All musicians start out with ideals but hanging on to them in the face of media scrutiny takes real integrity. Tougher still is to live up to the ideals of your dedicated fans.

Quote by Billy Bragg

Topics: Billy Bragg Quotes

We read our own political content into The Clash, and they accepted it.

We read our own political content into The Clash, and they accepted it.

But, in the end, even a song that's as politically bland as Blowin in the...

But, in the end, even a song that's as politically bland as Blowin in the...

All the great political music was made at the height of political confrontations.

All the great political music was made at the height of political confrontations.

By the time I was 19, punk had occurred. It had a completely different cultural...

By the time I was 19, punk had occurred. It had a completely different cultural...

In that sense, I became politicized because the people in the coal mining villages who...

In that sense, I became politicized because the people in the coal mining villages who...

That taught me one lesson which is that you're naive to believe that bands can...

That taught me one lesson which is that you're naive to believe that bands can...

I try and write honestly about what I see around me now.

I try and write honestly about what I see around me now.

Most of the people that I went to school with - I went to secondary...

Most of the people that I went to school with - I went to secondary...

The most important thing for anyone, I think, is to be engaged, whether you're an...

The most important thing for anyone, I think, is to be engaged, whether you're an...

My theory is this; I'm not a political songwriter. I'm an honest songwriter.

My theory is this; I'm not a political songwriter. I'm an honest songwriter.

My upbringing was very straightforward suburban working class upbringing.

My upbringing was very straightforward suburban working class upbringing.

I was in a little punk band and we put out a few punk records...

I was in a little punk band and we put out a few punk records...

I came into this whole business by going to see Rock Against Racism gigs with...

I came into this whole business by going to see Rock Against Racism gigs with...

There are quite a few honest songwriters out there writing about relationships and their own...

There are quite a few honest songwriters out there writing about relationships and their own...

I'm still batting away on my politics for the Labour Party. I'm much further to...

I'm still batting away on my politics for the Labour Party. I'm much further to...

Being spokesman for a generation is the worst job I ever had.

Being spokesman for a generation is the worst job I ever had.

An isolationist America is no bloody use to anyone.

An isolationist America is no bloody use to anyone.

I've had songs written during the Falklands war, and during the first Gulf war I...

I've had songs written during the Falklands war, and during the first Gulf war I...

I enjoyed so much working with the guys from Wilco, and riffing off of them,...

I enjoyed so much working with the guys from Wilco, and riffing off of them,...

I'm trying to make a case for those people who don't have a sense of...

I'm trying to make a case for those people who don't have a sense of...