Lyrics
They called them fairies in the Bowery
Painted lips sly hips a laugh too loud
A waltz for the outcasts the perverts the proud
Powdered cheeks and whiskey breath
Dancing boys in drag to death
Velvet curtains secrets kept
We kissed in shadows while the city slept
Spin me round in a fairy's waltz
Sin is sweet but it's not my fault
Men in skirts and men in ties
Hiding truth behind painted eyes
Whispered names in candlelight
Dancing free in the dead of night
Paint it on paint it on
A banker slips a coin at the door
His wedding ring shining as he wants more
A sailor's kiss still tastes of rum
He laughs too loud but I still succumb
Arrest us if you dare the law won't kill desire
Lock the stage but backstage still is fire
Spin me round in a fairy's waltz
Sin is sweet but it's not my fault
Men in skirts and men in ties
Hiding truth behind painted eyes
Whispered names in candlelight
Dancing free in the dead of night
Painted eyes painted eyes
History's no closet it's a ballroom
And I slipped inside
About the Song
"The Fairy's Waltz" is a historical vignette that transports the audience to pre-Stonewall gay ballrooms in New York's Bowery district. The term "fairy" was a common (often derogatory) slang for gay men and drag performers in the early-to-mid 20th century.
The song celebrates the underground gay culture that thrived despite legal persecution—drag balls, secret kisses, painted faces hiding true identities. It honors the resilience and joy found in these hidden spaces while acknowledging the danger ("Arrest us if you dare").
The closing line—"History's no closet it's a ballroom / And I slipped inside"—reframes LGBTQ+ history not as a shameful secret but as a vibrant, defiant celebration.
Song Details
- Album: The Unseen Chorus (A Gay Musical)
- Track Number: 4 of 27
- Duration: 2:29
- Release Date: October 6, 2025
- Genre: Musical Theatre, Historical Ballad, LGBTQ+ Music
- Writer/Composer: Agust Smari Bjarkarson (Agust Islandia)
Themes
- LGBTQ+ History: Pre-Stonewall ballroom culture in the Bowery
- Drag & Performance: "Men in skirts and men in ties"
- Hidden Identity: "Hiding truth behind painted eyes"
- Resilience: Dancing despite criminalization
- Class Intersections: Bankers and sailors both seeking queer spaces
More Songs from The Unseen Chorus
- Riot in the Night (Stonewall) - Track 7: The Stonewall uprising
- The Ramble - Track 6: Central Park's hidden gay cruising spot
- Come Out of the Dark - Track 27: Modern anthem of liberation