Gately made his sexuality known in 1999 and came out in a blaze of publicity. He wed Andrew Cowles, first in a commitment ceremony in Las Vegas in 2003 and more formally in a civil partnership ceremony in London in 2006. Upon Boyzone's reformation, Gately featured as part of the first gay couple in the music video for "Better", in what was to be his last with the band.
Gately died of a congenital heart defect on 10 October 2009, in a flat that he and Cowles owned in Mallorca, Spain. Brian Boyd in The Irish Times stated: "Stephen Gately’s death represents the first time that the boyband genre has had to deal with such a tragic situation". Tim Teeman of The Times (UK) heralded Gately as a hero of gay rights for his response to being "smoked out of the closet".
Judgement Day
Stephen Gately Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What makes the world a better place, you say
My mind is telling me to fight for my rights
I've learned my lesson done my time
Someone please just...
Save me
Help me please don't break me, I pray
It's crazy
My heart's pounding, save me
On judgement day, my day
Doomsday I know that I have made mistakes
I've paid please don't give my soul away
I'm dreaming of freedom I watch from my window inside
My pulse and my breathing is what I am needing for life
You've watched me sleepless seen me cry, oh why
Help me my life is on the line
Someone please just
Save me
Help me please don't break me (I pray, I pray)
It's crazy
My heart's pounding, save me
On judgement day, my day
My day
My day
My day
My mind is telling me to fight for my rights
I've learned my lesson done my time
Someone please just...
Save me
Help me please don't break me (I pray, I pray)
It's crazy
My heart's pounding save me
On judgement day, my day
Save me
Help me please don't break me
My day
My day
It's crazy
My heart's pounding save me
On judgement day, my day
Judgement Day by Stephen Gately is a song about redemption, the importance of fighting for one's rights, and never giving up hope. The lyrics speak of the desire to make the world a better place, while acknowledging past mistakes and the fear of being judged on the ultimate day of reckoning. The opening lines express the belief that someday, the singer will find the courage and the words to articulate their vision of a better world. However, this conviction is immediately met with doubt and fear, as the singer admits to having made mistakes in the past and feeling uncertain about their fate.
The chorus of the song is a plea for help and salvation on judgement day. The singer begs for their soul to be spared and for someone to save them from the impending doom. The verses describe the singer's struggle with their own conscience and the need for redemption. The song captures the sense of urgency and desperation that is often felt in the face of imminent danger or crisis.
The final verse highlights the importance of standing up for oneself and the need to fight for one's rights. The singer acknowledges the lessons learned and the time spent paying for past mistakes, but also expresses the desire to be free and alive. Overall, the song conveys a message of hope and resilience, urging listeners to never give up and to always fight for what they believe in.
Line by Line Meaning
Someday I know I'll find my way to say
I have faith that one day I will discover the perfect words to communicate my ideas and values.
What makes the world a better place, you say
You have offered a suggestion about how to improve the world.
My mind is telling me to fight for my rights
I feel that it is important to stand up for myself and not let others take advantage of me.
I've learned my lesson done my time
I have faced consequences for my mistakes and taken responsibility for my actions.
Someone please just...
Save me
Help me please don't break me, I pray
(I pray, I pray)
It's crazy
My heart's pounding, save me
On judgement day, my day
I am feeling desperate and in need of assistance, I fear that I cannot face the consequences of my actions alone.
Doomsday I know that I have made mistakes
I've paid please don't give my soul away
I am aware that I have made errors in judgement and served the appropriate punishment, I am pleading that I not be forced to suffer more.
I'm dreaming of freedom I watch from my window inside
My pulse and my breathing is what I am needing for life
I yearn for liberation, as I spend my time confined and genuinely want to continue living, in need of my essential biological functions.
You've watched me sleepless seen me cry, oh why
Help me my life is on the line
You have observed my restless, troubled state and troubles, I beg you to provide the necessary aid, for my survival depends on it.
My day
My day
My day
This is a momentous occasion for me, and I must confront it and its weighty implications.
My mind is telling me to fight for my rights
I've learned my lesson done my time
Someone please just...
I am resolute in my need to safeguard my entitlements, mindful of the correction I have undergone, again pleading for help.
Save me
Help me please don't break me (I pray, I pray)
It's crazy
My heart's pounding, save me
On judgement day, my day
I'm begging for salvation and not to be rendered dysfunctional, anxious with a racing heart knowing that it is a make-or-break moment on which everything hinges.
Save me
Help me please don't break me
My day
My day
It's crazy
My heart's pounding save me
On judgement day, my day
Once more making a final appeal for rescue and protection from distress, all while recognizing the gravity of the situation I'm in.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDERS SVEN BAGGE, ARNTHOR BIRGISSON, STEPHEN PATRICK DAVID GATELY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind