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

Quote by Billy Bragg

Topics: Billy Bragg Quotes

My upbringing was very straightforward suburban working class upbringing.

My upbringing was very straightforward suburban working class upbringing.

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 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...

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...

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...

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.

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

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

An isolationist America is no bloody use to anyone.

An isolationist America is no bloody use to anyone.

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,...

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.

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...

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'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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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

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

Leaders must be close enough to relate to others, but far enough ahead to motivate...

Leaders must be close enough to relate to others, but far enough ahead to motivate...

He that cannot obey, cannot command.

He that cannot obey, cannot command.

I'm just glad to be feeling better. I really thought I'd be seeing Elvis soon.

I'm just glad to be feeling better. I really thought I'd be seeing Elvis soon.