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.
The Johnny Carcinogenic Show
Billy Bragg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's selling poison by the ton
"How can you do such a thing?" a woman asked
And he replied, "Well, the secret is to hook 'em young
Look, I'm not responsible for the lessons children learn
I'm just responsible for giving my investors some return"
Here's a message from
The sponsors of, 'The Johnny Carcinogenic Show'
Well, you'd never believe how much effort goes into
Adding some glamor to the brands
To distract you from the damage that they do
Putting their product in your hand
What other industry could ever get away
With contaminating their best customers this way?
Here's a message from
The sponsors of, 'The Johnny Carcinogenic Show'
The sponsors of, 'The Johnny Carcinogenic Show'
Here's a product that promises to do nothing
But take your money and your soul
Poverty is toxic, everybody knows
No need to help it take its toll
Who will profit from the misery they sow?
Not the grandchildren that you will never know
Here's a message from
The sponsors of, 'The Johnny Carcinogenic Show'
Poverty is toxic
The sponsors of, 'The Johnny Carcinogenic Show'
Poverty is toxic
The sponsors of, 'The Johnny Carcinogenic Show'
Poverty is toxic
The sponsors of, 'The Johnny Carcinogenic Show'
Poverty is toxic
The song "The Johnny Carcinogenic Show" by Billy Bragg addresses the issue of unethical advertising and the harmful effects of consumerism. The first verse introduces a man selling poison on TV and his justification for doing so. He claims to only be responsible for his investors' profits and not for the lessons children learn from his product. This verse sheds light on the greed and lack of accountability that drives corporations to sell harmful products to consumers, including children.
The chorus is a message from the sponsors of "The Johnny Carcinogenic Show", a fictitious TV show that represents any show or commercial that promotes harmful products while ignoring their negative effects. The sponsors add glamour to their brands to distract consumers from the damage they cause, and they get away with contaminating their best customers. The chorus draws attention to the contrast between the message conveyed by the sponsors and the real consequences of their products.
The final verse of the song highlights the impact of poverty, which is also toxic, and how corporations profit from the misery they cause. Once again, the song points out the irony of the sponsors' message and their failure to consider the long-term effects of their actions.
Overall, "The Johnny Carcinogenic Show" is a thought-provoking and critical commentary on consumerism and the need for accountability in corporate practices.
Line by Line Meaning
Saw some guy on the TV yesterday
I saw a man on television yesterday
He's selling poison by the ton
He sells toxic products in large quantities
"How can you do such a thing?" a woman asked
A woman questioned, "Why do you sell harmful things?"
And he replied, "Well, the secret is to hook 'em young
He responded, "The key is to target young consumers"
Look, I'm not responsible for the lessons children learn
He denied responsibility for the messages children receive
I'm just responsible for giving my investors some return"
His sole responsibility is to provide returns to investors
Here's a message from
This is a message from
The sponsors of, 'The Johnny Carcinogenic Show'
The backers of 'The Johnny Carcinogenic Show'
Well, you'd never believe how much effort goes into
It's unbelievable how much work is involved in
Adding some glamor to the brands
Making the brands appear more attractive
To distract you from the damage that they do
To divert your attention from the harm they cause
Putting their product in your hand
Placing their item in your possession
What other industry could ever get away
Which other sector could escape blame as much as
With contaminating their best customers this way?
By polluting their loyal patrons?
Here's a product that promises to do nothing
Introducing a product that claims to provide no benefits
But take your money and your soul
Except to just drain your finances and essence
Poverty is toxic, everybody knows
Everyone acknowledges that poverty is dangerous
No need to help it take its toll
There's no reason to let it continue harming people
Who will profit from the misery they sow?
Who will benefit from the suffering they cause?
Not the grandchildren that you will never know
Certainly not the future generations you'll never meet
Poverty is toxic
Poverty is dangerous
The sponsors of, 'The Johnny Carcinogenic Show'
The backers of 'The Johnny Carcinogenic Show'
Poverty is toxic
Poverty is dangerous
The sponsors of, 'The Johnny Carcinogenic Show'
The backers of 'The Johnny Carcinogenic Show'
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BILLY BRAGG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
johnny nogenic
I wholeheartedly approve of this tribute.
bjaws
By using recycled chords from 'The Marriage', BB wrote another brilliant song.
Ross Barefoot
i quit smoking 2 days ago, i thinks this will be the song that will help me quit, when the going gets rough
johnny nogenic
Thanks.
Seriously.
SepradistPhantom
Did it work?