Amazingly touching and haunting. Billy is one of the greatest singer songwriters the UK has ever produced. When he sings 'Like a pale moon in a sunny sky, death gazes down as I pass by, to remind me I am but my father's son', it crushes you. Yet people often crudely and swiftly dismiss him as a purely political songwriter, even a loonie of the left or a mad communist. It's their loss. Thanks for posting such an honest reaction, and for playing the song to the very end. You now have one NEW subscriber.
I'm listening to this, thinking of my late father on my late mum's birthday and also their wedding anniversary and crying my eyes out. It gets me every time.
Billy Bragg is criminally undervalued in the UK ,but has a passionate cult following, take it from someone who grew up near the A13. Tank Park Salute is an absolute gem as is Walk away Renee. If you like moving music, may I suggest another undervalued English Band "Suede". The next life, The living Dead, Asphalt World or The two of us are just a few killer tunes from them. The silence by The Manchester Orchestra was another great pick from you, great taste in music.
Its so sad that Billy's " Tank Park Salute" would only get 500 views here on RUclips but I truly believe when they finally write the book on rock and roll when all the dust settles and the truth is finally told(Henry Rollins) Billy Bragg will be right up their at the top of the mountain with all your Rolling Stones and David Bowie etc etc
I first saw Billy in the early 80's when he was the support act for The Jam. Since then I've met/seen him many times in various venues, pubs and even walking down the street. He is a poet and the true custodian of Woody Guthrie's music. A lesser known fact about Mr Stephen William Bragg is that he was once in the army (9-12 weeks) as he thought being in a Tank regiment would be cool. As I said he didn't last long but around 5 years after he had tried it I did it. I understand why he left as it was quite strange being the only socialist in the Barracks but I lasted 7 years. He once said to me that part of him had wished he had stayed in, though I told him he was mental enough without adding military service on to it. The Myth of Trust and The Saturday Boy are my two favourite songs by him. Thank you for reacting to him as you said most can't see past his voice to hear the lyrics (sadly).
I just happened upon you guys while watching the live video of this song. That particular performance was played as part of regular live sessions show on Australian youth radio when I was 18 (1992). I was blown away by Billy. I am a testament to the fact the music that defines those formative years stays with you. I returned to this song many years later when my father died. I am no longer as melancholy a human as I was in my 20's and 30's but this song gets me every time. I absolutely loved your reaction to this song and really loved your connection to each other. Yes Ginger that incredibly simple piano is so perfect. I have tears in my eyes writing this. Love you dad.
When I watched BB perform this a couple of years ago at The Sage in Gateshead it brought me to tears. Looking forward to seeing him again at the same venue on Dec 1st this year.
I saw Billy live about 30 times in London and he was always great. Fabulous lyricist with a voice that shouldn't work, but does. This is my favourite of all his songs, it always chokes me up.
This song makes me cry , it means something totally different to me, was my brothers song for me when I had meningococcal septicaemia 14 years ago, my family we're told 3 tomes I was going to die, thank goodness for the NHS .
It was such a nice surprise to find your reaction to this song. I've been a fan of Billy Bragg for such a long time and I've always felt that this song was in a completely different realm to his other work (maybe Levi Stubbs Tears comes close?). It filled my heart to hear you both talk about how much this song means to you too. Gratitude.🧡
Growing up in England in the 70s and 80s and more appropriately being from the North and of working class background, his poetry was close to my heart. Every song meant something then and even more now 30 yrs later. His view of what was wrong in England in his 20s was far more advanced than his age., I only now understand the true meaning of his songs and have the memories of how hard it was and why he protested. My favorite is "Between the wars" A Lament to what a government should be and what it should not be.
Found this video after you mentioned it from the James bling “monsters” video. Thank you for mentioning this and turning me on to Billy. Excellent stuff. Great vid as usual and hello from your neighbor to the south!
Billy Bragg is one of my all time favorite singer songwriters. So glad you like him too (in spite of his politics, which I happen to align with, myself, so it’s nice that you appreciate him even when you don’t agree with his politics). This one also always moves me, maybe in part because my dad died very young. And I’m sure dad, who had great taste in music, would also have loved BB. As to Levi Stubbs’ Tears, I suggest you checkout the version by English folk singer Maggie Holland - heart wrenchingly beautiful, yet simply arranged. I look forward to next February when you play Valentines Day is Over 😊.
