I know that Bragg's a steadfast socialist and all, but this song annoyed me on release. Having talented notables like Kirsty MacColl singing on it doesn't give it any more credit or weight, either. The lyrics are pabulum and the videos even sillier. Just because the brilliant Johnny Marr cowrote it doesn't make it any better. There's a good reason that Morrissey wrote the lyrics for The Smiths and not him, he's a great guitarist, but a middling writer. I'm all for Bragg being open-minded, but we don't need this clarion call from him in such an overtly trite way. Yes, that's right - trite. The 'just because you're gay, I won't turn you away' is a wonderful, progressive statement and gesture of inclusion, it's just given in an infantile couplet that's just begging for derision. Stick to your 'faux' political writing please, Mr. Bragg, and leave the 'identity' politics to those in the firing-line in the future. Thank you.
I know that Bragg's a steadfast socialist and all, but this song annoyed me on release. Having talented notables like Kirsty MacColl singing on it doesn't give it any more credit or weight, either. The lyrics are pabulum and the videos even sillier. Just because the brilliant Johnny Marr cowrote it doesn't make it any better. There's a good reason that Morrissey wrote the lyrics for The Smiths and not him, he's a great guitarist, but a middling writer. I'm all for Bragg being open-minded, but we don't need this clarion call from him in such an overtly trite way. Yes, that's right - trite. The 'just because you're gay, I won't turn you away' is a wonderful, progressive statement and gesture of inclusion, it's just given in an infantile couplet that's just begging for derision. Stick to your 'faux' political writing please, Mr. Bragg, and leave the 'identity' politics to those in the firing-line in the future. Thank you.