If you're from a small town, you might love it. You might love all of the people, and knowing everyone, and having those small town shops.
Or maybe you hate it. You might hate that you can't go anywhere without recognizing at least one person. You might hate that you never really have privacy because everyone knows everyone's business. You might hate not ever having anything to do.
One way or another, though, that small town is home and, even if you don't quite know how you feel or if you have conflicting feelings of love and hate, chances are that there are some song lyrics that explain what you might not be able to.
1. When you grow up in a small town and realize that you will probably never escape.
"Small Town" -- John Mellencamp
Well I was born in a small town
And I can breathe in a small town
Gonna die in this small town
And that's probably where they'll bury me
2. When you try to explain to people where you're from.
"I'm A Small Town" -- Kenny Chesney
I'm a small town
Just a dot there on the map
If you blink you miss me
Yeah well go ahead and laugh
3 . When you just want a life like you see on TV.
"Royals" -- Lorde
I've never seen a diamond in the flesh
I cut my teeth on wedding rings in the movies
And I'm not proud of my address, in the torn up town
No post code envy
4. When you finally leave and start missing the people you used to know.
"Hello" -- Adele
Hello, how are you?
It's so typical of me to talk about myself, I'm sorry
I hope that you're well
Did you ever make it out of that town
Where nothing ever happened?
5. When you go back and realize that everything has changed.
"My City Was Gone -- Pretenders
Well I went back to Ohio
But my family was gone
I stood on the back porch
There was nobody home
I was stunned and amazed
My childhood memories
Slowly swirled past
Like the wind through the trees
6.When you can never escape your ex.
"Break Up In A Small Town" -- Sam Hunt
But there's only so many streets, so many lights
I swear it's like I can't even leave my house
I should've known all along
You gotta move or move on
When you break up in a small town
7. When you have major wanderlust.
"Jump" -- Simple Plan
I don't wanna wake up one day
And find out it's too late
To do all the things I wanna do
So I'm gonna pick up my bags
I'm never coming back
7. When people complain that small towns are boring, but there's always something happening.
"This Nothin' Town" -- Jason Aldean
It might look a little laid back to ya
But it ain't all just porches and plows
But don't let that one red light fool ya
There's always something going down
In this nothing town
8. When there are so few people in the town that you get to know people for who they are, not just who they appear to be.
"Girl Next Door" -- Saving Jane
Small town homecoming queen
She's a star in this scene
There's no way to deny she's lovely
Perfect skin, perfect hair
Perfumed hearts everywhere
Tell myself that inside she's ugly
9. When you can no longer handle the small town feel.
"The Great Escape" -- Boys Like Girls
Throw it away
Forget yesterday
We'll make the great escape
We won't hear a word they say
They don't know us anyway
Watch it burn
Let it die
'Cause we are finally free tonight
10. When someone new moves into town.
"Why You'd Want To Live Here" -- Death Cab For Cutie
And I can't see why you'd want to live here.
Billboards reach past the tallest buildings,
"we are not perfect but we sure try."
11. When you move out of the small town and realize that you might, very possibly, miss it.
"Lakes" -- The Strumbellas
I miss the days, the days when I was young
Oh I miss my street, I miss where I come from
12. When, even after everything, it's still your home.
"Who Says You Can't Go Home" -- Bon Jovi
I been all around the world and as a matter of fact
There's only one place left I wanna go
Who says you can't go home?
