I saw #Arthur Bressen's 1977 documentary #GayUSA on mubi.com. It is such a beautifully crafted film. Perhaps the only documentary I have watched twice! What brought me there the second time was the songs.
I tried to look for their words online but couldn't find them. I did find a list of their names on a site dedicated to the music in Bressen's films. (queer music heritage dot com).
Then I decided to hear and copy out the words. I wonder if sharing them here will violate copyright? I'll put a few nuggets. Even though they are about gay love, they speak to just any heart. And hey are sung in a lilting and natural style.
(I think this one is 'Glad to be loving you')
When I look into your eyes
I see the whispers and the cries
I see the silence
You're a woman... I am too
No longer scared to tell you
I love you
Though those moments we're apart
seemed so long
the love we shared with each other
kept getting strong...er
now we speak more openly
dropping inhibitions isn't easy
born with so much deep inside
its hard to know who we can confide ... in
.........
Another song - think its 'Reflections'
My World
Life i freely choose
my world it has it's highs and lows
the sun, it makes the day bright
the moonlight up in the night sky,
the day ends in my world...
tonight i ask why
why did i choose a life where blues are ordinary
co-confusion is the rule of thumb
why did i say yes to being gay
what was that feeling
where did it come from
why did i take a life where there's so much at stake
a life that takes your strength to not be sad
why did i say yes to being gay
why.. did i choose a choice i never had
...... and so on..( the rest is lovely too. see the film!)
P.S. :- A stray comment by a protester in the documentary - 'You cant have freedom of religion, if you have religion in the law!' A great way to put it. Urgent message in our current times.
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