Town Called Malice

It was a double A-side single release featuring "Precious" as the flip side. The song has a very similar introduction and bassline to "You Can't Hurry Love" by The Supremes. A 12" version was also available with a live version of "Town Called Malice" backed by an extended version of "Precious". Released as the first single from the album on 29 January 1982, it entered the chart at number one on the British music charts, staying at the top for three weeks, and preventing "Golden Brown" by The Stranglers from reaching number one. EMI, the Stranglers record company, objected to the sales of both formats of "Town Called Malice" being aggregated, arguing that Jam fans were buying both versions and thus preventing their band from reaching the top of the charts.

[Verse 1] Better stop dreaming of the quiet life 'Cos it's the one we'll never know And quit running for that runaway bus 'Cos those rosey days are few And...stop apologising for the things you've never done 'Cos time is short and life is cruel But it's up to us to change This town called Malice [Verse 2] Rows and rows of disused milk floats Stand dying in the dairy yard And a hundred lonely housewives Clutch empty milk bottles to their hearts Hanging out their old love letters on the line to dry It's enough to make you stop believing When tears come fast and furious In a town called Malice Ye-eh-eah [Hook] Bah-bah-bah-ba-baba-bah Bah-bah-bah-ba-baba-bah, oh Bah-bah-bah-ba-baba-bah Bah-bah-bah-ba-baba-bah [Verse 3] Struggle after struggle, year after year The atmosphere's a fine blend of ice I'm almost stone cold dead In a town called Malice Uhuh-yeah [Bridge] A whole street's belief in Sunday's roast beef Gets dashed against the Co-op To either cut down on beer or the kids' new gear It's a big decision in a town called Malice Uhuh-yeah [Instrumental Middle Eight] [Verse 4] The ghost of a steam train echoes down my track It's at the moment bound for nowhere Just going 'round and 'round, oh Playground kids and creaking swings Lost laughter in the breeze I could go on for hours and I probably will But I'd sooner put some joy back In this town called Malice, ye-eh-eah (uhuhuh) In this town called Malice, ye-eh-eah In this town called Malice, uhuh-yeah