“Our Town” is the Randy Newman song played over the end credits of Pixar’s Cars.
Newman wrote and performed “Our Town” for the film’s closing credits. The song reflects Radiator Springs’ history, its decline after the highway bypass, and the renewed sense of community created after Lightning McQueen arrives. Its lyrics fit the film’s broader interest in memory, change, and overlooked American towns.
“Our Town” was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song. It did not win; the Oscar went to “An Inconvenient Truth” from the film of the same name. This distinction can cause confusion because Cars also features several prominent songs, including “Life Is a Highway” by Rascal Flatts and “Real Gone” by Sheryl Crow.
Randy Newman composed the film’s score as well as writing “Our Town.” He had already established a long creative relationship with Pixar through films including Toy Story and Monsters, Inc.