Smalltown Boy

The break-out first single on their debut album, The Age of Consent, “Smalltown Boy” by Bronski Beat was released in June of 1984. The song is a semi-autobiographical story of Jimmy Somerville, the lead singer of Bronski Beat at the time of the song’s release. “Smalltown Boy” discusses the oppression and mistreatment of closeted gay youths in Scotland during the 1980s. It was a number one hit in Belgium and Holland and was on the top 10 charts in Australia, France, Canada, and Switzerland. The music video was groundbreaking and depicted the cruelty towards gay people at the time. Smalltown Boy peaked at #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Chart in the Winter of 1985.

Smalltown Boy Lyrics Bronski Beat [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 (Oooh) [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, crying to your soul) Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away (Crying to your soul, crying to your soul) Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away (Cry) 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 (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 (Cry) Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away (Cry) Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away (To your soul, to your soul) Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away (Cry) Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away (Cry) Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away (To your soul) Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away (To your soul) Produced By Mike Thorne Written By Larry Steinbachek, Jimmy Somerville & Steve Bronski Recorded At The Garden Studio, London Release Date June 1, 1984