The Queen Of Soho - Paul Heaton, Jacqui Abbott

I walked the streets as well I could

I really tried my best

In conversation, character

Especially the way I dressed

But it’s hard, you see, as younger man

To actually convince

Folks just clearly saw a queen

Pretending to be a prince

But prince takes into battleground

A tribal sword and scar

Queen remains behind the scenes

And hidden crown in bra

So come on, girls, unleash your curls

Don’t be feeling sad

Get the feeling swinging from your hipbones

To your bag

We’re better than the legs and skirt

Your boyfriends wants to shag

I’m sticking on my high heels

Some lippy from my bag

I’ve had enough of compromise

I’m going back to drag…

Those trips on London Underground

Those bloody dangerous nights

The days of rouge and subterfuge

Of ladders in our tights

Our make-up ran much faster than

Their prejudice and hate

Take us up the escalator

And vaulting over gate

And boy, they really wanted me

And boy, I really ran

And boy, that was the only time

This girl outran a man

Here’s to the hers who used to be him

Here’s to the Joans who used to be Jim

Who learned how to dive before they could swim

To the lambs who went out on a limb

Wear pull-ups, wear suspenders

Wear dresses mum would lend us

Where boarding schools you send us

We’re going back to drag

The straight ones treated you as a freak

The freak, like someone’s dad

I’ve had enough of walking straight

I’m staggering back to drag