The Killing Of Georgie (Part I & II) – English Lyrics

• By: Rod Stewart
• Album: A Night On The Town

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a linguistic journey with Rod Stewart's poignant narrative, 'The Killing Of Georgie (Part I & II).' This song offers a rich tapestry of storytelling through its lyrics, allowing learners to delve into English vocabulary related to personal identity, urban life, and emotional expression. Its compelling narrative, combined with Rod Stewart's distinctive vocal delivery, makes it a powerful and memorable piece for understanding conversational English and cultural themes of empathy and social commentary from the 1970s.

[English]

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?"

Leavin' home on a Greyhound bus

Cast out by the ones he loves

A victim of these gay days it seems

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

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 shortcut home

Arm in arm, they meant no wrong

A gentle breeze blew down Fifth Avenue

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

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's a mask, but it don't last

Live it long and live it fast"

Georgie was a friend of mine

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, please, stay, you take our breath away

Oh, Georgie, stay

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
gay /ɡeɪ/ A2	adjective - homosexual
kindest /ˈkaɪndɪst/ A2	adjective - most friendly, generous, and considerate
settled /ˈsetld/ B1	verb - to establish a residence
chic /ʃiːk/ B2	adjective - elegantly and stylishly fashionable
cruise /kruːz/ B1	verb - to travel or move around in a relaxed and casual manner
victim /ˈvɪktɪm/ A2	noun - a person harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime
elite /eɪˈliːt/ B2	noun - a group of powerful, talented, or privileged people
boulevards /ˈbʊləvɑːrdz/ B1	noun - a wide street in a town or city, typically having trees at regular intervals along its sides
gang /ɡaŋ/ A2	noun - a group of criminals
switchblade /ˈswɪtʃbleɪd/ C1	noun - a knife with a blade that springs out when a button is pressed
dispersed /dɪˈspɜːrst/ B2	verb - to spread or distribute over a wide area
quote /kwoʊt/ A2	verb - to repeat or copy (words from a text or speech) exactly as the original
hype /haɪp/ B2	noun - exaggerated publicity or promotion
curtain /ˈkɜːrtn/ A2	noun - a screen of fabric or other material hung at a window or door
shortcut /ˈʃɔːrtkʌt/ B1	noun - a route that is shorter than the usual one
ambiance /ˈæmbiəns/ C1	noun - the character or atmosphere of a place

Key Grammar Structures

• In these days of changing ways

  ➔ Prepositional phrase (In these days), Gerund phrase (changing ways)

  ➔ Uses of prepositional phrases 'in these days' and the gerund form of 'changing ways' to create a descriptive setting.

• So-called liberated days

  ➔ Past participle used as an adjective (so-called)

  ➔ The past participle 'so-called' modifies the noun 'days', acting as an adjective, and is hyphenated.

• A story comes to mind of a friend of mine

  ➔ Subject-verb inversion (comes to mind), Possessive pronoun (mine)

  ➔ The verb 'comes' comes before the subject 'a story', indicating inversion, and the possessive pronoun 'mine' is used.

• Georgie boy was gay, I guess

  ➔ Linking verb (was), Subject-verb agreement (was - Georgie boy)

  ➔ Uses the linking verb 'was' to describe Georgie's state, with correct subject-verb agreement.

• His mother's tears fell in vain

  ➔ Possessive noun (mother's), Phrasal verb (fell in vain)

  ➔ The possessive form 'mother's' and the phrasal verb 'fell in vain' are used effectively.

• How can my son not be straight?

  ➔ Inversion in a question (can...be), Auxiliary verb (can), Adjective (straight)

  ➔ Uses inverted word order for a question, the auxiliary verb 'can', and the adjective 'straight' to describe orientation.

• Leavin' home on a Greyhound bus

  ➔ Gerund (Leavin'), Prepositional phrase (on a Greyhound bus)

  ➔ Uses a gerund 'Leavin'' and a prepositional phrase 'on a Greyhound bus' to show action and location.

• Georgie went to New York town

  ➔ Simple past tense (went), Preposition (to)

  ➔ Uses the simple past tense 'went' to narrate a past action, and the preposition 'to' to indicate direction.

• And soon became the toast of the Great White Way

  ➔ Simple past tense (became), Article (the)

  ➔ Uses the simple past tense 'became' to describe a past state or action. The definite article 'the' is used appropriately.