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.
Sugar Daddy
Billy Bragg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gave me so many presents I could not stand
To see you
I really couldn't stand to see you
Sugardaddy took me far away
On a holiday, I didn't have to pay
Just be there
All I had to do was be there
Sugardaddy's blowing kisses from his gun
What will he do and where will he run
When the real world comes to town
Sugardaddy took all my pain away
Now I have to say
I'd let him get away with murder
I'd let him get away with murder
He drives a car that doesn't have a roof
He dares the big ol' world to tell him the truth
By buying silence
He buys you silence
Silence, so you'll never ask him why
Silence, so you'll never say he makes you cry
Silence, so you'll never look him in the eye
And say you want his time 'cause time is money
Sugardaddy can't help but overfill my cup
Sugardaddy always rides heavy on his luck
What will he do when his baby grows up
And doesn't want the toys that he's provided?
Sugardaddy comes with his pockets full of fun
Sugardaddy's blowing kisses from his gun
What will he do and where will he run
When the real world comes to town
The song "Sugardaddy" by Billy Bragg is an insightful commentary on the destructive nature of relationships based on financial dependency. The lyrics tell the story of a young woman who becomes entangled with an older man who lavishes her with gifts and takes her on luxurious vacations. She is initially grateful for the material comforts he provides, but as the relationship progresses, she begins to feel trapped and suffocated by his control over her. The lyrics suggest that her "sugardaddy" is using his wealth to keep her silent, preventing her from asking questions or asserting her own desires. Ultimately, the song questions the sustainability of these types of relationships and their potential for exploitation.
The line "Sugardaddy comes with his pockets full of fun" highlights the allure of this kind of relationship. The "fun" that he brings can be enticing to someone who wants a taste of luxury and indulgence. However, as the lyrics progress, it becomes clear that the downside of this dynamic outweighs the supposed benefits. By the end of the song, the young woman is grappling with the moral implications of her situation, admitting that she would even "let him get away with murder" if it meant keeping her lavish lifestyle intact. The lyrics suggest that people who buy their way into relationships often end up being the ones who suffer the most in the long run.
Overall, "Sugardaddy" is a poignant exploration of the darker aspects of romantic relationships based on financial power imbalances. It serves as a warning against relying on money and gifts rather than emotional connection, and encourages listeners to question the true motives behind such arrangements.
Line by Line Meaning
Sugardaddy took me to wonderland
Sugardaddy took me to a place where everything is perfect and magical
Gave me so many presents I could not stand
He gave me a lot of gifts that overwhelmed me
To see you
I couldn't bear to see you
Sugardaddy took me far away
Sugardaddy took me to a distant place
On a holiday, I didn't have to pay
On a vacation that I did not have to pay for
Just be there
All I had to do was be present
Sugardaddy comes with his pockets full of fun
Sugardaddy comes bearing gifts and excitement
Sugardaddy's blowing kisses from his gun
Sugardaddy's weapons are his charming ways and gifts
What will he do and where will he run
When the real world comes to town
What will he do when he has to face the harsh realities of life?
Sugardaddy took all my pain away
Sugardaddy helped me forget my pain
Now I have to say
I'd let him get away with murder
I'd let him get away with murder
I would forgive Sugardaddy for anything because of all he's done for me
He drives a car that doesn't have a roof
He drives a convertible car to show off his wealth
He dares the big ol' world to tell him the truth
He's arrogant and doesn't listen to anyone
By buying silence
He buys your silence with his money
Silence, so you'll never ask him why
He wants you to be quiet so you won't question him
Silence, so you'll never say he makes you cry
He wants you to be silent about the pain he causes
Silence, so you'll never look him in the eye
He wants to avoid confrontation and the truth
And say you want his time 'cause time is money
He values his time more than anything else
Sugardaddy can't help but overfill my cup
Sugardaddy gives more than enough
Sugardaddy always rides heavy on his luck
He's always pushing his luck and testing fate
What will he do when his baby grows up
And doesn't want the toys that he's provided?
What will happen when the gifts are no longer enough to keep someone happy?
Sugardaddy comes with his pockets full of fun
Sugardaddy comes bearing gifts and excitement
Sugardaddy's blowing kisses from his gun
Sugardaddy's weapons are his charming ways and gifts
What will he do and where will he run
When the real world comes to town
What will happen when he has to face the harsh realities of life?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BILLY BRAGG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind