Hi Everyone

I am a fan of Billy Brag and I thought that you may like to know the words to this song!
Now if CR would play ‘Help Save the Youth of America’ again By Billy next time they are over that would be great!
Cheers
Christy



Waiting For the great leap forwards words and music by Billy Brag


Verse one
It may have been Camelot for Jack and Jacqueline
But on the Che Guevara highway filling up with gasoline
Fidel Castro’s brother spies a rich lady who’s crying
Over luxury’s disappointment So he walks over and he tries to sympathise
But he thinks that he should warn her that the third world
Is just around the corner



Oh one leap forwards two leaps back
Politics get me the sack
Waiting for the great leap forwards
Well waiting for the great leap forwards

Verse two
In the Soviet Union a scientist is blinded
By the resumption of nuclear testing and he is reminded
That Dr Robert Oppenhimer’s optimism fell
At the first hurdle


Verse three
In the Cheese Pavilion and the only noise I hear
Is the sound of people stacking chairs
And mopping up spilt beer
And the questions and basking in the light
Of the fifteen fame filled minutes of the fanzine writer

Verse four
Mixing pop and politics he asks me what the use is
I offer him embarrassment and my usual excuses
While looking down the corridor
Out to where the van is waiting
I’m looking for the great leap forwards

Verse five
Jumble sales are organised and pamphlets have been posted
Even after closing time there’s still parties to be hosted
You can be active with the activists
Or sleep in with the sleepers
While you’re waiting for the great leap forwards.


Final Stanzas
Here comes the future and you can’t run from it
If you’ve got a blacklist I want to be on it

It’s a mighty long way down rock ‘n’ Roll
From Top of the pops to drawing the dole

If no one seems to understand
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

I'm also a big fan of Billy's (and have had the privilege recently of working with him on reforming the house of lords).

I think there are quite a few of Bill's songs Common Rotation could do justice to, particularly New England and Man in the Iron Mask (one of the most beautiful love songs ever written, it would make a great partner to God Knows).

How nice to meet another Billy Fan, and what an intreasting time you must of had with the House Of Lords!
God and Iron mask, two ends of the extreme don't you think? but it would be fun.
Cheers
Christy

Definitely two ends of the extreme, but two sides of the same coin none the less (both songs being examinations of the Male reaction to adultery).

Was New England originally by Billy Bragg then? I always thought it was Kirsty MacColl's song?

Yes New England was written and recorded originally by Billy Bragg. It was covered later by Kirsty MacColl.
As to the two ends of the spectrum 'God and the man in the mask' I think although the songs relate to a mans point of view they still hold true for us ladies.

Thanks for that. I've only heard Kirsty MacColl sing it (I was very young at the time) and the change in the lyrics give it a completely different flavour which has made me look at the song anew.

And to think I've always disliked Billy Bragg.

It's nothing to do with his songwriting, I just don't like the singing. Perhaps ComRo can do covers of all his songs? :D

(I hear the cries of "scariledge" rising already!!!)

Thanks Christiana. I've always loved Billy Bragg, so it was wonderful to hear the guys cover this song. New England has one of my favourite lyrics 'how can you lie back & think of England when you don't even know who's in the team'

No offence taken Sue, Billy is not to everyone’s taste and he himself admits to not always singing in tune! Note the line ‘In a perfect world we’d all sing in tune
But this is reality so give me some room’
I think that he is a great lyricist and song writer and since he recorded Woody Guthrie’s unrecorded songs (I believe he took some vocal lessons!) he’s live vocal’s have improved dramatically.
The thing about Billy is that he sings with passion and conviction you believe him when he sings (do you know what I mean?)
There are quite a few song’s that Billy has written that I would like to hear CR play however I love CR original stuff. I think they are also great lyricist’s and is has to be said they are pitch perfect unlike Billy!
Cheers
Christy

Indeed Billy's voice is like Marmite, you either love it or you hate it!

When I saw him live last year he was doing a lot of the Woody Guthrie stuff, and before one of the numbers he started talking about some of the press coverage he'd got talking about his "distinctive" voice. He then pointed out that if you say someone has a distinctive face, what you mean is ugly.

He then started singing the song "Ain't nobody who can sing like me!..."

Now that really is classic Billy!