How great is this?
Slumgullion
8 hours ago
Showing posts with label Billy Bragg. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Billy Bragg. Show all posts
Monday, May 5, 2014
Monday, September 2, 2013
Labor Day
Before Monday Holidays and BBQ
Long before billionaires who don't pay taxes decided that working people caused all our financial problems...
Long before there were protections in place to make job sites safe...
Long before paid vacations...
Or weekends off... or the 40-hour work week...
There were people fighting for fairness.
In between the day off, the sports on TV, and the BBQ...
It's good to remember those who went before us... and fought for what made the day off and the BBQ possible.
Just saying.
Long before billionaires who don't pay taxes decided that working people caused all our financial problems...
Long before there were protections in place to make job sites safe...
Long before paid vacations...
Or weekends off... or the 40-hour work week...
There were people fighting for fairness.
In between the day off, the sports on TV, and the BBQ...
It's good to remember those who went before us... and fought for what made the day off and the BBQ possible.
Just saying.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
A New England
Possibly the best version ever of this song.
The late, great Kirsty MacColl duets with Billy Bragg from 1991.
The late, great Kirsty MacColl duets with Billy Bragg from 1991.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Happy May Day
Money speaks for Money...
I'm once again reminded that the title Talking to the Taxman About Poetry has to be one of the greatest album titles of all time.
I'm once again reminded that the title Talking to the Taxman About Poetry has to be one of the greatest album titles of all time.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Valentine's Day Sampler
Three Holiday Songs from Billy Bragg
The road stretches on forever. And she sleeps in the front seat.
While you drive.
From time to time, she'll make a noise. And you keep driving.
Your leg cramps and you think of sleep, but you keep going.
There are no other cars on the road.
Okay, one. But that was hours ago.
And it's strange because this is the highway. This is the open road. This is America.
But you drive and drive, occasionally craning your neck to look out at the stars.
There's snow in places. Then there's not. And you try to remember the last exit you saw, the last town you passed.
But you can't.
And after what seems like days, you realize you need to stop.
You need to pee. You need caffeine. You need to rest.
And the long, soulful guitar solo ends.
And the radio fades out on the road. Long and straight.
Darkness with just your headlights to illuminate the way. And just the soft sound of deep breathing inside the car and the occasional thump of the tires passing a seam in the roadway.
When the need to stop outweighs the desire not to disturb her sleep, you turn to her.
But she's not there.
Somewhere on the long, dark road, she left.
And now it doesn't matter if you stop because you're alone.
Somehow. That gives you the jolt you need to keep going.
At least for now.
The road stretches on forever. And she sleeps in the front seat.
While you drive.
From time to time, she'll make a noise. And you keep driving.
Your leg cramps and you think of sleep, but you keep going.
There are no other cars on the road.
Okay, one. But that was hours ago.
And it's strange because this is the highway. This is the open road. This is America.
But you drive and drive, occasionally craning your neck to look out at the stars.
There's snow in places. Then there's not. And you try to remember the last exit you saw, the last town you passed.
But you can't.
And after what seems like days, you realize you need to stop.
You need to pee. You need caffeine. You need to rest.
And the long, soulful guitar solo ends.
And the radio fades out on the road. Long and straight.
Darkness with just your headlights to illuminate the way. And just the soft sound of deep breathing inside the car and the occasional thump of the tires passing a seam in the roadway.
When the need to stop outweighs the desire not to disturb her sleep, you turn to her.
But she's not there.
Somewhere on the long, dark road, she left.
And now it doesn't matter if you stop because you're alone.
Somehow. That gives you the jolt you need to keep going.
At least for now.
Monday, September 6, 2010
"I Never Died," Says He.
It All Amounts to Nothing if Together We Don't Stand
Happy Labor Day.
In between enjoying the day off, back-to-school prep, and barbecues, try to take a few minutes and think about what this holiday is all about.
Happy Labor Day.
In between enjoying the day off, back-to-school prep, and barbecues, try to take a few minutes and think about what this holiday is all about.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Opening Lines
It's All About the First Impression.
A reader emailed me to ask about my favorite opening line for a song.
It depends on my mood. Sometimes I love lines like "I was born in a crossfire hurricane." Sometimes I'm in the mood for Robyn Hitchcock's intricate wordplay.
But, right now, off the top of my head, here's my list of Top 11 Opening Lines I love. (Tomorrow the list would be different and I might even be able to limit it to 10.)
