In 1977, Bragg formed the punk rock/pub rock band Riff Raff, and toured London's pubs and clubs. The band released a series of singles, which did not receive wide exposure. He also worked in Guy Norris Records in Barking. Bragg became disillusioned with his music career, and in May 1981 joined the British Army as a recruit destined for the Queen's Royal Irish Hussars of the Royal Armoured Corps. After three months, he bought his way out of the army for £175 and returned home, having attended basic training but having never served in a regiment as a soldier.
Bragg began performing frequent concerts and busking around London, playing solo with an electric guitar. His roadie at the time was Andy Kershaw, who became a BBC DJ (Bragg and Kershaw later, in 1989, appeared in an episode of the BBC TV programme, Great Journeys, in which they travelled the Silver Road from Potosí, Bolivia, to the Pacific coast at Arica, Chile). Bragg performing at South by Southwest in 2008.
Bragg's demo tape initially got no response from the record industry, but by pretending to be a television repair man, he got into the office of Charisma Records' A&R man Peter Jenner. Jenner liked the tape, but the company was near bankruptcy and had no budget to sign new artists. Bragg got an offer to record more demos for a music publisher, so Jenner agreed to release them as a record. Life's a Riot with Spy Vs. Spy was released in July 1983 by Charisma's new imprint, Utility. Hearing DJ John Peel mention on-air that he was hungry, Bragg rushed to the BBC with a mushroom biryani, so Peel played a song from Life's a Riot with Spy Vs. Spy although at the wrong speed (since the 12" LP was, unconventionally, cut to play at 45rpm). Peel insisted he would have played the song even without the biryani and later played it at the correct speed.
Within months, Charisma had been taken over by Virgin Records and Jenner, who had been laid off, became Bragg's manager. Stiff Records' press officer Andy Macdonald – who was setting up his own record label, Go! Discs – received a copy of Life's a Riot with Spy Vs. Spy. He made Virgin an offer and the album was re-released on Go! Discs in November 1983.[citation needed] In 1984, he released Brewing Up with Billy Bragg, a mixture of political songs (e.g., "It Says Here") and songs of unrequited love (e.g., "The Saturday Boy"). The following year he released Between the Wars, an EP of political songs that included a cover version of Leon Rosselson's "The World Turned Upside Down" – the EP made the top 20 of the UK Singles Chart and earned Bragg an appearance on Top of the Pops. Bragg later collaborated with Rosselson on the song, "Ballad of the Spycatcher". In 1985, his song "A New England", with an additional verse, became a Top 10 hit in the UK for Kirsty MacColl. After MacColl's early death, Bragg always sang the extra verse in her honour. In 1984–1985 he toured North America.
In 1986, Bragg released Talking with the Taxman about Poetry, which became his first Top 10 album. Its title is taken from a poem by Vladimir Mayakovsky and a translated version of the poem was printed on the record's inner sleeve. Back to Basics is a 1987 collection of his first three releases: Life's A Riot With Spy Vs. Spy, Brewing Up with Billy Bragg, and the Between The Wars EP. Bragg released his fourth album, Workers Playtime, in September 1988. With this album, Bragg added a backing band and accompaniment.
In May 1990, Bragg released the political mini-LP, The Internationale. The songs were, in part, a return to his solo guitar style, but some songs featured more complicated arrangements and included a brass band. The album paid tribute to one of Bragg's influences with the song, "I Dreamed I Saw Phil Ochs Last Night", which is an adapted version of Earl Robinson's song, "I Dreamed I Saw Joe Hill Last Night", itself an adaptation of a poem by Alfred Hayes.
The album Don't Try This at Home was released in September 1991, and included the song, "Sexuality", which reached the UK Singles Chart. Bragg had been persuaded by Go! Discs' Andy and Juliet Macdonald to sign a four-album deal with a million pound advance, and a promise to promote the album with singles and videos.[citation needed] This gamble was not rewarded with extra sales, and the situation put the company in financial difficulty. In exchange for ending the contract early and repaying a large amount of the advance, Bragg regained all rights to his back catalogue.[citation needed] Bragg continued to promote the album with his backing band, The Red Stars, which included his Riff Raff colleague and long-time roadie, Wiggy.
Bragg released the album William Bloke in 1996 after taking time off to help raise his son. Around that time, Nora Guthrie (daughter of American folk artist Woody Guthrie) asked Bragg to set some of her father's unrecorded lyrics to music. The result was a collaboration with the band Wilco and Natalie Merchant (with whom Bragg had worked previously). They released the album Mermaid Avenue in 1998, and Mermaid Avenue Vol. II in 2000. A rift with Wilco over mixing and sequencing the album led to Bragg recruiting his own band, The Blokes, to promote the album. The Blokes included keyboardist Ian McLagan, who had been a member of Bragg's boyhood heroes The Faces. The documentary film Man in the Sand depicts the roles of Nora Guthrie, Bragg, and Wilco in the creation of the Mermaid Avenue albums.
