The Killing of Georgie - Rod Stewart - 1976

[Paul_UK]

Inspired by the Lola thread, heres another song from the 70s wit a gay theme. It reached number 2 in the UK charts.

In these days of changing ways
so called liberated days
a story comes to mind of a friend of mine

Georgie boy was gay I guess
nothin' more or nothin' less
the kindest guy I ever knew

His mother's tears fell in vain
the afternoon George tried to explain
that he needed love like all the rest

Pa said there must be a mistake
how can my son not be straight
after all I've said and done for him

Leavin' home on a Greyhound bus
cast out by the ones he loves
A victim of these gay days it seems

Georgie went to New York town
where he quickly settled down
and soon became the toast of the great white way

Accepted by Manhattan's elite
in all the places that were chic
No party was complete without George

Along the boulevards he'd cruise
and all the old queens blew a fuse
Everybody loved Georgie boy

The last time I saw George alive
was in the summer of seventy-five
he said he was in love I said I'm pleased

George attended the opening night
of another Broadway hype
but split before the final curtain fell

Deciding to take a short cut home
arm in arm they meant no wrong
A gentle breeze blew down Fifth Avenue

Out of a darkened side street came
a New Jersey gang with just one aim
to roll some innocent passer-by
There ensued a fearful fight
screams rang out in the night
Georgie's head hit a sidewalk cornerstone

A leather kid, a switchblade knife
He did not intend to take his life
He just pushed his luck a little too far that night

The sight of blood dispersed the gang
A crowd gathered, the police came
An ambulance screamed to a halt on Fifty-third and Third

Georgie's life ended there
but I ask who really cares
George once said to me and I quote

He said "Never wait or hesitate
Get in kid, before it's too late
You may never get another chance
'Cos youth a mask but it don't last
live it long and live it fast"
Georgie was a friend of mine

[biisme]

oooooo...that's so incredibly sad!!

[Lexington]

Such a surprise that 1. this song was released as a single in 1976 as a follow-up to one of Rod's biggest hits ever ("Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)"), and 2. it became a hit in both the US and UK.

+ YouTube Video

Lex

[panda]

Great song .I love Rod's posing s/gestures .A little over the top.The funny thing about that song is that although it was very gay themed, it never struck me as a gay song, but only about Georgie, a different type of guy who met an unfortunate end.Maybe I was in denial at the time.

[Trumpetplyer23]

That is a sad song. I love Rod Stewart though, he's a wonderful singer.