CLASSIC SONG & LYRICS - Smalltown Boy (Bronski Beat, 1984)

The first time I heard the  build up to the song that would be later recognized as 'Smalltown Boy,' I was instantly drawn into the music and plaintive lyrics of pain and bullying.  Then the video was released on MTV at a time when videos were as important, if not more important, than the actual music.  And what a captivating video!  I still get goosebumps at the scene where Joey Sommerville extends a hand to his father to say goodbye for the last time, and his father refuses to shake it.  Why? Because his father has learned, or strongly suspects, that his son is homosexual.  Remember this was 1984, at the height of the AIDS epidemic, misinformation and backlash against the homosexual lifestyle at large. 

What the video did was to present a sensitive and poignant side to the individual rather than the broader stereotype.  It was an important achievement and in my opinion, helped to raise the awareness of the ignorant bullying and homophobia that was prevalent in the UK and US at that time.

The music is soaring and lyrics piercing.   Take a listen!

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
For 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'd never cry to them, just to your soul
No, you'd never cry to them, just to your soul

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

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