Our Town plays during the montage showing Radiator Springs' past and present in Pixar's Cars. The song accompanies images of the town when Route 66 traffic once passed through it and its later decline after the interstate bypassed the community.
The sequence explains Radiator Springs without relying on extended dialogue. It shows the town as a lively roadside destination before the highway changes travel patterns. The same places later appear quieter and more worn, helping viewers understand why the residents care so deeply about the town's history.
Our Town was written and recorded for the film by James Taylor. Its reflective tone supports the story's themes of memory, community, and the effects of modernization. The song is distinct from the more energetic songs associated with racing and travel elsewhere in the movie.
A common mix-up is “Life Is a Highway,” performed by Rascal Flatts, which plays over the end credits and is strongly associated with Cars. “Real Gone,” performed by Sheryl Crow, is another Cars song, but it accompanies the film's opening rather than the Radiator Springs history montage.