Bronski Beat - Smalltown Boy (Official Video)

Follow Bronski Beat

Follow London Records

↓ LYRICS ↓

[Intro]
To your soul
To your soul
Cry
Cry
Cry

[Verse 1]
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

[Verse 2]
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

[Chorus]
Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away
Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away

[Verse 3]
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

[Verse 4]
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

[Chorus]
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

[Bridge]
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

[Verse 5]
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

[Chorus]
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

#BronskiBeat #SmalltownBoy #TheAgeOfConsent

[The_Joker_]

I danced to this when it was brand new in a nightclub in ‘84.

37 years later I’m sitting in my wheelchair dancing in my head ♿️

I love you all.
Now go love each other.
Time is too fast, love lasts forever. ❤️

This song was released in 1984. 40 years later, here we are in 2024.
This always has been and always will be a timeless classic.

[KLAUDYAVEGA]

Imagine dancing to this at the disco in the 80's ... Some people are so lucky

[LaMorenitaDivina]

I’m not gay, but as someone who left home very young, this has always resonated with me. So grateful for Steve Bronski putting this out into the world to reach people like us who had to leave home with everything we had in small cases and go find life.

[salsashark]

This song changed my life.
I remember the first time I saw the music video for this song in an isolated small town boy in northern Alberta, Canada. After school my brothers and I watched CBC's 'Video Hits with Samantha Taylor'. I was 15/16 years old ... my brothers were playing games when the Smalltown Boy music video started.
It was me. My life. All of it.
Every word went straight to my heart and for the first time in my life, I did not feel alone.
I remember being so paranoid looking to see if any of my family recognized me, recognizing the content, the lyrics, the terrible loneliness, the fear, the hatred and the bullying. Years later a dear friend heard my story while we were roommates and she bought me the CD of an album I was too afraid to buy as a teenager. (I still have it by the way Lavender Menace.)
This song is everything to me. When someone asks me what life was like growing up in the 80s, gay in small town nowhere, I tell them it's 'Smalltown Boy' by Bronski Beat and the music video is about fleeing to save your life. I ❤ you Bronski Beat. Always. You may have saved my life.

[davidprice]

I was born in 82, and came from a busted up home. My mum then ran pubs. I left home at 16, got into drugs, and lost everything, and became a complete scumbag, and went raving until 21, when I joined the army and went to war. I then did 5 years, got PTSD, and got kicked out for drugs in 2008. Then I lost everything again, and rebuilt my life, and moved to Australia, drove to Mongolia, and travelled 35 countries. I had a bad car crash which disabled me, and I'm still having surgeries for the injuries. I'm 41 now and run a building and project managing company. I have an equally damaged girlfriend of 7 years, and we have a house, and a veg garden and chickens. We have one rule in this house....dignity, love, compassion and understanding are more important than anything else. Wherever you're going through....just enjoy what you can from it, and see it for what it is...a scene from the film of your life. Life is both beautiful and tough...so don't make yours, or anyone else's harder than it already is

I love you all, and wish you well! X

[Uetchensutikate]

...was waren die 80er doch für eine "geile Zeit" ... DA war die WELT noch in Ordnung und was hatten wir am Wochenende einen Spaß und tolle Musik ohne den Scheiß der heute heutzutage hier abgeht... bin ICH froh, daß das MEINE JUGEND war...❤❤❤❤❤

[kkgevo]

This is a masterpiece, a life-changing piece of work. Rest in Peace, Steve...

[christopherspick]

This song was so powerful when it came out, and still is..my brother came out in 76 at 16, quite a thing to do in those days, thankfully my mum and dad just accepted him for who he was, i once asked my dad what he said when my brother told him, a man of few words ' your my son and i love you know matter what' is how he put it..dad im forever grateful you did that...hes still with the guy he met 40 years ago..love you tony and david x

[Nettsinthewoods]

I loved this song when I was young, but never really understood the lyrics. Older now, I listen and it breaks my heart, especially as I’ve just watched the video for the first time. I have tears of sadness and sympathy for all those poor boys who have suffered prejudice and violence and been forced to leave home for a dangerous and cruel world. All the love I have goes out to you all.

[punkergdl]

1984 - this song is awesome!💥
2023 - this song still awesome!💥

[elina]

This song came out in 1984. In 2007 it was sampled on Cry for you by September, and now, Charli XCX sampled September's song and released Beg for you...
This song and melody will never die and will continue to influence musicians for decades to come

[bobbymissthes]

There is something special about a song that can make you very sad and nostalgic and make your soul want to dance at the same time. ✌

[Chase_Jones]

80's fans, there’s an *awesome* original 80's inspired band today called *Fire* *Tiger*

[vadimmorozov]

I've always held this song close to my heart, myself being a gay man who had to run from home. My father hasn't spoken to me in about 5 years since I came out, and I don't expect to be in contact with him again anytime soon. I still remember leaving town on the train and never looking back..just like the song. It's always felt very personal to me and I will always cherish this song

[Vicomte.de.Carcassonne]

This is a masterpiece. From the opening synth chords, to the high falsetto vocal. A musical pearl

[splinterborn]

Even of your not gay you can still relate to feeling isolated and looked down upon. What a great track. Timeless.

[Liamgreco]

Agosto 2024 alguien? Éxito que nunca morirá!

[c.p.]

As a naive young teenager, I just loved the melody of this tune.
As an adult, aware of its significance I appreciate it even more.

[Librarianchica]

The absolute GUTS it took to create this in the 80s is unmatched. Kings.