Billy Bragg
Billy Bragg
Stephen William "Billy" Braggis an English singer, songwriter and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, with lyrics that mostly span political or romantic themes. His music is heavily centered on bringing about change and getting the younger generation involved in activist causes...
NationalityBritish
ProfessionFolk Singer
Date of Birth20 December 1957
political height made
All the great political music was made at the height of political confrontations.
political honest theory
My theory is this; I'm not a political songwriter. I'm an honest songwriter.
corporations argument consumers
What corporations fear most are consumers who ask questions. Naomi Klein offers us the arguments with which to take on the superbrands.
war iraq america
The evil lot who did that thing on September 11 did it because they wanted to create a war between America and Islam. And by invading Iraq, we gave them what they hoped for.
long feels comfortable
[A]s long as you're comfortable it feels like freedom.
country care patriot
A patriot is someone who cares what happens in their country.
struggle cutting reality
Start your own revolution, cut out the middleman In a perfect world we'd all sing in tune But this is reality so give me some room So join the struggle while you may The Revolution is just a t-shirt away
virtue tested
A virtue never tested is no virtue at all.
integrity real media
All musicians start out with ideals but hanging on to them in the face of media scrutiny takes real integrity. Tougher still is to live up to the ideals of your dedicated fans.
girl country song
But, in the end, even a song that's as politically bland as Blowin in the Wind, you probably wouldn't get up and sing that now, whereas some of Bob Dylan's love songs that were contemporary with that, like say Girl from the North Country, you can still get up an play now.
song war islands
I've had songs written during the Falklands war, and during the first Gulf war I got letters from soldiers saying they were listening to these songs, like Island of no return.
safety-pins pairs punk
Were it not for the Clash, punk would have been just a sneer, a safety pin and a pair of bondage trousers.
thinking artist important
The most important thing for anyone, I think, is to be engaged, whether you're an artist or a journalist is to be engaged in the process at some level.
poetry guilt answers
Don't saddle me with your ideals, and spare me all your guilt. For a poet with all the answers, has never yet been built.