The ultimate anthemic non-anthem, and the ultimate (anti?) lovesong given Billy Bragg’s obvious love of political change, it grates interestingly against his other songs.
I suspect there’s more than a little sarcasm or irony here against those who apathetically look to relationships to guide them (the girls with prams, and even the protagonist even confesses guilt with wishing on satellites) rather than caring what was going on – given that Thatcherism was in full swing and the Falklands War had been and gone. Which all makes it an ideal anthem for England, an the apathy of the Olympics. And this cover with Billy and sadly missed Kirsty Maccoll is beatiful and funny.
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