Why?
Bronski Beat and The Communards Lyrics


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Contempt in your eyes
As I turn to kiss his lips
Broken I lie
All my feelings denied
Blood on your fist
Can you tell me why?
You in your false securities
Tear up my life
Condemning me
Name me an illness
Call me a sin
Never feel guilty
Never give in
Tell me why?
You and me together




Fighting for our love
Can you tell me why?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bronski Beat and The Communards's song Why? delve into the struggles of a homosexual relationship in a society that condemns it. The opening lines of the song, "contempt in your eyes as I turn to kiss his lips, broken I lie, all my feelings denied," paint a picture of the physical and emotional abuse faced by same-sex couples at the hands of society. The chorus of the song, "tell me why?" is a plea to those who judge and condemn same-sex relationships to explain their bigotry and hate.


The second verse of the song highlights the societal stigma attached to homosexuality. The lyrics "name me an illness, call me a sin, never feel guilty, never give in" reflect the widespread belief that being gay is a disease or a moral failing, rather than a natural aspect of one's identity. The final lines of the song "you and me together, fighting for our love, can you tell me why?" reflect the resilience of the LGBTQ+ community in the face of adversity and the universal struggle for acceptance and love.


Line by Line Meaning

Contempt in your eyes
You're looking at me with disrespect and disregard


As I turn to kiss his lips
When I kissed someone else, you saw and reacted negatively


Broken I lie
I feel shattered and defeated


All my feelings denied
You're not acknowledging my emotions and are invalidating them


Blood on your fist
You physically hurt me and caused me to bleed


Can you tell me why?
I'm asking for an explanation for your actions


You in your false securities
You're pretending to feel confident but you're actually insecure


Tear up my life
You are ruining and destroying my life


Condemning me
You're judging and punishing me


Name me an illness
You're labeling me as sick or diseased


Call me a sin
You're characterizing me as something inherently immoral or wrong


Never feel guilty
You don't think you've done anything wrong and don't feel remorse


Never give in
You won't back down or give up on your beliefs or actions


Tell me why?
I'm still seeking an explanation from you


You and me together
We're in a relationship with each other


Fighting for our love
We're struggling to maintain our relationship despite difficulties


Can you tell me why?
I'm repeating my request for an explanation from you




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES SOMERVILLE, LAWRENCE COLE, STEVE BRONSKI

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@eaaquamarine

"YOU IN YOUR FALSE SECURITIES TEAR UP MY LIFE, CONDEMNING ME, NAME ME AN ILLNESS, CALL ME A SIN, NEVER FEEL GUILTY, NEVER GIVE IN, TELL ME WHY? YOU AND ME TOGETHER FIGHTING FOR OUR LOVE" - great song

@heidijonck4590

Rita Du Preez.. Dit jou vraag...?

@biddylisduff

RIP Steve Bronski. Such an important band, message in a banging tune. This and "Small-town Boy" really told the story, heartbreaking and powerful at the same time.

@BillAnt

Looking back at these older videos at 0:21 the sausages hanging sure gives new meaning. hehe

@stadiumarcadium2351

@port nut Bronski had a stroke in 2018 which limited his mobility. He died from smoke inhalation in a fire at his home in Soho, London, on 7 December 2021, at the age of 61

@NeilNZ

Didn't realise he died. Just looked it up. They certainly left their mark for good music and Steve was behind it. Thank you Steve 🙏 RIP 🙏

@455kold

​@@NeilNZ he will be missed

@BossySwan

@@stadiumarcadium2351stroke inhalation

@kre8a361

RIP to Steven Forrest and Larry Steinbachek who was a composer, song writer and synthesiser keyboardist for Bronski Beat. The trio from the greatest decade of music will never be forgotten.

@edgeGabe

Greatest decade.

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