The words of “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away†is explicitly about the legal ramifications of being homosexual in Britain in 1965.
At the time of it’s release of the movie “Help!†homosexuality was illegal.
The Buggery Act of 1533 identified anal intercourse and bestiality as offences punishable by hanging as a result. In 1861 section 61 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861 removed the death penalty for homosexuality. This legislation stayed on the books till 1967 and many, many men were convicted and imprisoned.
To come out of the cupboard could literally have you put in jail.