Smalltown Boy
Bronski Beat
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To your soul To your soul Cry Cry Cry You leave in the morning with everything you own in a little black case Alone on a platform, the wind and the rain on a sad and lonely face Mother will never understand why you had to leave But the answers you seek will never be found at home The love that you need will never be found at home Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away Pushed around and kicked around, always a lonely boy You were the one that they'd talk about around town as they put you down And as hard as they would try they'd hurt to make you cry But you never cried to them, just to your soul No, you never cried to them, just to your soul Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away (crying to your soul) Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away (crying to your soul) Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away (crying to your soul) Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away Cry, boy, cry Cry, boy, cry Cry, boy, cry, boy, cry Cry, boy, cry, boy, cry Cry, boy, cry, boy, cry Cry, boy, cry, boy, cry Cry, boy, cry, boy, cry Cry, boy, cry, boy, cry You leave in the morning with everything you own in a little black case Alone on a platform, the wind and the rain on a sad and lonely face Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away
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Written by: James William Somerville, Larry Steinbacheck, Steve Bronski
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Song Analysis"Smalltown Boy" is a song that tells the story about a young man fleeing his home town due to societal and familial rejection of his homosexuality. The storyline was considered truly groundbreaking at the time, utilizing pop music to portray the struggles of a gay man.
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Band Composition"Smalltown Boy" was created by the British synth-pop band Bronski Beat. The band's members, Steve Bronski, Larry Steinbachek, and Jimmy Somerville, were all openly gay and their music often touched upon related issues.
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Chart PerformanceThe song was an international hit and was the highest charting song by Bronski Beat, reaching number 3 in the UK Singles Chart in December 1984.
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Music VideoThe music video of "Smalltown Boy" directed by Bernard Rose, further illustrated the song's theme about homophobia. It featured lead singer Jimmy Somerville as the boy who runs away from his family to find a better life in the city.
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Album"Smalltown Boy" was released in 1984 as part of Bronski Beat’s debut album, “The Age of Consent.” The album title pointed towards socio-legal issues faced by the gay community.
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Later RenditionsThe song has been covered by numerous artists, including Paradise Lost, Jimmy Somerville himself for his 1990 solo album "Read My Lips", and Ortiga. It has also been sampled heavily in the dance genre.
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Cultural Impact"Smalltown Boy" has become an anthem in the gay community. Its candid and open exploration of the homosexual experience broke new ground in mainstream pop music.
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AwardsIn 2014, for its 30th anniversary, the song was awarded the Classic Song award on the occasion of the Q Awards.
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Song DurationThe original album version of the song is over nine minutes long, unusual for a pop song of that era. The radio edit, cut down to just under five minutes, is more commonly heard.
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Justified Melody InterpretationThe pacing of the melody and repetitiveness of the chorus is often interpreted as a replication of the endless cycle of loneliness and rejection gay men faced during the 1980s.
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Citation
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