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.
That Saturday Boy
Billy Bragg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That September morning was clear and fresh
The way she spoke and laughed at my jokes
And the way she rubbed herself
Against the edge of my desk
She became a magic mystery to me
And we'd sit together in double history twice a week
And it's surprising how quick
A little rain can clear the streets
We dreamed of her and compared our dreams
But that was all that I ever tasted
She lied to me with her body you see
I lied to myself 'bout the chances I'd wasted
The times we were close
Were far and few between
In the darkness at the dances in the school canteen
Did she close her eyes as I did
As we held each other tight
And la la la la la la la la means I love you
She danced with me and I still hold that memory
Soft and sweet
And I stare up at her window
As I walk down her street
But I never made the first team
I just made the first team laugh
And she never came to the phone
She was always in the bath
In the end it took me a dictionary
To find out the meaning of unrequited
While she was giving herself for free
At a party to which I was never invited
I never understood my failings then
And I hide my humble hopes now
Thinking back she made us want her
A girl not old enough to shave her legs
The Saturday Boy by Billy Bragg is a nostalgic and bittersweet look back at the unrequited love of the singer for a girl he met in school. The song is a recollection of the singer's feelings towards the girl, his memories of their interactions, and his regret at not being able to pursue a relationship with her.
The song's first verse introduces the girl and highlights the way she caught the singer's attention with her beauty, voice, and sense of humor. The line "She lied to me with her body you see, I lied to myself 'bout the chances I'd wasted" implies that there was a physical attraction between the two, but that they were unable to pursue a relationship. The chorus "In the darkness at the dances in the school canteen, Did she close her eyes as I did, as we held each other tight, And la la la la la la la la means I love you" is a nostalgic reference to the moments the two shared, and the hope that perhaps there was something more.
In the second verse, the singer remembers walking home with the girl on some days, and how they talked about their dreams. But the relationship never went beyond that as they only had a few such moments together. The line "she was giving herself for free at a party to which I was never invited" indicates that she was with someone else instead. The song ends with a sad and poignant final verse where the singer acknowledges his failings and regrets about not being able to be with her, and how he still thinks of her as he walks down her street.
Overall, The Saturday Boy is a moving song about unrequited love, missed opportunities, and the sweet pain of teenage memories.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll never forget the first day I met her
The first time I saw her, it was as if I had found something I had been looking for a long time
That September morning was clear and fresh
The day was so perfect and so was my happiness, because of her.
The way she spoke and laughed at my jokes
Her laughter and her voice has created a special place in my heart.
And the way she rubbed herself against the edge of my desk
She moved in ways that were both alluring and enticing, and I was powerless to resist.
She became a magic mystery to me
She was a puzzle that I desperately wanted to solve but could never quite figure out.
And we'd sit together in double history twice a week
We were inseparable in class and we shared almost everything with each other.
And some days we'd walk the same way home
We would cherish our time walking back to our homes and it would become a memorable experience.
And it's surprising how quick a little rain can clear the streets
We found the beauty in small things and were happy with each other, no matter the weather or conditions.
We dreamed of her and compared our dreams
She was our shared dream and we hoped for the best outcome regarding her.
But that was all that I ever tasted
She was just a dream and my love never became a reality.
She lied to me with her body you see
She played with my emotions through her actions and mannerisms.
I lied to myself 'bout the chances I'd wasted
I never admitted that I had allowed too much love to fade away without taking my chances.
The times we were close were far and few between
We were never as close as I had wished, and our time together was rare.
In the darkness at the dances in the school canteen
We shared a few dances under the darkness and that was our sole moment of intimacy.
Did she close her eyes as I did as we held each other tight
For a moment, we held each other and shared a moment of intimacy, wondering if we both felt the same.
And la la la la la la la la means I love you
We shared a secret symbol of love through our shared La La La's.
She danced with me and I still hold that memory soft and sweet
That dance together was the most affectionate moment we had, and it is still a cherished memory.
And I stare up at her window as I walk down her street
I still look up at her window as if I hope to find her there, wishing that our unfulfilled love would someday be rekindled.
But I never made the first team, I just made the first team laugh
I made people laugh but I was never taken seriously and I had never been the first choice.
And she never came to the phone, she was always in the bath
I kept calling her but she was never available, always making excuses.
In the end it took me a dictionary to find out the meaning of unrequited
After being rejected, I looked up the word 'unrequited' and realized that was what it felt like from the beginning.
While she was giving herself for free at a party to which I was never invited
While I was pining for her, she was freely living her life, without including me or acknowledging my feelings.
I never understood my failings then
I had never understood what had prevented me from being loved by her.
And I hide my humble hopes now
I have stopped hoping for the fulfillment of my love, and have kept it hidden deep inside.
Thinking back she made us want her
She had an aura of mystery that was almost magnetic, and we all desired her to some extent.
A girl not old enough to shave her legs
Despite all these feelings, she was still young and innocent, with much life to live beyond our current crushes.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Billy Bragg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
john hatchell
I'll never forget the first day I met her
That September morning was clear and fresh
The way she spoke and laughed at my jokes
And the way she rubbed herself
Against the edge of my desk
She became a magic mystery to me
And we'd sit together in double
History twice a week
And some days we'd walk the same way home
And it's surprising how quick
A little rain can clear the streets
We dreamed of her and compared our dreams
But that was all that I ever tasted
She lied to me with her body you see
I lied to myself 'bout the chances I'd wasted
The times we were close
Were far and few between
In the darkness at the dances in the school canteen
Did she close her eyes like I did
As we held each other tight
And la la la la la la la la means I love you
She danced with me and I still hold that memory
Soft and sweet
And I stare up at her window
As I walk down her street
But I never made the first team,
I just made the first team laugh
And she never came to the phone
She was always in the bath
I had to look in the dictionary
To find out the meaning of unrequited
While she was giving herself for free
At a party to which I was never invited
I never understood my failings then
And I hide my humble hopes now
Thinking back she made us want her
A girl not old enough to shave her legs
pmgpgh
The honesty of this song aches as much listening to it now as 30 years ago when I heard it for the first time. Universally true and beautiful.
Pod69
My best friend, who's been in out of mental institutions for decades, always has this song in mind when we meet up. Whenever we get together we sing it loud and proud, word for word, note for note - including Dave Woodhead's trumpet solo.
Andrew Perceval
French horn I believe, great brass, great song. I hope your friend is well.
Ashley Paterson
Thats nice.
John Barry
"I never made the first team, I just made the first team laugh" probably the greatest ever song about first love!
Svejk fan
I know. Pretty much every line is perfect.
TormG
He's possibly the most brilliant lyricist I've ever heard on many topics.
Pat Kelly
unless it isn't
*Abushams*
But I never made the first team,
I just made the first team laugh
In my opinion still one of the most genius lines ever in a song ....
dechips
“a girl not old enough to shave her legs” comes close but how can you choose?. Never has a song been so quotable. Just brilliant.