Smalltown Boy

Bronski Beat

When it comes to meaningful, influential 80’s synth pop, this is one of my favorite tracks in electronic music. Another great Scottish band. For me, it’s easy to draw a line from this early groundbreaking song to Sigur Rós. Like Jónsi, Jimmy Sommerville’s vocals soar in falsetto with passion. And this one’s a sad story. Sommerville gave so many young, marginalized gay men a voice and a spotlight and even starred in this video. It really kills me and has stayed with me for so long — since ‘84 on MTV — those family photos, the awkward friends, the judgmental parents, the bullies. The train ride and these lyrics. 😭

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