Billy Bragg really is a talent, for sure. Sorry to hear you lost your dad too soon. With how the song makes me feel, with my dad still around, I can only imagine how it hits you. Thanks for the tip on Levi Stubbs' Tears. We'll definitely hunt down Maggie Holland's version and check it out. - M
Fun fact about me and Billy Bragg’s politics... For the first couple years of me being a fan, I thought he was being ironic 😂 I didn’t really get it until my first concert. - G
I’ve loved Billy’s tunes since I first saw him live in 84’… (not inspired by his politics though) but his tunes! Man the lyrics & the guitar just eat away into your soul…. 🎸💙
Thank you so much for introducing me to this. Back in the day I was more into his political stuff and saw him many times during his Red Wedge phase but I was not aware of this one.
so very well said i don’t really agree politically with much of what billy says but his songs are quite amazing. and of course this one is ridiculously deep and so we’ll written.
First time I saw Billy Bragg was on a UK TV show called The Tube, hosted by a very young Jools Holland and the late Paula Yates. This being 1983, it was full of made-up, overdressed New Romantic bands and 'punters' pretending to 'just be in a club' while looking carefully for the cameras to make sure they got on the telly and looked cool. Then BB came on and did this: ruclips.net/video/zv4CNoq8nC4/видео.html It's hard to recreate what a jarring contrast it was at this remove. I went out and bought the album - Life's a Riot with Spy vs Spy on Utility Records ("A Ration of Passion"). It had "pay no more than £2.99 for this record" printed on it as part of the cover design, which pissed off the record shops no end ;-) Favorites on there are New England (of course), The Busy Girl Buys Beauty and The Man In The Iron Mask, the latter being one of the saddest, rawest songs I can think of to this day. Few songs make me cry, but far and away the most likely to is One Of The Few+The Gunner's Dream from Pink Floyd's The Final Cut (the two tracks run into each other and you need both to get the point).
I've seen clips from The Tube of that era, I know exactly what you're talking about. Billy being a jarring contrast is perhaps an understatement! The Man In The Iron Mask is a tough one, for sure. I can't imagine being in a relationship like that. I do love me some Pink Floyd, too.... - M
@@MikeandGinger British comedian Bill Bailey does a brilliant micky-take of Billy Bragg. This isn't the best recording of it sound-wise, but it is the one where Billy Bragg's literally standing behind him... :-) ruclips.net/video/W1_uEbGJtnY/видео.html
After posting this, Mike & I sat and tried to come up with our top 10s for Billy, just to see how much they aligned, but we both had trouble keeping it to 10. Mine, in no particular order: The Warmest Room Sulk The Price I Pay Wishing The Days Levis Stubbs’ Tears Tank Park Salute Great Leap Forward She’s Got a New Spell Greetings To the New Brunette St. Swithen’s Day -G
He’s no longer the political activist he was, no a fallen from grace shadow of the hero he was. Just search his opinions on the mass injection of the global population.... very beautiful song, brings me to tears regularly from the first moment I heard this, I now greave my once hero
Billy Bragg's political message is hardly revolutionary or even controversial: he argues that the political system favours the rich and powerful (obvious, even in Canada), and therefore he stands up for the ordinary working person. Whatever label you stick on that is just empty rhetoric. Personally, I find it remarkable that you can love a musician and disagree with what drives him to create his music. Good for you, I guess. I'm trying to think of interesting music with a heavy conservative slant/message that I like. But I'm not coming up with anything. I can't take contemporary country and western music -- is there anything else?
If you don't agree on he's politicics, well okay! But what's happening in Canada, l have a granddaughter in Calagary and what she can't understand why it's turned so right-wing. Last time I was there they called 'First Nation' people; Wagon-burners' Really!
27 ears since my dad passed, this song still tears me apart EVERY time
One of the most gorgeous 'pop/folk' songs I've ever come across, and a heart-breaking tribute to a father lost.
My friend once put it as it's the most beautiful song about one of life's most unpleasant eventualities. And that hit me
Amazingly touching and haunting. Billy is one of the greatest singer songwriters the UK has ever produced. When he sings 'Like a pale moon in a sunny sky, death gazes down as I pass by, to remind me I am but my father's son', it crushes you. Yet people often crudely and swiftly dismiss him as a purely political songwriter, even a loonie of the left or a mad communist. It's their loss. Thanks for posting such an honest reaction, and for playing the song to the very end. You now have one NEW subscriber.
Cheers Dave. Welcome 🙏🏻
I'm listening to this, thinking of my late father on my late mum's birthday and also their wedding anniversary and crying my eyes out. It gets me every time.
