The Down Town

"The Down Town"
Australian CD single cover artwork
Single by Days of the New
from the album Days of the New
ReleasedMay 12, 1998 (1998-05-12)
Length4:16
LabelOutpost
SongwriterTravis Meeks
ProducerScott Litt
Days of the New singles chronology
"Touch, Peel and Stand"
(1997) 		"The Down Town"
(1998) 		"Shelf in the Room"
(1998)
Music video
"The Down Town" on YouTube

"The Down Town" is a song by American rock band Days of the New, released as the second single from their self-titled debut album. Like its predecessor, the song reached number one on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in 1998. "The Down Town" is also the third track on the band's Definitive Collection, released in 2008.

Composition

Lyrically, "The Down Town" ambiguously details a town of drug users who are afraid of change and suppressive of the narrator. The phrase "to bring me down" is rebelliously shouted throughout the chorus. A mention of pointless and rejected concern over another person's well-being is also addressed during the bridge. Given this theme of negativity, the "Down Town" song title may be intended as a double entendre or pun.

Music video

The "Down Town" video, directed by Lance Bangs, consists of a live concert performance. It retains the live audio and includes some notable differences from the studio recording; verse chords are used extensively in various parts, more punchy staccato is incorporated, and the first lyric of the bridge is changed to "I don't think that I should give a fuck about you." The performance lasts nearly a whole minute longer at 5:10.

Track listing

  1. "The Down Town" (LP version)
  2. "The Down Town" (radio remix version)
  3. "Touch, Peel and Stand" (live)
  4. "Freak" (live)

Charts

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States May 12, 1998 Contemporary hit radio Outpost [5]
May 25, 1998 Active rock radio [6]

References

  1. ^ "Days of the New Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  2. ^ "Days of the New Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  3. ^ "The Year in Music 1998: Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 52. December 26, 1998. p. YE-84.
  4. ^ "Most Played Modern Rock Songs of 1998". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. December 25, 1998. p. 36.
  5. ^ "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1247. May 8, 1998. p. 39.
  6. ^ "Active: Adds for May 25/26". Gavin Report. No. 2207. May 22, 1998. p. 45.
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