I'm still batting away on my politics for the Labour Party. I'm much further to the left of them than I used to be, but that's because they've moved, not me.

Quote by Billy Bragg

Topics: Billy Bragg Quotes

Were it not for the Clash, punk would have been just a sneer, a safety...

Were it not for the Clash, punk would have been just a sneer, a safety...

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.

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.

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

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

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...

My upbringing was very straightforward suburban working class upbringing.

My upbringing was very straightforward suburban working class upbringing.

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...

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...

Even with politics, stuff comes around again. Woody Guthrie would recognize America today.

Even with politics, stuff comes around again. Woody Guthrie would recognize America today.

An isolationist America is no bloody use to anyone.

An isolationist America is no bloody use to anyone.

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

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

All musicians start out with ideals but hanging on to them in the face of...

All musicians start out with ideals but hanging on to them in the face of...

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...

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...

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...

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...

So, in some ways, the political songs tend to be a bit more like reportage,...

So, in some ways, the political songs tend to be a bit more like reportage,...

It's not a very popular subject amongst my audience, who are by nature more internationalist,...

It's not a very popular subject amongst my audience, who are by nature more internationalist,...