I like your shows, thanks for reminding me of Billy Bragg, I had to look up why I remembered him, the song was "A New England" which is brilliant.🧐
Billy Bragg is criminally undervalued in the UK ,but has a passionate cult following, take it from someone who grew up near the A13. Tank Park Salute is an absolute gem as is Walk away Renee. If you like moving music, may I suggest another undervalued English Band "Suede". The next life, The living Dead, Asphalt World or The two of us are just a few killer tunes from them. The silence by The Manchester Orchestra was another great pick from you, great taste in music.
I've always loved Walk Away Renee, and the reference to Mr. Potato Head made it popular with some of our kids when they were little. :) - M
Its so sad that Billy's " Tank Park Salute" would only get 500 views here on RUclips but I truly believe when they finally write the book on rock and roll when all the dust settles and the truth is finally told(Henry Rollins) Billy Bragg will be right up their at the top of the mountain with all your Rolling Stones and David Bowie etc etc
Absolutely agree. He is a true favorite in this house. We have at least a dozen of his albums - G
Simply Beautiful
I first saw Billy in the early 80's when he was the support act for The Jam. Since then I've met/seen him many times in various venues, pubs and even walking down the street. He is a poet and the true custodian of Woody Guthrie's music. A lesser known fact about Mr Stephen William Bragg is that he was once in the army (9-12 weeks) as he thought being in a Tank regiment would be cool. As I said he didn't last long but around 5 years after he had tried it I did it. I understand why he left as it was quite strange being the only socialist in the Barracks but I lasted 7 years. He once said to me that part of him had wished he had stayed in, though I told him he was mental enough without adding military service on to it. The Myth of Trust and The Saturday Boy are my two favourite songs by him. Thank you for reacting to him as you said most can't see past his voice to hear the lyrics (sadly).
Guys ... love billy Bragg and agree great live.
Thank you for doing this, my northern cousins. Bragg was on a show called Woodsongs once and talked about this song. Love always.
I just happened upon you guys while watching the live video of this song. That particular performance was played as part of regular live sessions show on Australian youth radio when I was 18 (1992). I was blown away by Billy. I am a testament to the fact the music that defines those formative years stays with you. I returned to this song many years later when my father died. I am no longer as melancholy a human as I was in my 20's and 30's but this song gets me every time. I absolutely loved your reaction to this song and really loved your connection to each other. Yes Ginger that incredibly simple piano is so perfect. I have tears in my eyes writing this. Love you dad.
Thank you Cormac. I am sorry to hear of your loss. I have no doubt this song holds extra meaning for you because of it. ❤️ - G
Happy to find I’m not the only conservative Billy Bragg fan. A wonderful song.
Haha. We’re definitely rare 😅 - G
When I watched BB perform this a couple of years ago at The Sage in Gateshead it brought me to tears.
Looking forward to seeing him again at the same venue on Dec 1st this year.
Thank you guys. Another one that hits like this is "Moving On" by James or even U2 " sometimes you can't make it on your own"
I saw Billy live about 30 times in London and he was always great. Fabulous lyricist with a voice that shouldn't work, but does. This is my favourite of all his songs, it always chokes me up.
This song makes me cry , it means something totally different to me, was my brothers song for me when I had meningococcal septicaemia 14 years ago, my family we're told 3 tomes I was going to die, thank goodness for the NHS .
It was such a nice surprise to find your reaction to this song. I've been a fan of Billy Bragg for such a long time and I've always felt that this song was in a completely different realm to his other work (maybe Levi Stubbs Tears comes close?). It filled my heart to hear you both talk about how much this song means to you too. Gratitude.🧡
Growing up in England in the 70s and 80s and more appropriately being from the North and of working class background, his poetry was close to my heart. Every song meant something then and even more now 30 yrs later. His view of what was wrong in England in his 20s was far more advanced than his age., I only now understand the true meaning of his songs and have the memories of how hard it was and why he protested. My favorite is "Between the wars" A Lament to what a government should be and what it should not be.
Billy Bragg No 1
Found this video after you mentioned it from the James bling “monsters” video. Thank you for mentioning this and turning me on to Billy. Excellent stuff. Great vid as usual and hello from your neighbor to the south!
Beautiful reaction, beautiful song. Great LP too.
Billy Bragg is one of my all time favorite singer songwriters. So glad you like him too (in spite of his politics, which I happen to align with, myself, so it’s nice that you appreciate him even when you don’t agree with his politics). This one also always moves me, maybe in part because my dad died very young. And I’m sure dad, who had great taste in music, would also have loved BB. As to Levi Stubbs’ Tears, I suggest you checkout the version by English folk singer Maggie Holland - heart wrenchingly beautiful, yet simply arranged.
