Meaning of "Coolsville" by Rickie Lee Jones

The lyrics of "Coolsville" by Rickie Lee Jones reflect a sense of longing for a simpler time in the past. The narrator nostalgically recounts times spent with friends in Coolsville, where they felt carefree and invincible. As the years go by, they realize that things have changed and that the feeling of being truly content and satisfied is hard to come by. This sentiment is echoed in lines such as "the real thing come and the real thing go" and "Hot City don't hurt that much but everything feels the same," suggesting that despite external changes, the inner desire for something more remains. The idea of "sticking it into Coolsville" can be interpreted as a desire to return to a state of blissful ignorance and unadulterated joy, which seems out of reach in the present. Overall, the song speaks to the universal experience of looking back on the past with a mix of fondness and a yearning for the simplicity and happiness that once was.