Tom Robinson Band - Glad to Be Gay '79 Lyrics

For the purposes of this evening, it's this way

The British Police are the best in the world
I don't believe one of these stories I've heard
'Bout them raiding gay pubs for no reason at all
Lining the customers up by the wall (yeah, c'mon)
Picking out people, knocking them down
Resisting arrest as they're kicked on the ground
Searching their houses, calling them queer
I don't believe that sort of thing happens here

Sing if you're glad to be gay
Sing if you're happy this way (hey)
Sing if you're glad to be gay
Sing if you're happy this way

Pictures of naked young women are fun
In Penthouse and Playboy, page three of The Sun
There's no nudes in Gay News, our one magazine
But they still find excuses to call it obscene
Read how disgusting we are in the press
In the evening news and The Sun they express
Molesters of children, corruptors of youth
It's there in the paper, it must be the truth

So, sing if you're glad to be gay
Sing if you're happy this way (hey)
Sing if you're glad to be gay
Sing if you're happy this way

Have you heard the story about Peter Wells?
Who, one day, was arrested and dragged to the cells
For being in love with a man of eighteen
The vicar found out they'd been having a scene
The magistrate sent him for trial by the Crown
He even appealed, but they still sent him down
He was only mistreated a couple of years
'Cause even in prison they
Look after the queers

So, sing if you're glad to be gay
Sing if you're happy this way (hey)
Sing if you're glad to be gay
Sing if you're happy this way

And sit back and watch as they close down our clubs
Arrest us for meeting and raid all our pubs
Make sure your boyfriend's at least twenty-one
So only your friends and your brothers get done
Lie to your workmates, lie to your folks
Put down the queens, and tell anti-queer jokes
Gay Lib's ridiculous, join their laughter
"The buggers are legal now, what more are they after?"
(Tell 'em)

Sing if you're glad to be gay
Sing if you're happy this way (hey)
Sing if you're glad to be gay
Sing if you're happy this way
Sing if you're glad to be gay
Sing if you're happy this way (hey)
Sing if you're glad to be gay
Sing if you're happy this way