11. The Nerves -- "Hanging on the Telephone"
I'm in the phone booth, it's one o'clock uh huh.
Yes, kids, before cell phones there used to be phone booths. Just ask Superman. (And, yeah, this song existed even before Blondie covered it.) It's the "uh huh" that gets me.
10. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers "I Need to Know"
Well the talk on the street says you might go solo.
Slick Hollywood posturing and powerful music covering up a broken heart.
9. Badfinger "Day After Day"
I remember finding out about you...
My second-favorite Badfinger song. (And a pretty great George Harrison slide-guitar solo, too.)
8. XTC "Dear Madam Barnum"
I put on a fake smile and start the evening show...
Best romance-as-circus-act metaphor ever.
7. Immaculate Machine "Broken Ship"
We are sailing on a broken ship and only one of us can survive.
Stripped-down instrumentation, simple sparse lyrics, and an emotional vocal that tries desperately to be hopeful despite the pervading sense of doom. (Plus, how can you resist a song that includes the line "cello, play us off"?)
6. Warren Zevon "Werewolves of London"
I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand walking down the streets of Soho in the rain.
I know I've had days like that... and I'm pretty sure you have, too.
5. Paul Simon "Kodachrome"
When I think back on all the crap I learned in High School it's a wonder I can think at all...
4. Joe Jackson "Is She Really Going Out with Him?"
Pretty women out walking with gorillas down my street...
Just. Freaking. Perfect.
There isn't a guy alive who hasn't had this thought.
3. Graham Parker "You Can't Be Too Strong"
Did they tear it out with talons of steel?
Haunting song that explores a controversial issue from a point of view that's usually ignored.
2. John Lennon "God"
God is a concept by which we measure our pain...
The "dream is over" song... still beautiful and visceral 40 years later.
1. Billy Bragg "Life with the Lions"
I hate the asshole I become everytime I'm with you.
It's funny because it's true. And I know we've all been there.
So... there's my list. Tell me the ones you think I should've included.
A reader emailed me to ask about my favorite opening line for a song.
It depends on my mood. Sometimes I love lines like "I was born in a crossfire hurricane." Sometimes I'm in the mood for Robyn Hitchcock's intricate wordplay.
But, right now, off the top of my head, here's my list of Top 11 Opening Lines I love. (Tomorrow the list would be different and I might even be able to limit it to 10.)
11. The Nerves -- "Hanging on the Telephone"
I'm in the phone booth, it's one o'clock uh huh.
Yes, kids, before cell phones there used to be phone booths. Just ask Superman. (And, yeah, this song existed even before Blondie covered it.) It's the "uh huh" that gets me.
10. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers "I Need to Know"
Well the talk on the street says you might go solo.
Slick Hollywood posturing and powerful music covering up a broken heart.
9. Badfinger "Day After Day"
I remember finding out about you...
My second-favorite Badfinger song. (And a pretty great George Harrison slide-guitar solo, too.)
8. XTC "Dear Madam Barnum"
I put on a fake smile and start the evening show...
Best romance-as-circus-act metaphor ever.
7. Immaculate Machine "Broken Ship"
We are sailing on a broken ship and only one of us can survive.
Stripped-down instrumentation, simple sparse lyrics, and an emotional vocal that tries desperately to be hopeful despite the pervading sense of doom. (Plus, how can you resist a song that includes the line "cello, play us off"?)
6. Warren Zevon "Werewolves of London"
I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand walking down the streets of Soho in the rain.
I know I've had days like that... and I'm pretty sure you have, too.
5. Paul Simon "Kodachrome"
When I think back on all the crap I learned in High School it's a wonder I can think at all...
4. Joe Jackson "Is She Really Going Out with Him?"
Pretty women out walking with gorillas down my street...
Just. Freaking. Perfect.
There isn't a guy alive who hasn't had this thought.
3. Graham Parker "You Can't Be Too Strong"
Did they tear it out with talons of steel?
Haunting song that explores a controversial issue from a point of view that's usually ignored.
2. John Lennon "God"
God is a concept by which we measure our pain...
The "dream is over" song... still beautiful and visceral 40 years later.
1. Billy Bragg "Life with the Lions"
I hate the asshole I become everytime I'm with you.
It's funny because it's true. And I know we've all been there.
So... there's my list. Tell me the ones you think I should've included.
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