Meaning of "Talk of the Town" by Pretenders

"Talk of the Town" delves into the complex emotions of unrequited love and the experience of watching someone you desire move on and change. The lyrics depict a sense of yearning and frustration, as the singer reflects on a time when she wanted the person, but nobody knew about it. There is a sense of longing and admiration in the way the person arrived "like a day" but passed "like a cloud." The longing intensifies as the singer makes a wish out loud, hoping for a chance with the person, only to be disappointed when they become the talk of the town.

The song explores the theme of change, both in terms of the person the singer desires and in the singer herself. The line "Who were you then, who are you now" reflects the transformation that has taken place in the person's life. They have gone from being a common laborer by night to a highbrow individual during the day. This change symbolizes the distance between them and the singer, making it even more difficult for her to connect with them.

The lyrics also touch upon the difficulty of conforming to societal rules. The singer admits that she has always struggled to live by the rules and has never been able to do so. In contrast, the person she desires effortlessly "calls the shots" and seems unaffected by societal expectations. This contrast emphasizes the singer's admiration for the person and her own feelings of not fitting in.

Overall, "Talk of the Town" captures the bittersweet feeling of unrequited love and the pain of watching someone you desire move on and change. The lyrics delve into themes of longing, change, and the challenges of conforming to societal norms.