billy bragg mp3

musicology #319

SongsOf Protest&Freedom#5

(Billy Bragg – Ideology)

Day 5 of the freedom selection is a cut from  Singer, Songwriter and performer; Stephen William Bragg featured a couple of times already on the musicologist with his critique on two subjects close to my heart ‘Big Pharma‘ and National Identity.

This one, (another of the subjects close to my heart),  is taken from his 1986 set ‘Talking With The Taxman About Poetry’.

“When one voice rules the nation,
Just because they’re top of the pile,
Doesn’t mean their vision is the clearest,

The voices of the people
Are falling on deaf ears,
Our politicians all become delirious,
They must declare their interests,
But not their company cars,
Is there more to a seat in Parliament,
Than sitting on your arse?
And the best of all this bad bunch,
Is shouting to be heard,
Above the sound of Ideologies clashing,

Outside the patient millions,
Who put them into power,
Expect a little more back for their taxes,
Like schoolbooks, beds in hospitals,
And peace in our bloody time,
All they get is old men grinding axes,

Who’ve built their private fortunes on the things they can rely,
The courts, the secret handshake, the stock exchange and the old school tie,
For God and Queen and Country,
All things they just defy,
Above the sound of Ideologies clashing,

God bless the civil service,
The nation’s saving grace,
While we expect democracy,
They’re laughing in our face,
And although our cries get louder,
The laugh gets louder still,
Above the sound of Ideologies clashing,
Above the sound of Ideologies,
Above the sound of Ideologies,
Above the sound of Ideologies clashing…..”

musicology #225

communication #3

(Billy Bragg – I Keep Faith)

ok..the vibes are beginning to flow. feels a bit like running waist deep through water but they are, at least, on the move. bit of motion on the ocean rather than still waters running too deep.

music connects, we know that and also purifys, nourishing the soul. but in my experience one of its greatest gifts is to inspire. and with that in mind it’s time for a prime slice from inspirational musicologist Billy Bragg.

the second cut from his 2008 set Mr Love & Justice to feature on themusicologist. the other being a critique of ‘Big Pharma’ entitled The Johnny Carcinogenic Show, (musicology #127)

multi faceted dimensions on this cut..but especially going out to all my loved ones….I hope you all know who you are.

musicology #127

socialcommentaryweek #7

(Billy Bragg – Johnny Carcinogenic Show)

finishing up with this one from brother Bragg’s latest ‘set’, Love & Justice, (the deluxe edition), a pucker selection of quality slices that is highly recommended. has to be the deluxe as it has the accoustic and the accompanied versions of each cut.

part of the inspiration for throwing down the social commentary selection has been my regular viewing of documentary’s made by Adam Curtis which are always to be found in the tray of themusicologist’s dvd player. each episode full of information on the how, who and why we find ourselves in the freedom trap of the 21st century.

‘The Power Of Nightmares’, ‘Century Of The Self’, ‘Pandoras Box’, ‘The Mayfair Set’ and ‘The Trap’ are not available on DVD, (surprise, surprise), but they are all out there available for consumption thanks to knowledge pirates who make an effort to share gems like these.

for me, the ‘Century Of The Self’ may be the most important as it outlines exactly how we, (the masses), have been sold into the slavery of a desires culture.

the truth is that in this ‘iwah’ the Economy is the deciding factor when it comes to making decisions/policies and so the pursuit of profit has become the bottom line.

a danger of the one ideology approach is that money doesn’t have a conscience and takes no responsibility.

I recommended tracking down all of the documentarys and watching them with your young ones because as the man says

“look i’m not responsible for the lessons children learn…….”

so if that’s the case then it’s up to us to help our children learn the truth..hard I know but nevertheless ESSENTIAL. one way is to use music…I know it works.

just like to add that your continued support on themusicologist is appreciated..

“saw some guy on the TV yesterday, selling poison by the ton,
how can you do such a thing the woman asked and he replied,
the secret is to hook em young,

look i’m not responsible for the lessons children learn,
i’m just responsible for giving my investors some returns,
here’s a message from the sponsors of the Johnny Carcinogenic Show,
the sponsors of the Johnny Carcinogenic Show,

you’d never belief just how much effort goes into,
adding some glamour to the brand,
to distract you from the damage that they do,
putting their products in your hand,

what other industry could ever get away,
with contaminating its best customers this way,
here’s a message from the sponsors of the Johnny Carcinogenic Show,
the sponsors of the Johnny Carcinogenic Show,

here’s a product that promises to do nothing but,
take your money and your soul,
poverty is toxic everybody knows,
no need to help it take its toll,

who will profit from the misery they sow,
not the grandchildren that you will never know,
here’s a message from the sponsors of the Johnny Carcinogenic Show,
the sponsors of the Johnny Carcinogenic Show,
the sponsors of the Johnny Carcinogenic Show, poverty’s toxic,
the sponsors of the Johnny Carcinogenic Show,
poverty’s toxic

musicology #121

socialcommentaryweek #1

(Billy Bragg – Take Down The Union Jack)

themusicologist has tried to keep politics off the menu but it’s one of the subjects that infuriates me. the deceipt, corruption, greed and unbeleivable hypocrisy is just too much for me to not have a musical say.

unfortunately the only politics left today is the politics of greed and the blame for that lies with those who shape society. ultimately responsibility lies with each of us but we all know that ‘the law’ restricts us from taking action in ever increasing ways and is in fact an establishment tool that has very little to do with justice.

the subjects that are, (for me), most important are Health and Education, essentially because I have two children and find myself at the ‘sharp end of the stick’ in both areas. of course economics are an issue but money has no place in my heart so holds little interest.

one of musics greatest attributes is delivering a message and themusicologist is often heard singing this one as I go about my life so I was especially pleased when my eldest asked for this one to be added to her I-Pod..this is what I call education. just as Curtis and Paul Weller, (among many others), helped shape my views so it may be with the next generation.

I’m starting the socialcommentaryweek with this one by one of themusicologists most respected artists who has always stood up to be counted and in my humble opinion is one of the finest songwriters to hail from these shores…taken from his 2002 Set ‘England, Half English’.. just like to add that I am proud of the culture that is a part of me and it saddens me to see it fade away to be be replaced by the globalisation ideology that has been forced apoun us since the end of World War II. I believe whole heartedly in community but not in homogeny and brother Bragg articulates many of my thoughts and feelings perfectly … lyrics Bragg-La … lyrics.

“take down the Union Jack, it clashes with the sunset,
and put it in the attic, with the emperors old clothes,
when did it fall apart? sometime in the 80’s,
when the great and the good gave way to the greedy and the mean,

Britain isn’t cool you know it’s really not that great,
it’s not a proper country, doesn’t even have a patron saint,
it’s just an economic union that’s passed it’s sell by date,

take down the Union Jack it clashes with the sunset,
and ask our Scottish neighbours if independence looks any good,
cos they just might understand how to take an abstract notion,
of personal identity and turn it into nationhood,

is this the 19th Century that I’m watching on T.V
the dear old queen of England handing out those M.B.E’s
a member of the British Empire that doesn’t sound too good to me

Gilbert & George are taking the piss aren’t they
Gilbert & George you’re taking the piss.
what could be more British than here’s a picture of me bum
Gilbert & George YOU’RE TAKING THE PISS

take down the Union Jack it clashes with the sunset
and pile up all those history books but don’t throw them away
they might just have some clues about what it really means
to be an Anglo hyphen Saxon in England.co.uk
to be an Anglo hyphen Saxon in England.co.uk”

(Billy Bragg 2002)