Smalltown Boy

Album: The Age Of Consent (1983)
Charted: 3 48
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is a semi-autobiographical story of Jimmy Somerville, who was lead singer of the band at the time. The song covers the oppression of homosexuals in provincial Scotland in the early 1980s.
  • The music video was groundbreaking in its depiction of what the song meant. It showed Somerville being attacked by a homophobic gang and being brought home by police to the family whom he is attempted to run away from. It was among the 125 videos selected by Channel 4 to be voted into their top 100.
  • This was Bronski Beat's debut on the British charts. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Kian - Dublin, Ireland, for all above

Comments: 2

  • Pj Dublin from IrelandThis great video is a good example of the backward treatment of gay people by even their own back in the day, thankfully now I hope things are more accepted in todays world very touching..love is love ..love all creatures..
  • Mimzy from Salem, Orthis song is about the isolation, shame, abuse and loneliness that goes along with being gay in a rural, backwoods community.

    very touching and sad, and also a very good dance tune - which makes it such an amazing song. never fails to send chills down my spine.
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