The Sodom and Gomorrah Show

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First released in 2006, this song was included on the Pet Shop Boys' ninth studio album Fundamental. The "The Sodom and Gomorrah Show" is about about the need for bravery when taking chances in life to get the most out of the expierence. The song tells the story of a man who has always led a quiet life being lured into what appears to be a world of corruption. He continues on this path and eventually feels liberated by the experience, which taught him the meaning of life, that "you've got to love to learn to live". It is a common misperception that this song is about coming out of the closet. Although coming out of the closet does, indeed, require bravery, especially for those whose family and friends are not supportive and do not accept them as gay. There is no indication that the song is about coming out of the closet.

Sun, sex, sin, divine intervention,
Death and destruction
Ladies and gentlemen
Welcome to the Sodom and Gomorrah Show

I lived a quiet life
A stranger to champagne
I never dared to venture out
To cities of the plain
I'd heard about their way of life
Took it with a pinch of salt
The freedom and the time to play
A life so easy
It intrigued me
When you called to say:

"Are you gonna go
To the Sodom and Gomorrah Show?
It's got everything you need for your complete
Entertainment and instruction
Sun, sex, sin, divine intervention,
Death and destruction
The Sodom and Gomorrah show
Is a once-in-a-lifetime production"

I think it's true to say
My life was changed that night
In the liberated
Atmosphere
All around me
Someone found me
Whispered in my ear

"Are you gonna go
To the Sodom and Gomorrah Show?
It's got everything you need for your complete
Entertainment and instruction
Sun, sex, sin, divine intervention,
Death and destruction
The Sodom and Gomorrah show
Is a once-in-a-lifetime production"

Then we went on
After-hours
There was place down below
It was there I realised
The meaning of the show

You've got to love
To learn to live
Where angels fear to tread
I did it and I don't regret the day
Even now
I think of how
You turned to me to say

"Sun, sex, sin, death and destruction
Are you gonna go
To the Sodom and Gomorrah Show?
Sun, sex, sin, divine intervention,
Death and destruction
The Sodom and Gomorrah show
Is a once-in-a-lifetime production"

Written by Tennant/Lowe

Works Cited

A large part of this song analysis was attained from the Pet Shop Boys fansite Geowayne: Commentary, Interpretation, and Analysis of Every Song by Pet Shop Boys. Retrieved from http://www.geowayne.com/newDesign/fundamental/sodom.htm

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