smalltown boy, (le garçon de la petite ville), évoque un jeune gay victime d'homophobie et de solitude, incompris par sa famille. dans le vidéoclip, il se fait des amis, mais un gang homophobe l'agresse et un policier le ramène chez lui. Il prend le train pour s'enfuir avec ses amis. La chanson reflète la vie difficile des jeunes homosexuels de province, amenés à quitter leur petite ville pour vivre au grand jour dans de grandes villes plus tolérantes. Cette chanson est un titre gay très populaire, qui a connu un énorme succès à travers le monde.
Bronski Beat est un groupe formé autour de Jimmy Sommerville, à la voix d'ange et Larry Steinbachek, groupe de synth pop et new wave britannique, originaire de Londres. Formé en 1983, le groupe est surtout connu pour Smalltown Boy et Why?.

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

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)

Cry, boy, cry 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