My theory is this; I'm not a political songwriter. I'm an honest songwriter. Billy Bragg More Quotes by Billy Bragg More Quotes From Billy Bragg I try and write honestly about what I see around me now. Billy Bragg honest writing trying Freedom is merely privilege extended, unless enjoyed by one and all. Billy Bragg enjoyed privilege Britain is a great country. We can more or less say what we like, and we can walk down the street without anyone trying to kill us. I know it's tough for some people, but generally we live in a caring society. We live in a great country, but we're no longer a great power. Part of the problem with some elements of the European debate is that they hanker for the days when we were a great power. Those days are gone, and they went a long time ago. Billy Bragg caring long country 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 Billy Bragg cutting struggle reality At some point in your life you have to engage with the fact that you are part of a society. Yeah the individual is the most important facet in society but unless every individual is the recipient of free health care, free education decent affordable housing and a proper pension then only the rich and powerful will be individuals and the rest of us will be exploited by them. Billy Bragg free-education powerful important War what is it good for? It's good for business. Billy Bragg inspirational war A virtue never tested is no virtue at all. Billy Bragg tested virtue You can experience a download, but you can't download an experience. Billy Bragg downloads What corporations fear most are consumers who ask questions. Naomi Klein offers us the arguments with which to take on the superbrands. Billy Bragg consumers corporations argument If there is a single trait in our character that has historically set us apart from other nations, it is our determination to limit the authority of those who rule over us. Billy Bragg determination character history 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. Billy Bragg guilt poetry answers There are quite a few honest songwriters out there writing about relationships and their own personality traits. But for some reason, once they step out of the bedroom, their honesty doesn't seem to come with them. Billy Bragg honesty personality writing Mixing pop and politics he asks me what the use is / I offer him embarrassment and my usual excuses. Billy Bragg mixing usual use By the time I was 19, punk had occurred. It had a completely different cultural dynamic to it which rejected everything and started again from the year zero. Billy Bragg zero different years Peace, bread, work, and freedom is the best we can achieve. Billy Bragg achieve politics bread Today, rather than talk in terms of ideology or ideas like socialism, I think more important issues to discuss are things like compassion and accountability. Billy Bragg accountability compassion thinking I don't mind being labeled as a political songwriter. I've chosen to do that. What really annoys me is being dismissed as a political songwriter. That really pains me, because life isn't all about love; it's not all about politics, either. It's a beautiful mixture of events that absolutely baffle you, and you think, "Why can't I do something about that?", whether those events are in your bedroom, or out there in the wide world. In our daily lives we engage with them at different times, and I'm trying to write about the whole human experience, or my perspective on it anyway. Billy Bragg pain writing beautiful Never trust anyone who has no doubts. And I'm not talking about scepticism either: scepticism can be a healthy thing. You can have an argument with someone who's a sceptic. When I say 'cynic', I mean someone who has given up, and they want you to give up too, so it makes them feel better about themselves. Billy Bragg giving-up feel-better mean If you've got a blacklist, I want to be on it. Billy Bragg ifs want What happened on September 11 wasn't the first act of war, it was the most unspeakable act of murder and terrorism. But it was construed by a very small group of people - there is no army out there in the dark waiting to take over America. It's like being stung by a bee and going out and smashing up a beehive, and thinking you've solved the problem. There are more beehives out there; more bees will come. But they're bees. They're not grizzly bears. Billy Bragg army dark war
