I stop off in a back street, buy myself a snort We got our own manifesto Be kind to queers I'm so glad the Revolution's here (It's nice and warm now) I've finished with clubs where the music's loud 'Cause I don't see a face in a single crowd There's no one there I look in the mirror But I can't be seen Just a thin, clean layer of Mister Sheen Looking back at me Oh, oh Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh Found myself in a strange town Though I've only been here for three weeks now I've got blisters on my feet Trying to find a friend in Oxford Street I bought an A to Z Guide Book Trying to find the clubs and YMCA's But when you ask in a strange town They say don't know, don't care and I've got to go, mate They worry themselves about feeling low They worry themselves about the dreadful snow They all ignore me, 'cause they don't know I'm really a spaceman from those UFO's Break it up, break it up Break it up, break it up Break it up, break it up Break it up, break it up Hmmm, break it up, break it up Burn it up, shake it up Break it up, break it up

[@69Phuket]

Mrs Hanier wants to get Rogered by a slick black haired rocker at the back of the Waltzers... Which brings me to Rusholme Ruffians by The Smiths! ;) Failing that....Anything by XTC is worth a review!

[@bugsby4663]

Another great reaction. This was the first Jam song I heard. I had the 45 when it first cam,e out when I was nine or ten. I always wanted Setting Sons but for some reason never got it until I was in my forties. One of my favourite Jam songs.

[@spectrumisgreen62]

This song is autobiographical, Its about Paul Weller's experience of alienation living in London in the late 1970s

[@johnclarke-vs9qe]

I was lucky enough to see The Jam twice in Leicester. They made an amazing sound, really awesome!

[@brewstergallery]

The lyrics are about this man ? arriving in London aka "Strange Town " He's been there 3 weeks,exhausted, wandering about trying to find a friend in Oxford St. but everybody's too busy, judgemental or hateful to help him, saying " Don't Know Don't Care and I gotta go Mate ". The chorus is : They worry themselves about feeling low, they worry themselves about the dreadful snow, they all ignore me 'coz they don't know , I'm really a spaceman from those UFOs. Biting social commentary as good as it gets. We Love THE JAM !!

[@jamiegoddard562]

Really love your jam reviews your really fair and kind thank you

[@gerardmccavana4905]

Great reaction again to The Jam guys. Love this single...and interestingly, just recently, I read an interview with Weller, where he said it was one of the few(in his words) perfect songs he reckons he has written in his 45 years plus career. I think when talking about or writing about any Jam song, the lyrics have to be studied...as their words were so important to their songs.

[@MrSaltford]

That album Setting Sons is pure class and dare I say the best album they did, well it is this week anyway, Saddest thing ever is THE JAM never it big in the US, but thank you guys at the Hanier Family for finding them and reviewing loads of the jam stuff on your great channel

[@hanierfamily]

We love what we're discovering. This is great music.

[@gaz4840]

I agree, Setting Sons is brilliant, Thick as Thieves and Private Hell quintessentially English as afternoon tea, superb lyrics.. Girl on the phone is one i often sing to myself when I`m out and about, i dont know why..!!

[@peterdore8690]

@@gaz4840 Girl on the phone Is a very clever pure pop song But I believe Paul Weller hated it

[@barryrosenthal6539]

@@peterdore8690 side 2 of Setting Sons is the greatest side in Rock history and one could argue it doesn't include any of their many masterpieces. Unrivaled

[@tonybarruk2]

I had this on yellow vinyl! 😁 This was the first sign of The Jam about to go ballistic in the UK, they'd be number 1 twelve months later with Going Underground, and they were massive for the rest of their career...

[@stevebolt7132]

Loved this when I bought it and love it now ❤😊

[@kevtruth]

I like the wordplay "you can't be weird in a strange town"

[@tommcmanamon8327]

Brilliant song from a great English band.

[@johnclark677]

Check out the B side, The Butterfly Collector. Weller putting the boot into punk groupie Sue Catwoman. A classic Jam song

[@martinwilby8942]

in the 80s in the uk , different places had different fashions mainly to do with football gangs fighting so if you were a working class youth , you had be careful in strange town because people were attacked if you didnt blend in

[@alanwhitney3263]

My daughter got into the Jam in her early teens, we saw Weller twice and Jam tribute bands numerous times. Lots of Jam related purchases for birthdays and Christmas!

[@alanwhitney3263]

2001 onwards btw 😄

[@hanierfamily]

Oh wow!

[@stuartauld2149]

Total class!! Hidden on the 'b' side there's an other classic that's well worth a listen.

[@l.salisbury1253]

"Butterfly collector", right...?

[@georgealty]

Absolutely!

[@raymondrossiter5324]

What a tune great lyrics about the loneliness of London one of there Best singles great album setting sons one of there best probably the biggest bands from the UK.

[@neilmccarthy5102]

Yep - bang on. Based on going to London… but could be any big city.

[@ghichens3418]

Yep !! Ace , This is a great tune ! still sounds good ! after all these years ! yes the Jam did plug into that Mod 60s sound , They got it right ,Cheers !

[@mrsuperger5429]

With better management and marketing, The Jam would have been the biggest band in the world. They ruled the UK for at least 3 years, from 1978 - 1981.

