Accident Waiting to Happen
Billy Bragg Lyrics


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I've always been impressed with a girl
Who could sing for her supper and get breakfast as well
That's the way I am, heaven help me
He said, we don't like peace campaigners 'round here
As he nailed another one to the wall
And that's what gets me in trouble, heaven help me

Goodbye and good luck to all the promises you've broken
Goodbye and good luck to all the rubbish that you've spoken
Your life has lost it's dignity, it's beauty and it's passion
You're an accident waiting to happen

There you are standing at the bar
And you're giving me grief about the D-D-R
And that chip on your shoulder gets bigger as you get older
One of these night you're gonna get caught,
It'll give you a pregnant pause for thought
You're a dedicated swallower of fascism

Time up and time out for all the liberties you've taken
Time up and time out for all the friends that you've forsaken
And if you choose to waste away like death is back in fashion
You're an accident waiting to happen

And my sins are so unoriginal
I have all the self-loathing of a wolf in sheep's clothing
In this carnival of carnivores,
Heaven help me

Goodbye and good luck to all the promises you've broken
Goodbye and good luck to all the rubbish that you've spoken
Your life has lost it's dignity, it's beauty and it's passion
You're an accident waiting to happen
You're an accident waiting to happen




You're a dedicated swallower of fascism
You're an accident waiting to happen

Overall Meaning

In "Accident Waiting to Happen" Billy Bragg speaks to a woman whom he admires for her ability to make a living through music, but who he also sees as a political liability. He notes the dangerous role she plays in a society where people are persecuted for their activism, citing an unnamed man who tells him that peace campaigners aren't welcome there. Bragg sings about the woman's recklessness in her politics and her personal life, warning her that the consequences of her actions will eventually catch up to her. He talks about her being confrontational and angry, claiming that she has a chip on her shoulder that grows with age. Towards the end, Bragg turns the lyrics on himself, noting his own cynicism and self-hatred.


The song speaks to the larger political and cultural atmosphere of the 1980s, a time of political and social upheaval in the UK. The references to fascism and political persecution tie into issues of censorship and free speech struggles that were defining the cultural landscape at the time. Bragg's lyrics are also heavily influenced by punk and protest music, reflecting the DIY spirit and anarchic social critique that were hallmarks of those genres.


Line by Line Meaning

I've always been impressed with a girl
I have an admiration for a girl who can make a living off of her singing talent


Who could sing for her supper and get breakfast as well
She can get a free breakfast as well as dinner from the people she has impressed with her singing


That's the way I am, heaven help me
My values and lifestyle have led me into certain situations which may be problematic


He said, we don't like peace campaigners 'round here
Someone expressed their prejudiced and intolerant views to me when they found out about my passion for peace campaigning


As he nailed another one to the wall
He proceeded to publicly post a written statement indicating disapproval of peace campaigners


And that's what gets me in trouble, heaven help me
My beliefs and behavior have gotten me in trouble in the past and may cause issues in the future


Goodbye and good luck to all the promises you've broken
You've betrayed people's trust by breaking your commitments, and now you must face the consequences of that recklessness


Goodbye and good luck to all the rubbish that you've spoken
You've said many foolish things in the past that are now catching up to you, so goodbye and good luck with the fallout


Your life has lost it's dignity, it's beauty and it's passion
Your life has become empty and meaningless due to the mistakes and regrettable choices that you have made


You're an accident waiting to happen
Your carelessness and bad decisions are leading you down a path of inevitable disaster


There you are standing at the bar
I see you standing at the bar


And you're giving me grief about the D-D-R
You're giving me a hard time and being critical of my political beliefs about East Germany


And that chip on your shoulder gets bigger as you get older
Your bitterness and resentment toward certain people or things only grows stronger as you age


One of these nights you're gonna get caught,
You will eventually reap the consequences of your irresponsible actions


It'll give you a pregnant pause for thought
This harsh reality check will make you stop and think about the direction your life is headed


You're a dedicated swallower of fascism
You wholeheartedly support fascist ideals and openly show your allegiance to them


Time up and time out for all the liberties you've taken
It's time for you to be held accountable for all the freedoms and privileges you have abused


Time up and time out for all the friends that you've forsaken
You've turned your back on your friends and betrayed their trust, and now it's time for that to come to an end


And if you choose to waste away like death is back in fashion
If you continue down this path of self-destruction and self-sabotage, you'll end up losing everything you hold dear


You're an accident waiting to happen
Your careless and reckless behavior will eventually lead to disastrous consequences that you could have avoided


And my sins are so unoriginal
I feel like I have committed the same mistakes that countless people have made before me


I have all the self-loathing of a wolf in sheep's clothing
I pretend to be something I'm not and harbor a deep self-hatred because of it


In this carnival of carnivores, heaven help me
In this world where everyone is out for themselves and no one can be trusted, I feel completely lost and helpless


You're an accident waiting to happen
Your thoughtless actions will inevitably lead to chaos and calamity




Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BILLY BRAGG

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@angiejukes7373

One of the best lines in a song ever - dedicated swallower of fascism!

@nineteenfortyeight6762

It's Dylan

@frangarcia7774

Great song! Love this whole album so much.
I wish Billy would work again with Johnny Maar

@gareththompson5653

You gave an angry young man a social conscience, thirty years later I'm still angry. Thank you ❀

@Apym289

Loving the drip feed of classics for free.

@fregward

An ode to the Presidency since the end of Jimmy Carter's term! Poignant as ever in the modern day, Billy. <3

@amarcadiacastillo

Thanks for uploading this great great song that I love the most. We must fight our internal fascism all the time πŸ™πŸΎπŸ™πŸΎπŸ™πŸΎ. πŸ€—πŸ€—πŸ€— Great video, funny and profound, I never watched it before πŸ˜ƒ

@jimmyzbike

love this one! Business Bolke Billy is great hehe

@clivesnowden4348

Wow! Excellent. Have never seen this video before. Loved the Red Stars!

@monkeezorg

Thanks for the uploads - keep them coming.

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