In 2004, Bragg joined Florida ska-punk band Less Than Jake to perform a version of 'The Brightest Bulb Has Burned Out' for the Rock Against Bush compilation.
At the 2005 Beautiful Days Festival in Devon, Bragg teamed up with the Levellers to perform a short set of songs by or associated with The Clash in celebration of Joe Strummer's birthday. Bragg performed guitar and lead vocals on "Police and Thieves", and performed guitar and backing vocals on "English Civil War", and "Police on my Back".
In 2007, Bragg moved closer to his English folk music roots by joining the WOMAD-inspired collective The Imagined Village, who recorded an album of updated versions of traditional English songs and dances and toured through that autumn. Bragg released his album Mr. Love & Justice in March 2008. This was the second Bragg album to be named after a book by Colin MacInnes. In 2008, during the NME Awards ceremony, Bragg sang a duet with British solo act Kate Nash. They mixed up their two greatest hits, Nash playing "Foundations", and Bragg redoing his "A New England". Bragg also collaborated with the poet and playwright, Patrick Jones, who supported Bragg's Tour.
In 2008, Bragg played a small role in Stuart Bamforth's film "A13: Road Movie". Bragg is featured alongside union reps, vicars, burger van chefs and Members of Parliament in a film that explored "the overlooked, the hidden and the disregarded."
He was involved in the play Pressure Drop at the Wellcome Collection in London in April and May 2010. The production, written by Mick Gorden, and billed as "part play, part gig, part installation", featured new songs by Bragg. He performed during the play with his band, and acted as compere.
Bragg curated the Leftfield stage at Glastonbury Festival 2010.
He took part in the Bush Theatre's 2011 project Sixty Six where he has written a piece based upon a chapter of the King James Bible.
Bragg performed a set of the Guthrie songs that he had set to music for Mermaid Avenue during the Hay Literary Festival in June 2012. Mermaid Avenue Vol. III and Mermaid Avenue: The Complete Sessions were also released in early 2012.
On 18 March 2013, Bragg released his latest studio album, five years since Mr. Love & Justice, titled Tooth And Nail. It featured 11 original songs, including one written for the Bush Theatre, and a Woody Guthrie cover. Stylistically, it continues to explore genres of Americana (music) and Alternative country, both of which he has said he has been playing and writing regularly since Mermaid Avenue (1998).
In November 2017, he released all six tracks from the mini-album Bridges Not Walls as downloads and CD through the Billy Bragg website and other sellers, followed by the single Full English Brexit through Cooking Vinyl.
GOD’S FOOTBALLER
Billy Bragg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Above the choir at molineux
God's footballer stands on the doorstep
And brings the good news of the kingdom to come
While the crowd sings 'rock of ages'
The goals bring weekly wages
Yet the glory of the sports pages
Is but the worship of false idols and tempts him not
God's footballer turns on a sixpence
And brings the great crowd to their feet in praise of him
God's footballer quotes from the gospels
While knocking on doors in black country back streets
He scores goals on a Saturday
And saves souls on a Sunday
For the lord says these are the last days
Prepare thyself for the judgment yet to come
His career will be over soon
And the rituals of a Saturday afternoon
Bid him a reluctant farewell
For he knows beyond the sport lies the spiritual
meaning of life that he must pursue. Billy Bragg’s song "God's Footballer" is about a footballer who sees football as a means to a higher end. The song is a testament to the idea that football, like all human activities, can be seen through the prism of religion. The footballer sees himself as a messenger of God, spreading the word of the kingdom of heaven.
The lyrics describe the footballer as hearing the voices of angels above the choir at Molineux, a reference to the stadium of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club. The footballer believes that he is standing on the doorstep of people's soul, bringing the good news of the kingdom to come. The songs warn against the worship of false idols, pointing out that even though the glory of the sports pages may be tempting, it is not the true end. The footballer seeks to turn the crowd’s attention from the earthly triumphs to the eternal glory that can be found in religious pursuit.
The song further explores the idea that a footballer can be a missionary, scoring goals on Saturday and saving souls on Sunday. The footballer turns on a sixpence and brings the great crowd to their feet in praise of him while quoting from the gospels while knocking on doors in black country back streets. Bragg is suggesting that the footballer sees his football career as a temporary means of doing something significant for a higher purpose, saving souls.
