The first time I encountered the work of Leslie Jordan was in the film Sordid Lives, shown to me by the first gay friend I ever made when I moved to San Diego. I was mesmerized by—and more than a little afraid of—his depiction of Brother Boy, a Tammy Wynette impersonator institutionalized by his family because of his love of drag. Despite his stature, Leslie was larger than life and has loomed large in mine ever since. As a fellow queer-as-hell southern child steeped in religion, I found so much solace in his story, his bravery, his advocacy for our community, and the wisdom that cost him so much to earn. I love that man, and though I never had the chance to meet him, his brilliance illuminated my own path forward. I did my best to capture what he means to me and say thank you in this song.
Lyrics
Oh Leslie, that October caught us by surprise
I held my husband’s hand and we cried as we read in the news
You were walking a pink stairway somewhere up to glory
I find it hard to imagine anything more glorious than you
Oh Leslie, I always believed I’d get the chance
To wait in a line and say a few words to your face
Cause I saw my story on every screen and stage that you stood on
A Tennessee queen just dripping in gospel and grace
Cause coming up fancy can crush you
But it seemed like you found the antidote
And watching you brush off antipathy healed me
So it was a punch to my gut when you wrote
That “sometimes I think I was born ashamed”
Well I think I know what you mean
Oh Leslie, I’d never watched such a heartbreaking scene
You worked the room like a star while Tammy sang, “I’ll need time”
It enthralled me just as much as it set me on edge
To think there was something of me portrayed in that sweet, sordid life
Cause I wasn’t ready to trust in the impulses
You had learned they were your superpower
And I’m not the only one riding the tails of your dressing gown
I hope you knew you were our
One bright spot in a wide world of danger
And you deserve more than a waltz from a stranger
Oh Leslie, I could listen all day to your stories
And tap my heels to the hymns you were singing right up to the end
I know your freedom didn’t come easy, you fought like the devil
You earned your peace by becoming the whole world’s friend
God shone through you so bright
Thanks for all of the love and light
Mmm, Leslie