Released 1986 Length 3:12 Writer(s) Joe Jackson | Genre Pop rock Label A&M Records | |
B-side "Tango Atlantico" (UK)
"I'm the Man" (live) (US) | ||
"Home Town" is a song by the British new wave musician Joe Jackson. It was released on his 1986 album, Big World, and also was released as the follow-up to his politically-charged single, "Right and Wrong."
Contents
Background
"Home Town," a song about the singer longing to return to his "home town," was written by Jackson as a nostalgic look-back on his childhood home of Portsmouth. In the song's lyrics, Jackson sings from the perspective of a busy city worker who longs to leave his current standing and return to his childhood home, which he doesn't even know is still there. Musically, the song is a soft rock song featuring a clean guitar track.
In addition to its appearance on Big World, "Home Town" was released as a single in 1986, following "Right and Wrong." It was backed with the Big World track "Tango Atlantico" in Britain and a live version of "I'm the Man" in America.
Reception
"Big World" has since received positive reviews from critics. In the AllMusic review of Big World, Jason Damas said that it was one of "the best moments" of the album, citing it as a highlight of the album. The song was ranked #8 on Ultimate Classic Rock's list of the "Top 10 Joe Jackson Songs" by Dave Lifton, who said, "the nostalgic pull of a childhood, especially when the complexities of adulthood set in, is universal."