Zoo time is she and you time.
The mammals are your favourite type, and you want her tonight;
Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat:
You hear the thunder of stampeding rhinos, elephants and tacky tigers.
This town ain't big enough for the both of us!
And it ain't me who's gonna leave!
Flying, domestic flying
And when the stewardess is near, do not show any fear.
Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat:
You are a khaki-coloured bombardier
It's Hiroshima that you're nearing.
This town ain't big enough for both of us!
And it ain't me who's gonna leave!
Daily, except for Sunday
You dawdle in to the café where you meet her each day
Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat:
As 20 cannibals have hold of you.
They need their protein just like you do.
This town ain't big enough for the both of us!
And it ain't me who's gonna leave!
Shower, another shower,
You got to look your best for her, and be clean everywhere
Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat:
The rain is pouring on the foreign
Town, the bullets cannot cut you down.
This town ain't big enough for the both of us!
And it ain't me who's gonna leave!
Census, the latest census:
There'll be more girls who live in town, though not enough to go round.
Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat:
You know that this town isn't big enough
Not big enough for both of us!
This town isn't big enough
Not big enough for both of us.
And I ain't gonna leave!
The song "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" by Sparks is about an intense and uncompromising rivalry, with the title phrase implying that two rivals cannot coexist and one must leave. The lyrics are a bit abstract, but a common interpretation is that the song uses vivid and dramatic metaphors to describe a duel between two people for the same thing, possibly a woman, and that neither person is willing to back down. The song's title itself is a well-known phrase from Western movies, which was deliberately chosen as a cliché for the lyrics.
[Verse]
When she's on her best behaviour
Don't be tempted by her favours
Never turn your back, on Mother Earth
Towns are hurled from A to B
By hands that looked so smooth, to me
Never turn your back, on Mother Earth
Grasp at straws that don't want grasping
Gaze at clouds that come down crashing
Never turn your back on Mother Earth
Three days and two nights away from my friends
Amen to anything that brings a quick return
To my friends
To my friends
[Refrain]
Never turn your back, on Mother Earth
[Outro]
Well, I'll admit I was unfaithful
But from now I'll be more faithful
Never turn your back on Mother (Don't turn your back)
Never turn your back on Mother (Don't turn your back)
Never turn your back on Mother Earth (Don't turn your back)
The song "Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth" by Sparks has multiple interpretations, but its central meaning is a warning against abandoning one's true nature or a spiritual connection, and it can be seen through both ecological and personal lenses. The lyrics suggest that both humans and nature are capable of a broken relationship, with the phrase "I'll admit I was unfaithful / But from now on I'll be more faithful" implying a sense of regret and a promise to reconnect with what was lost.
Ecological message: The title itself suggests a connection to environmentalism, warning against damaging the planet. The line "Gaze at clouds that come down crashing" could be a metaphor for natural disasters that result from disrespecting the earth.
Personal/Spiritual message: The song can be interpreted as a more personal lament about straying from one's own creative or spiritual path. The line, "It's my own design" from the second verse supports this idea.
Rejection of abstract concepts: The band has also suggested the song is a rejection of abstract, modern concepts like war or space exploration, which they feel distance people from the more fundamental connection to Earth,
Ambiguous meaning: The song's meaning is intentionally ambiguous. Consequently, this allows for multiple readings, This is supported by the band's own statements that the precise meaning is open to debate.
