Gary Glitter (born Paul Francis Gadd, May 8, 1944 in Banbury, Oxfordshire) … Read Full Bio ↴Gary Glitter (born Paul Francis Gadd, May 8, 1944 in Banbury, Oxfordshire) is a rock & pop singer who came to prominence in the glam rock era of the early 1970s. His reputation was greatly tarnished and his popularity quickly declined following a child pornography conviction, although he continued to record and release new work until his arrest and conviction on child abuse charges in 2006.

He had one of the longest chart runs of any solo singer during the 1970s. His success as a live performer lasted well beyond the 1970s, and the chant from his hit "Rock and Roll (Part 2)" is a perennially popular stadium anthem at sports events, particularly in the United States. Glitter's 1973 number 1 "I'm The Leader Of The Gang (I Am!)" also remains one of the better-known songs of its era. He continued to record in the 1980s and 1990s, with his 1984 song "Another Rock And Roll Christmas" being one of the top 30 Christmas hits of all-time. In the UK alone Glitter scored more than 20 hit singles in the UK Top 75, and released more than twenty albums.

In 1999, Glitter was convicted of child pornography offences classifying him as a sex offender under UK law. He went to live in Vũng Tàu in Vietnam in March 2005 and applied for permanent resident status. Glitter then served three years in prison in Vietnam, convicted (in a highly controversial case) of sexually abusing two girls of 10 and 11 years of age, after being arrested on November 19, 2005.

In February 2015, he was jailed for 16 years for pedophilia in the 1970s.

Sidewalk Sinner
Gary Glitter Lyrics

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A long the Grooviest Street in town
You're trendy friend of Mine
Stepping out to show your face

Walking up and walking down
Just can't wait to get in line
Just make sure you're in the right place

Sidewalk Sinner
Think you're such a winner
Ev'ry body knows your Name (Game, Name)

All you want is admiration, Showing off your new creation
Think you're full of fascination, Must improve your situation,
Flattery is not my style, I'll let you off the hook a while

Get your action, get your friends
You'll soon come back to me again,

Sidewalk Sinner, think you're such a winner
Ev'ry body knows your name

Overall Meaning

In Gary Glitter's song "Sidewalk Sinner", the lyrics depict a person who is trying hard to fit in and impress others, but ultimately fails to gain true admiration. The song opens up by highlighting the "Grooviest Street in town" and the "trendy friend" who is probably well known in that area. This person is always "stepping out to show their face", walking up and down as if they can't wait to be seen by others. The lyrics suggest that this person is trying hard to be part of the in-crowd, but they must ensure that they are in the right place with the right friends.

However, the chorus turns the spotlight on the Sidewalk Sinner and the shallow nature of their actions. They want to be seen and admired, showing off their new creation, but they fail to realize that flattery is not always the best way to earn admiration. Despite their efforts, they are not worthy of true admiration and must improve their situation to gain respect.

The song carries a message about the pursuit of shallow validation and the need to improve oneself to achieve true admiration. It touches on the emptiness of trying to fit in with the in-crowd and using flattery to gain admiration. It encourages the Sidewalk Sinner to work on themselves before seeking others' validation.

Line by Line Meaning

A long the Grooviest Street in town
On the most popular and fashionable street in town

You're trendy friend of Mine
You are my fashionable friend

Stepping out to show your face
Going out to be seen by others

Walking up and walking down
Walking back and forth

Just can't wait to get in line
Eager to be amongst the crowd

Just make sure you're in the right place
Ensure to be in the correct location

Sidewalk Sinner
Someone who is addicted to being in the crowd

Think you're such a winner
Believe that you are the best

Ev'ry body knows your Name (Game, Name)
Everyone knows who you are and what you are up to

All you want is admiration, Showing off your new creation
Seeking attention and displaying your new acquisition

Think you're full of fascination, Must improve your situation
Believe that you are strangely attractive and need to improve your life