To your soul
To your soul
Cry
Cry
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

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

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
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


Lyrics submitted by numb

Smalltown Boy Lyrics as written by Larry Steinbacheck James William Somerville

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Smalltown Boy song meanings
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15 Comments

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  • +7
    General Comment
    Beautiful and poignant song about being gay in a not-so-gay-friendly world.
    jimmyjango2000on August 18, 2005   Link
  • +6
    General Comment
    This song is obviously about running away from home, and though the lyrics are honest, and not particularly poetic but striking, his most haunting voice gives this song real feeling and meaning.
    Mainstreeton June 26, 2003   Link
  • +4
    General Comment
    The video's brilliant but pretty difficult to watch, consisting chiefly of Jimmy Somerville looking sad and getting his ass kicked by a homophobic diver on a motorcycle (?!), and later by his own dad in front of a cop.
    owennnnnnnnnnon March 27, 2006   Link
  • +4
    General Comment
    One of the great gay anthems, right up there with Erasure's "Hideaway" and Pet Shop Boys' "A Red Letter Day" and...okay, so what I would know, as a straight boy? What I do know is that my state's Supreme Court ruled in favor of gay marriage today, and while there's still much to be hashed out, the world just became a slightly better place. Keep the faith, y'all.
    raffishtenant2on May 16, 2008   Link
  • +4
    General Comment
    smalltown boy is about running away from home and finding yourself or thats the way i interpret it. sitting at home all day everyday will only may you depressed so you gotta get out in the world and find your place ;)
    xxemoboixxon May 18, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    I think it is about a young man who is gay and can't stay in his hometown, because he can't come out to his mother.
    marthavmuffinon June 05, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    This song is so sad. Whats even worse is that i happens now a days. Kids runaway cause they are gay and no one would accept them. Well...most are kicked out because they are gay, but thats a different story. Very sad and powerful.
    Shadow_Kyubion March 14, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    the original 12" version starts with the whole song sung with very little music and his voice is really heard - full of emotion. worth downloading this version if you can. My 12" is rather scrathched now..
    CharmingManon April 04, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I heard the Paradise Lost version and thought it was sad... but this one is waaaaayyyyy more depressing... even the peppy bits toward the end can't bring it up
    Navajolandon February 20, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    its about a gay kid running away from his home town because he is discriminated and bullied. moving song
    introspectionon December 29, 2005   Link

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