The title of the song refers to the cant slang language polari , first used by male prostitutes in the 19th century .
The title of the song then taken up by homosexuals in the 1960s to disguise sexual activities which were illegal in the UK until 1967 .
The title of the song refers to the cant slang language polari , first used by male prostitutes in the 19th century and then taken up by homosexuals in the 1960s to disguise sexual activities which were illegal in the UK until 1967 .