Gay Australian Country Singer Michael Waugh Releases “We Are Here” – A New Queer Anthem
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Michael Waugh is an award-winning queer artist who has just released his latest single We Are Here. The track is a folk anthem that announces itself unashamedly and doesn’t hold back on acknowledging that queerness has always been here.
Michael Waugh is first and foremost a storyteller
Michael has released four studio albums in the last seven years, all of which were received with critical acclaim. His storytelling ability runs deep in the veins of his tracks and early fans of his work identified the LGBTQIA+ narrative he alluded to in his songs.
Now that Michael is out and proud, there’s a bold evolution in his songwriting. We Are Here is a track that heroes the icons of days gone by and takes gay men out of the shadows of history.
“I had this really ambitious idea when writing We Are Here. I wanted to talk about the history of gay men, and to include myself as a point on that timeline,” he says. “I also wanted to let the next generation know that we are here, we are waiting to be their community, and that they are loved.”
His song heralds a hopeful message for the LGBTQIA+ folks who may feel moments of shame or confusion. We believe that this track contains an important reminder for queer people everywhere, and you can read the lyrics to fully grasp Michael’s meaning:
I’m here with Alexander fighting for the empire
Leaning on the general by my side
I’m here with Leonardo, taking on Firenze
Dreaming of a body that learned to fly
And we are here
We have always been here
Watching from the shadows
Or hiding in the light
We are here
We have always been here
And we won’t be silent
Anymore
I am here with Owen writing from the trenches
I am here with Turing trying to crack the code
I am in the prison where Wilde was tamed
Punished for the love that did not dare to speak its name
Time will tell, this is not your time
They haven’t heard your voice yet unless they read between the lines
But we are here
We have always been here
Watching from the shadows
Or hiding in the light
We are here
We have always been here
And we won’t be silent
Anymore
I am here with Ginsberg
I am here with Baldwin
I am here with Harvey trying to change the law
Throwing bricks at Stonewall
Mardi Gras in Sydney
Acting Up in New York
Dancing at Pulse
I am in the kitchen with my family watching TV
When I saw the grim reaper with a bowling ball
I am in the change room when they beat me senseless
When they tried to shame us
We were there
Time will tell this is not your time
Haven’t found your home yet haven’t found your tribe
We are here
We have always been here we are waiting, you are loved
We are waiting we are waiting we are waiting you are loved
We are waiting we are waiting we are waiting
We are waiting we are waiting we are waiting
We Are Here is out now. Find it on your streaming platform of choice here!
