By After I wrote my last post, I went for a walk in a different part of downtown Vancouver and found another musical “landmark”. As history goes (which these days means I read about it on Wikipedia), the Robert Lee Y.M.C.A. in Vancouver provided the inspiration for the famous disco song by The Village People. While it has become a gay anthem over the years (upon its release, the Young Men’s Christian Association tried to sue because of the double entendres contained in the song), lyricist and lead singer Victor Willis insists they were not intentional since he is himself straight. Still, the song can easily be taken both ways.
Young man, there’s no need to feel down.
I said, young man, pick yourself off the ground.
I said, young man, ’cause you’re in a new town
There’s no need to be unhappy.Young man, there’s a place you can go.
I said, young man, when you’re short on your dough.
You can stay there, and I’m sure you will find
Many ways to have a good time.It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.They have everything for you men to enjoy,
You can hang out with all the boys …It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.You can get yourself clean, you can have a good meal,
You can do whatever you feel…Young man, are you listening to me?
I said, young man, what do you want to be?
I said, young man, you can make real your dreams.
But you got to know this one thing!No man does it all by himself.
I said, young man, put your pride on the shelf,
And just go there, to the Y.M.C.A.
I’m sure they can help you today.It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.They have everything for you men to enjoy,
You can hang out with all the boys…It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.You can get yourself clean, you can have a good meal,
You can do whatever you feel …Young man, I was once in your shoes.
I said, I was down and out with the blues.
I felt no man cared if I were alive.
I felt the whole world was so jive …That’s when someone came up to me,
And said, young man, take a walk up the street.
There’s a place there called the Y.M.C.A.
They can start you back on your way.It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.They have everything for you men to enjoy,
You can hang out with all the boys…Y.M.C.A….you’ll find it at the Y.M.C.A.
Young man, young man, there’s no need to feel down.
Young man, young man, get yourself off the ground.Y.M.C.A….just go to the Y.M.C.A.
Young man, young man, are you listening to me?
Young man, young man, what do you wanna be?
Admit it: you’re singing the song now. Some of you are even doing the letter dance, I know it.
He's also a regular contributor at the excellent news site Montreal Rampage
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