"The real story of STONEWALL in a 3-minute song"

BRICKS AND BOTTLES

A cautious crew of queers
Browbeaten on the street
Slipped off the path to avoid the wrath
In a bar of their own called Stonewall

It was a nasty haven
A fragile place to meet
Where they could touch and inhale too much
Beer and cologne at Stonewall

   In the Sixties love was getting bolder
   Smiling hippies with flowers in their hair
   But dykes and fags watched over their shoulders
   At the danger lurking there

The mayor and the cardinal, the judges and the cops
Ranted and raved at the way the queers behaved
They wouldn’t even leave them alone at Stonewall

   Another raid on a hot June night
   But the queens drew the line at this tacky joint
   Enough was enough so they started to fight
   Defending a dive, making a point

They took up bricks and bottles, took up purses and heels
Who makes a scene like an angry queen
A scene that soon became known as Stonewall

   Some folks explain it as drag queen pride
   Or that queens are the ones least able to hide
   Some were convinced they had God on their side
   Or maybe it was the Bill of Right lied
   Or maybe because Judy Garland died
   Some say everything else has been tried

They took up bricks and bottles, took up purses and heels
Who makes a scene like an angry queen
A scene that will always be known as Stonewall



words&music©1994TomWilsonWeinberg/ASCAP

Words and music by Tom Wilson Weinberg; lead vocal and guitar Jan Tilley; back-up vocals Greg Everett, Michael Gaylord, Michael Gehl, Brad Whitaker; produced and arranged by Wayne Barker
