Talkback Radio (v1)

In the mid-1980s, before the internet and mobile phones were widely available, talkback radio was one of the main public forums where New Zealanders voiced their opinions. Night after night, callers rang in to share their views on the issues of the day, sometimes thoughtful, sometimes heated, but always public.

In this song we join late-night host Karen Hertz on 24 September 1985, the day the anti-law reform petition is presented to Parliament. The phones are running hot as callers line up to have their say, each bringing their own opinions and fears to the airwaves.

The home page for the musical can be found here. The human-authored lyrics and dramatic structure by Gareth Watkins are licensed under the CC BY 4.0 licence; reuse and adaptation with attribution are permitted and encouraged. See the full licensing statement.

Karen Hertz:

[Verse 1]
It’s just coming up to 11pm
And you’re on Radio Talk
And it’s time to talk back on the
scenes at parliament this afternoon

And I want to hear your thoughts
Listeners, what did you think
about the hundreds on the steps
Opposing gay law reform

And what do you think about the Sally Army’s petition?
We’ve already heard from one caller
Who had signed 27 times
Is that one too many signatures – mmm you tell me

[Verse 2]
And we’ve heard earlier
From callers who claimed
interference from these imported American preachers
Saying there’s nothing gay about being gay

So, what do you think callers?
Call now we have a line free
Let’s hear your opinions
Remember you’re in the company of friends

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 3]
Oh, we have a caller on line 2
A middle-aged woman
Saying that today’s presentation aroused her
For God, for country, for the family

And then another middle-aged woman
Saying not all Christians are Christian
And that there are plenty of churches
Standing in support

[Verse 4]
And then a male caller on line 1
Saying some of his closest friends are gay
And they’re all good blokes mmm
And he’s even joined a group

And I asked, caller, what’s the group called
And he said H.U.G.
That’s Heterosexuals Unafraid of Gays
And I said that’s a rather queer name

And he laughed
And said it’s a rather queer group
And we laughed
Maybe a little too long, a little too loud

[Verse 5]
Then the next caller said
His gay partner couldn’t take it anymore
And isn’t going to make it to the sunrise
The dying sunrise

And the phone dropped
And all us strangers
Sat leaning into the silence
Unable to stop the impending silence

And all us strangers
Sitting together in silence
For an unknown caller
In an unknown location

[Instrumental Break]

[Outro]
Speaking truth
To an unseen audience
Speaking truth
In the company of friends

In the company of friends.