talking with the taxman about poetry

This hard-core folk singer found the perfect balance of love and politics with his difficult third album. After backing the 1984 Miner's Strike and participating in the Red Wedge tour with the Style Council, the Communards, Jerry Dammers, and the Smiths; Billy Bragg broadened his musical palette with producers John Porter and Kenny Jones. Guest musicians like Johnny Marr and Kirsty MacColl fill out the sound nicely and the additional instrumentation gives more depth and nuance to his class-conscious character studies. Bragg explains his perspective thusly: "My theory is this; I'm not a political songwriter. I'm an honest songwriter. I try and write honestly about what I see around me now." 'Talking With the Taxman About Poetry' borrows its title from a poem by Vladimir Mayakovsky. It reached number eight on the British album chart.







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'Greetings to the New Brunette' describes the shaky start of a new family. It went to number fifty three on the UK pop chart.

"Shirley, your sexual politics have left me all of a muddle

Shirley, we are joined in the ideological cuddle

I'm celebrating my love for you

With a pint of beer and a new tattoo

And if you haven't noticed yet

I'm more impressionable when my cement is wet"

'The Marriage' questions the value of getting hitched.

"I just don't understand it

What makes our love a sin

How can it make that difference

If you and I are wearing that bloody, bloody ring"

The weepy abusive drama of 'Levi Stubbs' Tears' hit number twenty nine on the UK pop chart. It speaks to the healing power of music; specifically, the music of the Four Tops.

"Norman Whitfield and Barratt Strong

Are here to make everything right that's wrong

Holland and Holland and Lamont Dozier too

Are here to make it all okay with you"

The socialist dogma of 'There Is Power In A Union' borrows its tune from the American Civil War song 'Battle Cry of Freedom'.

"Money speaks for money, the Devil for his own

Who comes to speak for the skin and the bone

What a comfort to the widow, a light to the child

There is power in a Union"

'The Warmest Room' explores a love affair that can't seem to get off the ground.

"We have such little time

At your place or mine

I can't wait till we take our blood tests

Oh baby let's take our blood tests now"

'Talking With the Taxman About Poetry' 

full album:




All tracks written by Billy Bragg, except where noted.


"Greetings to the New Brunette" – 3:29
"Train Train" (Zenon DeFleur) – 2:11
"The Marriage" – 2:30
"Ideology" (Bragg, Bob Dylan) – 3:27
"Levi Stubbs' Tears" – 3:28
"Honey, I'm a Big Boy Now" – 4:05
"There Is Power in a Union" (Traditional, arr. Bragg) – 2:47
"Help Save the Youth of America" – 2:45
"Wishing the Days Away" – 2:28
"The Passion" – 2:52
"The Warmest Room" – 3:55
"The Home Front" – 4:09