Line by Line Meaning
God's footballer hears the voices of angels
God's footballer is an incredibly devout Christian who can actually hear the voices of angels
Above the choir at molineux
As he plays at Molineux stadium, he hears the voices of angels above the choir
God's footballer stands on the doorstep
Despite his fame, God's footballer remains incredibly down-to-earth and always willing to spread the word of God to anyone on his doorstep
And brings the good news of the kingdom to come
He spreads the good news of the coming kingdom of God, that all those who believe and repent will be saved
While the crowd sings 'rock of ages'
Amidst the noise of the cheering crowd, he can hear the hymn 'Rock of Ages' being sung
The goals bring weekly wages
Although his goals bring him a good income, he cares more about a higher reward that comes from serving God
Yet the glory of the sports pages
He recognizes that the fame and glory he receives from the sports pages is just temporary and meaningless, and so he doesn't let it tempt him from his true spiritual path
Is but the worship of false idols and tempts him not
The worship of him as a sports hero is empty and misguided, and he is not tempted by it since he knows it is not the true path to fulfillment
God's footballer turns on a sixpence
He is an incredibly skilled footballer, whose sudden turns on the pitch renders his opponents helpless
And brings the great crowd to their feet in praise of him
The crowd is filled with awe and admiration for him as he displays his incredible skills on the pitch
God's footballer quotes from the gospels
He is passionate about spreading God's word and often quotes from the gospels to others
While knocking on doors in black country back streets
He goes out of his way to bring his message to people who may not have the resources to come see him play, by knocking on doors in underprivileged neighborhoods
He scores goals on a Saturday
Amidst spreading the good word, he still finds the time to score goals and play his best game for his team during matches on Saturdays
And saves souls on a Sunday
He also spends his Sundays devoted to the more spiritual aspect of his life, saving souls and spreading the gospel
For the lord says these are the last days
He is a firm believer that these are the end times, and that the chaos of the world is essentially paving the way for the second coming of Christ
Prepare thyself for the judgment yet to come
He feels a sense of urgency to prepare himself as well as others for the judgment that will come at some point in the future
His career will be over soon
He knows that his football career will come to an end soon, and his focus is on preparing himself for what comes next
And the rituals of a Saturday afternoon
He will eventually have to say goodbye to the rituals of playing football on a Saturday afternoon
Bid him a reluctant farewell
Although he knows it's time to move on, he finds it hard to say goodbye to the game he loves so much
For he knows beyond the sport lies the spiritual
Ultimately, he knows that the real meaning and purpose of life lies beyond the sport, in spiritual pursuit and devoting one's life to God
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BILLY BRAGG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jan Albertus
God's footballer hears the voices of angels
Above the choir at Molineux
God's footballer stands on the doorstep
And brings the Good News of the Kingdom to come
While the crowd sings 'Rock of Ages'
The goals bring weekly wages
Yet the glory of the sports pages
Is but the worship of false idols and tempts him notGod's footballer turns on a sixpence
And brings the Great crowd to their feet in praise of him
God's footballer quotes from the Gospels
While knocking on doors in Black Country back streetsHe scores goals on a Saturday
And saves souls on a Sunday
For the Lord says these are the Last Days
Prepare thyself for the Judgement yet to comeHis career will be over soon
And the rituals of a Saturday afternoon
Bid him a reluctant farewell
For he knows beyond the sport lies the spiritual
albertus1950
Billy Bragg - God's Footballer
Tekst piosenki:
God's footballer hears the voices of angels
Above the choir at Molineux
God's footballer stands on the doorstep
And brings the Good News of the Kingdom to come
While the crowd sings 'Rock of Ages'
The goals bring weekly wages
Yet the glory of the sports pages
Is but the worship of false idols and tempts him not
God's footballer turns on a sixpence
And brings the Great crowd to their feet in praise of him
God's footballer quotes from the Gospels
While knocking on doors in Black Country back streets
He scores goals on a Saturday
And saves souls on a Sunday
For the Lord says these are the Last Days
Prepare thyself for the Judgement yet to come
His career will be over soon
And the rituals of a Saturday afternoon
Bid him a reluctant farewell
For he knows beyond the sport lies the spiritual
Laughing Stock
Billy Bragg has never got the recognition he so rightly deserves. He truly is one of the finest songwriters and lyricists England has produced. This is a perfect ballad.
Paul Davies
Peter Knowles never got the recognition he deserved either. I think neither Billy or Peter craved it though
Paul Davies
Great ballad about a great footballer and a man who still has the faith and conviction that what he did was right. He’s never regretted leaving football but wolves supporters like me have.
Up the wolves
elaine wright
Privileged to serve with him. A humble man loved by all.
Pragwo1f
I still remember the headlines at the time, and my family of Wolves supporters talking about his departure as if it was a funeral. A brilliant player. I am sure most see him now in a positive light-a man of huge integrity who had the courage of his convictions.
Telstar62a
I don't think he's being sarcastic; I think Billy was just touched in some way about Knowles's story, turning away from a burgeoning career because he was fearful of somehow being responsible for possibly ruining another man's career by injury, and turning to his faith. I think Knowles believed (and rightfully, imo) that there are more important things in life than empty fame and fortune - however, he is one of the few that have put that strong belief into action.
chris barlow
Very well said.
elaine wright
True to his faith.
Citadel Locktools (huxleypig69)
My dad told me about Peter Knowles lots during our times going to Molineux. He sounded like a great player.
andrew Terry
Great song, I've always admired Peter Knowles for his conviction, I'm now a witness too and I know his choice helped me along the way. I still love the Wolves, they've just slipped a little in priority 😀⚽️😀⚽️