Most of Billy Bragg's songs are love songs. Politics is a small, but important, part of his repertoire.
I believe it is related to the forty days rain or sun. He's comparing both his mood and sex to the weather. He's obviously, um, 'relieving himself' "with [his] own hands" but it doesn't come close to real passionate sex (the thunder and the rain). But they can't get along, so split up. He's feeling down (the shadow over the land - his melancholy mood) but feels there's still something beautiful about their relationship worth celebrating (the sun still shines from behind it).
Most of Billy Bragg's songs are love songs. Politics is a small, but important, part of his repertoire.
I believe it is related to the forty days rain or sun. He's comparing both his mood and sex to the weather. He's obviously, um, 'relieving himself' "with [his] own hands" but it doesn't come close to real passionate sex (the thunder and the rain). But they can't get along, so split up. He's feeling down (the shadow over the land - his melancholy mood) but feels there's still something beautiful about their relationship worth celebrating (the sun still shines from behind it).