PARADISE LOST – Smalltown Boy (Bronski Beat cover)

Paradise Lost are an English gothic metal band. Formed in Halifax, West Yorkshire in 1988, they are considered to be among the pioneers of the death-doom genre and regarded as the main influence for the later gothic metal movement. Bands that have cited Paradise Lost as an influence, or have covered them, include My Dying Bride, Anathema, The Gathering, Amorphis, Cradle of Filth, Katatonia, Moonspell, Lacuna Coil, HIM, Nightwish and many others. As of 2005, Paradise Lost have sold over two million albums worldwide.

“Smalltown Boy” is the debut single by the British synth-pop band Bronski Beat, released in May 1984. It was included on their debut album, The Age of Consent. The lyrics describe a young gay man who is forced to leave home. “Smalltown Boy” is a gay anthem and is associated with the rise of British gay culture in the 1980s. In 2022, Rolling Stone named it the 163rd-greatest dance song.

[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)