The Killing Of Georgie (Part I And II)

Album: A Night on the Town (1976)
Charted: 2 30
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  • Oh yeah
    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

    Da da da da da da duh
    Da da da da da da duh
    Da da da da da da duh

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

    Da da da da da da duh
    Da da da da da da duh
    Da da da da da da duh

    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

    Da da da da da da duh
    Da da da da da da duh
    Da da da da da da duh

    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

    Da da da da da da duh
    Da da da da da da duh
    Da da da da da da duh

    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

    Da da da da da da duh
    Da da da da da da duh
    Da da da da da da duh

    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
    'Cause youth a mask but it don't last
    Live it long and live it fast"
    Georgie was a friend of mine

    Da da da da da da duh
    Da da da da da da duh
    Da da da da da da duh

    Da da da da da da duh
    Da da da da da da duh
    Da da da da da da duh

    Oh Georgie stay,
    Don't go away
    Georgie please stay
    You take our breath away
    Oh Georgie stay,
    Don't go away
    Georgie please stay
    You take our breath away
    Oh Georgie stay,
    Don't go away
    Georgie, Georgie stay (please stay)
    You take our breath away Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 16

  • M Maxwell from BelfastAt the end when the song stops then starts up again I am hopefully convinced Rod is then singing about another friend of his from that era George Best. Oh Georgie stay u take our breath away. Around the time when gb quit football.
  • Joe L. from ArizonaI have to say first off that song by rod gets me emotional every time I hear it .
    I think it is one of rod Stewart best songs. Even though their all nothing but hits .
    If anyone could pull that song off , it is Rod Stewart
    Am 64 and have been following him since am 19.
    One day I would love to meet the man.
    (My bucket list ,)
  • Metin from TurkeyOne of the best story telling songs. A heart touching story with a beautiful melody and voice of Rod Stewart.
  • Mexican Supremacy from México"This song about the murder of a homosexual man by a New Jersey gang"
    Must've been a bunch of white supremacists, right? Those... white... supremacists sure hate... gays... in their neighbourhoods.

    So, sodomy is enlightenment now? No, I get it, Stewart has always cucked HARD, and some of his best, most catchy songs are about normalizing degeneracy but, come on! This one, like "Georgie", blows the big one. It's just about pandering to get his music played in "gay" joints.

    This stuff worked out great for you in the U.s and Europe, right? Don't worry, Georgies, we'll take it from here.
  • Arthur ItisThis song was released in 1976 as well as 53 and 3rd by the Ramones. I wonder if the person in the Ramones’ song is the perpetrator. Too much of a connection there.
  • John Dodds from Bournemouth Uk I understand Georgie sent many tapes and demos to Rod and The Faces kept in tea chests rescued from Ronnie Woods cellar which flooded my brother took them for safe keeping my brother died I would like to pass this information to Rod or Ronnie
  • Bertrand from Paris, FranceFrom a musical point of view, Part II of the song is based on the melody of The Beatles' "Don't Let Me Down."
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn May 29th 1977, "The Killing of Georgie - Parts 1 & 2" entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #84; and on July 17th it peaked at #30 (for 1 week) and spent 10 weeks on the Top 100...
    He had three other records on the Top 100 in 1977; "Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)", "The First Cut Is The Deepest", and "You're In My Heart (The Final Acclaim)"...
    Mr. Stewart will celebrate his 70th birthday come next January 10th, 2015.
  • Greg from New York City, Ny"53rd & 3rd" is where "the boys" hustlers, would hang out to get picked up, like Dee Dee Ramone, back in bad old New York City...
  • Kat from Adelaide, AustraliaGreat song - and so rarely played on commercial radio. Quite forward and enlightened for 1976. Interesting that although it was a hit in the UK it only reached No 30 in the US? Maybe Rod wasn't such a big star in the US then (I'm too young to remember!)
  • Amazon from London, GreenlandDid RS intentionally take the music from "part II" from Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance"?
  • Roberta from Carleton, MiI agree with Kathryn; both Rod and Elton John's music was MUCH better before 1980. I think moreso for Elton John, but that's just my opinion
  • Jenny from Rapid City, Sdto Adam: the break between part I and part II is at the 4:31 mark into the song.
  • Kathryn from London, United KingdomTo Adam - the definition between parts I and II is very clear. Part II is much slower is lamenting Georgie's death. The Song changes completely maybe you didn't listen to the end? Anyone who likes this should buy Rod Steward Greatest Hits (Pink Satin Suit Cover only) & Yellow Brick Road by Elton John (dont groan his 70s stuff is superb - anything past 1980 stop listening. But YBR is one to be played right thru from beginning to end before you decide......I think you'll see a different Elton. Also if anyone knows what Georgie was to Rod or if it's just a name he picked please tell me.
  • Adam from Boyce, VaVery good tune but I never understood the whole Part 1 and 2 thing...Isn't like it got the song anymore attention though, and where does part 1 end and part 2 begin anyhow?..lol. Rod was very good as a storyteller, probably why his box set anthology is called STORYTELLER......this was one of his most underrated songs.
  • Kenny from Clydebank, ScotlandThis song was very brave of Rod. The world is not a very enlightened place, but songs like this shine a light on our very dark scandal-hungry violent world. Well done, Rod!
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