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I think if you’re going to make political art, you have to engage at some level. You can’t just write about politics, you have to try and be politics as well.

Billy Bragg

Freedom is merely privilege extended, unless enjoyed by one and all.
BILLY BRAGG

Enjoyed Freedom Privilege
I never met a politician who didn’t want to be a guitar player in a rock band. I’ve got the opportunity to say what I believe in.
BILLY BRAGG

Believe Opportunity Player Politician
Being spokesman for a generation is the worst job I ever had.
BILLY BRAGG

Generations Jobs Worst
I’m still batting away on my politics for the Labour Party. I’m much further to the left of them than I used to be, but that’s because they’ve moved, not me.
BILLY BRAGG

Away Batting Party Stills Used
Never trust anyone who has no doubts. And I’m not talking about scepticism either: scepticism can be a healthy thing.
BILLY BRAGG

Better Feel Giving Mean Scepticism Up
If you’ve got a blacklist, I want to be on it.
BILLY BRAGG

Ibacklist Life Want
I’d like to think that in a generation or two we’ll have politicians whose life experience reflects that of the people who are voting for them.
BILLY BRAGG

People Thinking Voting
I’ve had songs written during the Falklands war, and during the first Gulf war I got letters from soldiers saying they were listening to these songs, like Island of no return.
BILLY BRAGG

Country Islands Soldier Song War
Part of the problem with some elements of the European debate is that they hanker for the days when we were a great power. Those days are gone, and they went a long time ago.
BILLY BRAGG

Ago Dismissed Long Part Political Problem Songwriter
I think that ultimately Trump will lose the election and in the process destroy the Republican party – but then I’m an optimist, ha ha ha! So he might not lose. He might be in charge of the largest nuclear arsenal in the world!
BILLY BRAGG

Charge Election Nuclear Party Republican Ultimately
We’ve heard so much about the American dream: well, Trump is the American nightmare made flesh.
BILLY BRAGG

Country Dream Nightmare Ugly Worry
You have to recognise your responsibility to your community for your actions. Liberty doesn’t mean that you are not held accountable.
BILLY BRAGG

Community Mean Responsibility
So, in some ways, the political songs tend to be a bit more like reportage, whereas the love songs tend to be like novels, you can pick them up off the shelf and go into them any time.
BILLY BRAGG

Love Political Reportage Song Way
All musicians start out with ideals but hanging on to them in the face of media scrutiny takes real integrity. Tougher still is to live up to the ideals of your dedicated fans.
BILLY BRAGG

Integrity Media Real
You have to believe that if the majority of people had their way, they would make a society that would be fair for everyone. If you don’t believe that, and if you think that the glass is always half empty, then you’re never going to have that sensibility.
BILLY BRAGG

Believe Empty Everyone Glass Sensibility Standard
You can have an argument with someone who’s a sceptic. When I say ‘cynic’, I mean someone who has given up, and they want you to give up too, so it makes them feel better about themselves.
BILLY BRAGG

Feel Makem Sceptic Someone Themselves

I think if you’re going to make political art, you have to engage at some level. You can’t just write about politics, you have to try and be politics as well.

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I think if you’re going to make political art, you have to engage at some level. You can’t just write about politics, you have to try and be politics as well.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More Billy Bragg Quotes