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.
You Woke Up My Neighborhood
Billy Bragg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the evening gloom I sit and wonder
The words I should have said to you
The things I always meant to do
The bad dreams that all came true
[Chorus]
You woke up my neighborhood
You woke up my neighborhood
Things are pretty quiet round here now
When I think of how we were together
I know we couldn't be like that for ever
Beneath the Seven Sister stars
The night we let it go too far
I slept out in the car
[Chorus]
I remember skipping on the porch till it grew cold
I remember feeling like I was eight years old
Somersaults across the lawn
Singing dancing up till dawn
Every now and then we'd have a row
You woke up my neighborhood
Things are pretty quiet round here now
[Chorus]
The song "You Woke Up My Neighbourhood" by Billy Bragg tells a story of a past romantic relationship that went sour. The singer narrates that he can't fall asleep without thinking of his past lover. He reflects on "the words I should have said to you, the things I always meant to do, the bad dreams that all came true." The singer is clearly consumed with regret about not being able to save the relationship. In the chorus, he sings "You woke up my neighborhood" which can be interpreted in a couple of ways. It could mean that their fights were so loud and frequent that they disturbed the people living in their neighborhood. However, it could also mean that his past lover stirred up memories and feelings in him that he can't ignore now.
As the song progresses, a flashback is introduced of the night when things went too far. "Beneath the Seven Sister stars, the night we let it go too far, I slept out in the car." This verse suggests that their relationship ended after a turning point where things escalated out of control leading to one of them sleeping out of the house. As a result, the singer has been left with only memories of the good times, and the sound of their argument ringing around his head.
The third verse of the song talks about happier times before things started to go wrong. The singer remembers how he and his past lover used to skip on the porch until it grew cold and sing and dance until the dawn. The final repetition of the chorus emphasizes how things are so much quieter now that the relationship is over. The song reflects on the deep regret, sadness and nostalgia of lost love and failed relationships.
Interesting facts about the song:
Line by Line Meaning
As I wait for sleep to drag me under
The singer is waiting to fall asleep.
In the evening gloom I sit and wonder
The singer is sitting alone in the dark wondering about the past.
The words I should have said to you
The singer regrets not saying certain things to someone.
The things I always meant to do
The artist has regrets about not doing certain things.
The bad dreams that all came true
The artist has been plagued by nightmares that have unfortunately become reality.
[Chorus]
Repeated refrain in the song.
You woke up my neighborhood
Someone's actions caused a disturbance in the singer's community.
Night after night we would row
There were frequent arguments or fights that occurred.
Things are pretty quiet round here now
The neighborhood has become quieter since the source of disturbance left.
When I think of how we were together
The artist is reflecting on past memories.
I know we couldn't be like that for ever
The singer knows that things could not have stayed the same forever.
Beneath the Seven Sister stars
The scene is set beneath the stars of the Seven Sisters constellation.
The night we let it go too far
The singer is referring to a time when things got out of hand.
I slept out in the car
The singer had to sleep in the car due to a disagreement.
[Chorus]
Repeated refrain in the song.
I remember skipping on the porch till it grew cold
The artist reminisces about joyful times on the porch.
I remember feeling like I was eight years old
The artist recalls feeling young and carefree.
Somersaults across the lawn
More happy memories are described.
Singing dancing up till dawn
The singer and other(s) sang and danced throughout the night.
Every now and then we'd have a row
Arguments would regularly occur.
You woke up my neighborhood
Someone's actions caused a disturbance in the artist's community.
Things are pretty quiet round here now
The neighborhood has become quieter since the source of disturbance left.
[Chorus]
Repeated refrain in the song.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BILLY BRAGG, PETER BUCK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@LazyIRanch
If these musicians walked into my house, I'd be grinning like Billy too! When I was in my 20s, this happened frequently because my boyfriend was lead guitar in a band and his mates knew they were welcome to stop by with their instruments. Spooky old house built in 1910, with great acoustics. What fun we had in the 80s!
@avidwatcher600
I’m born & raised in the Southwest, US, New Mexico. I discovered this album when I was 15 years old, in the 90s, on National Public Radio. Till this day I love this song and the entirety of this album. ❤
@JonesNerzic
Champion. Buck and Stipe... and Wiggy!
@-_AjB_-
@Steve Morley Porky the Poet
@alexandrawitek6966
OMG!!!!!!!!! How cute Michael stipe is here!!!! this nostalgia is killing me.
@ciarlidelbuono5157
Un pezzo fantastico di un album pieno di piccole gemme
@maliatui4069
Loved this song in High School early 90s x
@mijosangue
this song have the power of make me instantaneously happy, the most happy human in the world. thanks!
@jimmyzbike
love revisiting your older songs
@-_AjB_-
Love Michael Stipe's backing vocal, but I never knew that Peter Buck also played on this record.