Glad to Be Gay
Tom Robinson
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The British Police are the best in the world I don't believe one of these stories I've heard 'Bout them raiding our pubs for no reason at all Lining the customers up by the wall Picking out people and knocking them down Resisting arrest as they're kicked on the ground Searching their houses and calling them queer I don't believe that sort of thing happens here Sing if you're glad to be gay Sing if you're happy that way Pictures of naked young women are fun In Titbits and Playboy, page three of The Sun There's no nudes in xxx News our one magazine But they still find excuses to call it obscene Read how disgusting we are in the press Telegraphs, people and Sunday Express Molesters of children, corruptors of youth It's there in the paper, it must be the truth Sing if you're glad to be gay Sing if you're happy that way Don't try to kid us that if you're discreet You're perfectly safe as you walk down the street You don't have to mince or make bitchy remarks To get beaten unconscious and left in the dark I had a friend who was gentle and short He was lonely one evening and went for a walk Queerbashers caught him and kicked in his teeth He was only hospitalised for a week Sing if you're glad to be gay Sing if you're happy that way So sit back and watch as they close all our clubs Arrest us for meeting and raid all our pubs Make sure your boyfriend's at least 21 So only your friends and your brothers get done Lie to your workmates, lie to your folks Put down the queens and tell anti-queer jokes Gay Lib's ridiculous, join their laughter 'The buggers are legal now, what more are they after?' Sing if you're glad to be gay Sing if you're happy that way
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Written by: THOMAS GILES ROBINSON
Lyrics © CONEXION MEDIA GROUP, INC., BMG Rights Management
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
12 facts about this song
Historical Context"Glad to Be Gay" was released in the 1970s, during a time when homosexuality was still stigmatized and not openly acknowledged in mainstream media.
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Song OriginTom Robinson wrote the song for a gay pride event in London in 1976.
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LyricsThe song talks about the oppression of gay people in London and criticizes the police, judiciary and tabloid press of the time for their homophobic attitudes.
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Music & Lyrics CreatorBesides being the vocalist, Tom Robinson was also the songwriter for "Glad to Be Gay".
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AlbumThe song is included in Tom Robinson's debut album, "Power in the Darkness", which was released in 1978.
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BandAlthough officially a solo song, "Glad to Be Gay" was performed by Tom Robinson Band.
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Chart SuccessDespite its controversial theme, "Glad to Be Gay" reached number 18 in the UK Singles Chart in 1978.
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CensorshipThe BBC initially refused to play the song due to its explicitly gay lyrics, alleging obscenity laws.
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Live PerformanceWhen performing live on the BBC, Robinson changed the lyrics slightly to get around the corporation's strict rules on content.
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Cultural ImpactToday, "Glad to Be Gay" is seen as an anthem of the LGBT rights movement in Britain and is recognized as a culturally and socially significant song.
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RecognitionThe song was named the 68th-best British song of the 1970s by New Musical Express magazine in 2016.
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LegacyOver 40 years later, the song is still played at pride gatherings and is considered a significant milestone in the history of LGBT rights music.
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Citation
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"Glad to Be Gay Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/3181974/Tom+Robinson/Glad+to+Be+Gay>.
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