Easy 9. Lyrics, delivery, harmony. Yes.

..8!..also, dunno if it's been brought up, but the organ (synths?) smack of "Walk of Life" (to me at least)..not much else of it sounds Straits-ish, but that iota popped out..

 fredriley wrote: 
I guess you're right; I had to go back and listen a few times... it's a bad enough American accent that plenty of his Essex comes thru. I've listened to this a thousand times and never heard the faux accent. But then again, maybe the material just brings it out of him. I'm sure I couldn't read Rob't Burns aloud without falling into that same trap.

closing my eyes,  see Woody sitting, leaning on the flat wheel of an old ford. it's an immigrant road. a dust bowl okie, singing to himself and the setting sun

Happy belated 100th birthday to Woody Guthrie!

Repetitive. Repetitive. Repetitive. 

 Sloggydog wrote: 
Erm, I've heard Billy in concert, singing and speaking, sitting a few metres away from him such that I could see the spots on his face. He's got an Essex accent, being a Barking boy, narmean? On this song he's singing with a cod American accent, which he probably figures is in keeping with the song, but IMO he'd be better off keeping his normal accent and letting the lyrics speak for themselves.

That is sooo true...there is nobody that can sing (as bad) as BILLY BRAGG!

Had to come in and help with the harmony.....8..Beautiful.....

 
Volume 3 of Mermaid Avenue out this month in celebration of Woody's 100th. Download only unless you buy the box set.

At first I felt weird saying that thinking about this song takes me back, but then again it has been 14 years which is a fair spell. I ate this record up back then. This track is a gem.

 scrubbrush wrote: 

a little?

 CMax wrote: 
She sings on a couple of tunes on this album.  "Birds and Ships" is very nice.

A great song from a great album. 

 CMax wrote: 

Oh now, that is just totally uncalled for!

I hear Natalie Merchant! Love it!

 phillips wrote: 
Interesting, because a friend gave me this and I have literally never opened it. Worried that it won't meet expectations.

Love this song. Snarkily amused at the way the line "ain't nobody that can sing like me" makes Bragg-haters go all twitchy and cranky. Billy Bragg is like Tom Waits — very few people are neutral about them.

Was that Natalie Merchant singing in this song?

 fredriley wrote: 
Ummmm....this isn't serious is it?  The accent is definitely Billy's normal accent.  I think you are getting confused by what we would call the lyrics.  Perhaps you would be happier if he sung "There is not one whom can sing like me"?

 mandolin wrote: 
Well, it's debatable, but my view is that a song stands on its merits, and doesn't need to be sung in the accent of the original singer/songwriter. Putting on an accent you're not very good at reminds me of sad bearded folkies singing "Oi woz a-wassailng darn the lane" in faux yokel accents, or singing "Fog on the Tyne" in some abysmal imitation of Geordie. If you can do the accent fine, but IMO Billy doesn't do American accents.

Billy is a great songwriter and good singer, but I'd prefer him to stick to his native Essex accent. He's also a dedicated political activist, and has been involved in some unsexy but very practical work, such as Jail Guitar Doors. I've a hell of a lot of respect for the guy and would happily share a pint or four with him.

 phillips wrote: 
Me, too.  Love it still ...

great lyrics and harmony but a little dull and repetitive.

Just another terrific song off of an absolute classic album!!

YES!