Shirley
It's quite exciting to be sleeping here in this new room
Shirley
You're my reason to get out of bed before noon
Shirley
You know when we sat out on the fire escape talking
Shirley
What did you say about running before we were walking?

Sometimes when we're as close as this
It's like we're in a dream
How can you lie there and think of England
When you don't even know who's in the team

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

Politics and pregnancy
Are debated as we empty our glasses
And how I love those evening classes

Shirley
You really know how to make a young man angry
Shirley
Can we get through the night without mentioning family?

The people from your church agree
It's not much of a career
Trying the handles of parked cars
Whoops, there goes another year
Whoops, there goes another pint of beer

Here we are in our summer years
Living on icecream and chocolate kisses
Would the leaves fall from the trees
If I was your old man and you were my missus?

Shirley
Give my greetings to the new brunette


Lyrics submitted by Madame Me

Greetings To The New Brunette song meanings
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16 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    This song features 2 of the greatest lines ever written i.e. "How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team" and most of all "Here we are in our summer years Living on icecream and chocolate kisses Would the leaves fall from the trees If I was your old man and you were my missus?" If that's not the most romantic verse ever, I don't know what is.

    chopper7on April 26, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    A young couple in love. The girl wants to move faster in the relationship than the guy does, as he seems a bit reluctant to grow up and give up the burning romance of young love. But eventually, he matures and welcomes the change in domestic life, complete with baby ("the new brunette").

    Primeon October 18, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Oops, didn't get to finish... "Politics and pregnancy/Are debated as we empty our glasses/And how I love those evening classes" Throwing alcohol due to pregnancy and taking lamaze classes. "The people from your church agree/It's not much of a career/Trying the handles of parked cars/Whoops, there goes another year/Whoops, there goes another pint of beer." He's telling her motherhood would be the life they have now, and that love would slowly fade through the years. So there's a twinge of regret there, too.

    Primeon October 18, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    So many amazing lines in this song..."How can you lie there and think of England, When you don't even know who's in the team" and "I'm celebrating my love for you, With a pint of beer and a new tattoo" are two favourites...Billy Bragg is amazing

    ziggyplayedguitaron January 17, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    At first this dude's heavy accent bugged me, but now that I've gotten past that, I love his music. He's really political in a lot of his songs, and those that aren't just have awesome lyrics. This one is my favorite, although I don't understand the "give my greetings to the new brunette" part.

    Missykiwizon February 07, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    A working class lad involved in crime falls in love with a girl who we gotta presume is a good influence on him.

    It really is a lovely song.

    Comrade_Liaron May 12, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    its about a skinhead growing up and accepting love and marraige and going through intelectuasl growth and confusion

    boggleson February 20, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    is there possibly an association with shirley mclaine? She is the first few moments of the video..........a muse perhaps?

    thinkofagroovynameon June 06, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    is there possibly an association with shirley mclaine? She is the first few moments of the video..........a muse perhaps?

    thinkofagroovynameon June 06, 2008   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    As posted before I think the song is about a young couple with some background differences (anyone knowing a bit of Billy Bragg might know he is not much of a church guy, hence the line "people from YOUR church agree..."). It starts with them moving together, enjoying eachother's company. I don't think though, they think about pregnancy and alcohol but about a future together - children- while having a beer (the same way he mocks around her national football team skills). Things get uglier with time and their differences come patent (she goes to the church while he steals cars ...) and they have arguments - mentinoning family, I love this bit. Nevertheless, they are in love and they pass through it and he wishes a future besides her. Until I read it here I didn't have thought that this greetings to the new brunette was about a newborn but it makes a lot of sense.

    A very beautiful song for sure.

    spac3b0yon November 24, 2014   Link

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