I look forward to next February when you play Valentines Day is Over 😊.
Billy Bragg really is a talent, for sure. Sorry to hear you lost your dad too soon. With how the song makes me feel, with my dad still around, I can only imagine how it hits you.
Thanks for the tip on Levi Stubbs' Tears. We'll definitely hunt down Maggie Holland's version and check it out. - M
Fun fact about me and Billy Bragg’s politics... For the first couple years of me being a fan, I thought he was being ironic 😂 I didn’t really get it until my first concert. - G
Billy Bragg & John Peel both favourites of my youth.
Wonderful reaction and song. Many thanks.
Thank you! Billy Bragg is a really gifted song writer. -M
Thank you both for introducing me to this song, so beautifully written
I’ve loved Billy’s tunes since I first saw him live in 84’… (not inspired by his politics though) but his tunes! Man the lyrics & the guitar just eat away into your soul…. 🎸💙
❤️
Played this the day after my dad died. Hard to listen to now.
I’m so sorry for your loss ❤️ It’s such a beautiful and painful song. - G
Thank you so much for introducing me to this. Back in the day I was more into his political stuff and saw him many times during his Red Wedge phase but I was not aware of this one.
so very well said i don’t really agree politically with much of what billy says but his songs are quite amazing. and of course this one is ridiculously deep and so we’ll written.
First time I saw Billy Bragg was on a UK TV show called The Tube, hosted by a very young Jools Holland and the late Paula Yates. This being 1983, it was full of made-up, overdressed New Romantic bands and 'punters' pretending to 'just be in a club' while looking carefully for the cameras to make sure they got on the telly and looked cool. Then BB came on and did this: ruclips.net/video/zv4CNoq8nC4/видео.html
It's hard to recreate what a jarring contrast it was at this remove. I went out and bought the album - Life's a Riot with Spy vs Spy on Utility Records ("A Ration of Passion"). It had "pay no more than £2.99 for this record" printed on it as part of the cover design, which pissed off the record shops no end ;-) Favorites on there are New England (of course), The Busy Girl Buys Beauty and The Man In The Iron Mask, the latter being one of the saddest, rawest songs I can think of to this day.
Few songs make me cry, but far and away the most likely to is One Of The Few+The Gunner's Dream from Pink Floyd's The Final Cut (the two tracks run into each other and you need both to get the point).
I've seen clips from The Tube of that era, I know exactly what you're talking about. Billy being a jarring contrast is perhaps an understatement!
The Man In The Iron Mask is a tough one, for sure. I can't imagine being in a relationship like that.
I do love me some Pink Floyd, too.... - M
@@MikeandGinger British comedian Bill Bailey does a brilliant micky-take of Billy Bragg. This isn't the best recording of it sound-wise, but it is the one where Billy Bragg's literally standing behind him... :-) ruclips.net/video/W1_uEbGJtnY/видео.html
After posting this, Mike & I sat and tried to come up with our top 10s for Billy, just to see how much they aligned, but we both had trouble keeping it to 10.
Mine, in no particular order:
The Warmest Room
Sulk
The Price I Pay
Wishing The Days
Levis Stubbs’ Tears
Tank Park Salute
Great Leap Forward
She’s Got a New Spell
Greetings To the New Brunette
St. Swithen’s Day
-G
Oh yes.
Genuinely interested to know what part of his politics do you not agree with?
We don’t agree with collectivist ethics. - G
Growing up with Billy Bragg in my world was one of the reasons I became and remain a socialist. His politics has been a thread in my life.
He’s no longer the political activist he was, no a fallen from grace shadow of the hero he was. Just search his opinions on the mass injection of the global population.... very beautiful song, brings me to tears regularly from the first moment I heard this, I now greave my once hero
If you don't agree with Billy's politics you may need to read more widely then have another look
Billy Bragg's political message is hardly revolutionary or even controversial: he argues that the political system favours the rich and powerful (obvious, even in Canada), and therefore he stands up for the ordinary working person. Whatever label you stick on that is just empty rhetoric. Personally, I find it remarkable that you can love a musician and disagree with what drives him to create his music. Good for you, I guess. I'm trying to think of interesting music with a heavy conservative slant/message that I like. But I'm not coming up with anything. I can't take contemporary country and western music -- is there anything else?
If you don't agree on he's politicics, well okay! But what's happening in Canada, l have a granddaughter in Calagary and what she can't understand why it's turned so right-wing. Last time I was there they called 'First Nation' people; Wagon-burners' Really!