[Verse 1]
Turn left at the lights about fifty yards down
There's a pub in the corner and I'll meet you inside
About quarter to eight and we'll go into town
And find out what everybody's been saying about us

[Verse 2]
Small town walls have eyes and ears
Stories fly thick and fast around here
Truth and lies are all the same
Whatever you do, don't rock the boat

[Pre-Chorus 1]
You've got to play the game, play the game
Play the game, yeah, play the game

[Chorus]
Is it a crime to want something else?
Is it a crime to believe in something different?
Is it a crime to want to make things happen?
To spit in the faces of the cynical fools

[Verse 3]
Well, the in-crowd know that the shell is thin
So they all protect the cage they're in
Get drunk, stoned, wrecked again
There's no tears of rage, no cries of pain
Nothing ventured, nothing gained in small town England
[Verse 4]
Because the world outside the pint in hand
Is all so hard to understand
And if visions of the world come clear
They're not allowed to interfere

[Chorus]
Is it a crime to want something else?
Is it a crime to believe in something different?
Is it a crime to want to make things happen?
To spit in the faces of the cynical fools

[Verse 5]
The smell of hot food from the takeaway curry
Diesel fumes from a passing lorry
Waiting in the queue in the pouring rain
For the chip shop up on Bowling Lane

[Verse 6]
Well, last week we all got really smashed
We couldn't stand up, it was a real laugh
And this week's going to be just the same
And the next and the next, again and again

[Pre-Chorus 2]
They say you've got to have fun while you're young
'Cause they can't believe there's anything else except this
[Chorus]
Is it a crime to want something else?
Is it a crime to believe in something different?
Is it a crime to want to make things happen?
To spit in the faces of the cynical fools

[Outro]
Is it a crime to want something else?
This is small town England
Yeah, small town England