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
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.
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.
inspirational war
War what is it good for? It's good for business.
believe opportunity player
I never met a politician who didn't want to be a guitar player in a rock band. I've got the opportunity to say what I believe in.
jobs generations worst
Being spokesman for a generation is the worst job I ever had.
sleep dancing politics
A nation with their freezers full are dancing in their seats, while outside another nation is sleeping in the streets.
long feels comfortable
[A]s long as you're comfortable it feels like freedom.
political height made
All the great political music was made at the height of political confrontations.
want ifs
If you've got a blacklist, I want to be on it.
song political way
So, in some ways, the political songs tend to be a bit more like reportage, whereas the love songs tend to be like novels, you can pick them up off the shelf and go into them any time.
party used stills
I'm still batting away on my politics for the Labour Party. I'm much further to the left of them than I used to be, but that's because they've moved, not me.
men fire tea
Money maketh man a tory, don't fire that assumption at me, I like toast as much as anyone but not for breakfast, dinner and tea
powerful dirty shining
It would shine a torch into the dirty little corner where the BNP defecate on our democracy, and that would be much more powerful than duffing them up in the street - which Im also in favour of.
ideas guy come-up
I enjoyed so much working with the guys from Wilco, and riffing off of them, and having someone come up to me with ideas, because normally in the studio it's me who has to come up with all the ideas.