Jimmy Somerville Has a Rose—And A Song—For Orlando

"Can you tell me why?"

From: NewNowNext

 Decades before Adam Lambert or Tegan and Sara, there was Jimmy Somerville, the flamboyant and out British pop singer who refused to be anything but fabulously out.

In songs like “Why” and “Smalltown,” Somerville put the experience of young gay men to music, backed by a throbbing dance beat.

Monday, Somerville took to Facebook to give his condolences to the victims of the Orlando massacre and their families.

The Scottish singer sang a few lines from “Why?” a hit in the UK in 1984 for his band Bronski Beat that directly addresses violence against gay people.

Contempt in your eyes when I turned to kiss his lips

Broken I lie all my feelings denied; blood on your fist.

Can you tell me why? Can you tell me why?

He then offered a rose to the victims and survivors of the mass shooting.

This is a rose, this is widely recognized as the flower of love.

This rose is for all of those who died on the early hours of Sunday morning in Florida.

This rose is for all of those who survived on Sunday morning in Orlando. And this rose is also for you.

Never stop holding the hands, never stop kissing the lips of those you love. Never let anyone take that away from us.

So if you love someone, tell them you love them and give them a rose.

Below, the full version of “Why?”, which we’d like to see blaring in the streets right now.

Contempt in your eyes when I turned to kiss his lips

Broken I lie all my feelings denied – blood on your fist.

Can you tell me why? Can you tell me why?

Can you tell me why? Can you tell me why?

You in your false securities tear up my life condemning me.

Name me an illness

you call me a sin – never feel guilty

never give in.

Tell me why? Tell me why? Tell me why? Tell me why? Yeah!

You and me together fighting for our love.

You and me together fighting for our love.

You and me together fighting for our love. . . .

You and me together fighting for our love. . . .

Contempt in your eyes when I turned to kiss his lips

. . .

Can you tell me why? Can you tell me why? . . .

Can you tell me why? Can you tell me why? . . .

Can you tell me why? Can you tell me why? . .