[@Pomdownuder]

for Cynthia The story of moving to the metropolis from a smaller town; (rapid fire) LYRICS: Found myself in a strange town Though I've only been here for three weeks now I've got blisters on my feet Trying find a friend in Oxford Street I bought an A to Z guide book Trying to find the clubs and YMCAs But when you ask in a strange town They say "don't know, don't care And I've got to go, mate" They worry themselves about feeling low They worry themselves about the dreadful snow They all ignore me 'cause they don't know I'm really a spaceman from those UFOs You've got to move in a straight line You've got to walk and talk in four four time You can't be weird in a strange town You'll be betrayed by your accent and manners You've got to wear the right clothes Be careful not to pick or scratch your nose You can't be nice in a strange town 'Cause we don't know, don't care And we got to go, man Rush my money to the record shops I stop off in a back street Buy myself a sniff We got our own manifesto Be kind to queers And I'm so glad the revolution's here It's nice and warm now I've finished with clubs where the music's loud 'Cause I don't see a face in a single crowd There's no one there I look in the mirror But I can't be seen Just a thin, clean layer of Mister Sheen Looking back at me Oh, oh Found myself in a strange town Though I've only been here for three weeks now I've got blisters on my feet Trying find a friend in Oxford Street I bought an A to Z guide book Trying to find the clubs and YMCAs When you ask in a strange town They say "don't know, don't care And I've got to go, mate" They worry themselves about feeling low They worry themselves about the dreadful snow They all ignore me 'cause they don't know I'm really a spaceman from those UFOs (Strange town) (Strange town) Break it up, break it up Break it up, break it up Break it up, break it up Break it up, break it up Break it up, break it up Burn it down, shake it up Break it up, break it up

[@telstar4772]

Paul Weller (The Jam in this case) Is probably the most influential British musician since the 1970s. His music might have been a little too"British" to make it outside of the UK but every Brit musician you have heard of would cite him as a massive influence. His output has been so varied but always amazing. Try Listening to "Broken Stones" , I think his best song.

[@johndonson1603]

Possibly my favourite Jam tune? Although there’s a lot to choose from .

[@SimonColey]

Shout out to my fellow woking boys

[@ianneale9353]

Epic Band

[@KeeFHQVideos]

Brilliant song, excellent reaction. Cynthia was really getting into that one. Can I suggest Wonderland by Big Country please and Whirlpools' End by Paul Weller?

[@timholder6825]

Haven't heard this in ages and I'm struck by how, Mod and Who...ish it is. Not the usual New Wave, Post Punk, feel of most Jam songs. You guys make some interesting, sometimes quite obscure choices for your reactions. Kudos for being a bit left field.

[@sherbert500]

Such a great tune!

[@glastonbury4304]

Excellent...

[@colrhodes377]

You can always rely on The Jam for good quality music

[@jamiegoddard562]

A face in a crowd a face is someone who is the coolest guy in mod culture who's style they copy because they idolise them it's about feeling awkward and not fitting in

[@adamsmithhobbs4702]

Thick as Thieves next

[@jonathancole833]

Great choice! Album track, and also a b-side (I think).

[@robertbagley9199]

There's usually the option of a lyrics video if you think you might have problems with accents etc', I know you enjoyed it musically but you're missing out on so much.

[@dhekelia133]

Next stop................. When You're Young.

[@hanierfamily]

We have a video of that one. It was a while ago.

[@dhekelia133]

@@hanierfamily Thanks for that. Will definitely watch that one. Something different, but equally brilliant is The Bitterest Pill (I ever had to take). The penultimate single release from The Jam. I saw them live in September 1982 on the Saturday, here in Liverpool. Then on the Monday they announced they were breaking up in December. Absolutely devastated. They were so popular here in the UK that it made the National News on the BBC that day.

[@patrickholt2270]

You should pull up a lyric version or a lyric print-out in a seperate window or whatever so you can think about them too. Obviously lots of pop music has meaningless lyrics that don't matter at all, but not The Jam. With musics outside of metal, generally if it's aggressive there are reasons for the anger which come out in the lyrics. That's the case with The Jam and The Stranglers, as well as most punk and hardcore punk.

[@anthonykelly4514]

Break it up break it up !!

[@colrhodes377]

My favourite song by The Jam us Eating trifles

[@hanierfamily]

We do enjoy eating trifles.

[@colrhodes377]

@Hanier Family You might like to try Heaven and Hell ( Black Sabbath) do the live version of their song , Heaven and Hell. If you do the Wacken version, it's one Hell of a performance 👏 👌

[@rdumontdebeque]

💯

[@CAdams6398]

Why don't you look up and discuss the lyrics after listening to the song?

[@AdieAdie17]

Can I make a polite suggestion? Why not get the lyrics in front of you? It should make things so much more interesting for you. You would pick up the message 😉 Good reactions.

[@ioiniipiailiaitinii559]

This piece is not part of the original UK edition

[@e.m.b2834]

So happy you guys discovered the genius of Paul weller ... a genius of a songwriter..so varied in his abilities to do any music .. a legend ... nice to see some fellow yanks get it

[@hanierfamily]

We are Canadian but we are enjoying The Jam.

[@e.m.b2834]

@@hanierfamily ahh we’re cousins ..lol

[@davehyam113]

Go thru their back catalogue and have the lyrics in front of you. THEN you'll see the meaning

[@e.m.b2834]

Ps look up Paul weller with Adele and with Amy wine house live....... both were star struck by the modfather

[@e.m.b2834]

Ps find the lyrics .. such a great observer of the way life was in that era