Billy Bragg sings Diggers Song at Greenbelt 07

[Liamski06]

The Dispossed, pay no rent and for why?

[ben909ben]

When one of the Underground Railroad conductors was confronted by a racist mob and asked why he didn't obey the law of the land (at the time), and return an escaped slave to be flogged by a southern cracker, the reply from the good Quaker was

"I don't fear your law or mob, I only fear god"

Hey, stop knockin' Christians. Some of my best friends are Christians! Just cause the Church can make hideous mistakes, doesn't say anything against Christians...

[grumpface]

he digger spirit lives on in Todmorden

[Reluctant5]

@grumpface It does indeed! Nice place Todmorden. But lets be honest its a town where there is only really two surnames. I got driven out of Walsden because I wasnt called Fielden!

[insidethetree]

A fragment of hope in these dark times. Rock on Billy.

[MrRedcap999]

Champagne socialist cunt!...He's giving Thatcher one up her arse.

[Reluctant5]

A great reggae band, The Diggers.

[demobboy]

support the diggers....Go on Billy, sing for the Miners..again..

Stand up now

Remember South Elmsall?

[mrtyles]

how does he play like that? i can't sing this song and strum that fast at once.

[mckeegaunt]

Long live the diggers.

Anarchy and Peace,

[mcs1hr]

This is such a great song, perfect for opening a gig - good work Bill, good work Leon, good work Dick

[yorvik21]

cheers billy...keep singing 4 the working class

[sptfgpn]

Does he own a house?

[yorvik21]

i hope he owns a house after a safe delivearnce of the working class tongue.

[E15geezer]

fucking stupid question! no he lives in a box in catterick.............

[sptfgpn]

He's really poor then. Bless his cotton socks.

[TheGrumpytroll]

Wonderful to see Billy at Greenbelt (The largest Christian festival in the UK). He's a fan of Joe Hill, Utah Philips, etc; in the US who spent their lives as Union organisers helping the poor and as Christian Anarchists. Do look up Joe at Wikipedia (He wrote There Is Power In A Union) and Christian Anarchy: not everyone in the US thinks about social justice the same way!

Petr Chelčický, the 15th century Bohemian anarchist and pacifist said

The man who obeys God needs no other authority.

[HAASMINIMILL1]

Billy Bragg new labour suporter and champagne red singing about English anti papist masterless men.The man who helped get the most corrupt murderous gang of anti English scum in history into govt , hobnobing with there coroporate mates in banking and starting wars based on lies.You must be so proud of yourself Billy.What a total utter wanker. Winstanley would be turning in his grave.

[ProNorden]

If Bragg is at all sincere against corporatism, predatory trade, and economic treason he should support the BNP.

Go BNP. Go Nationalist.

'Pro-Family, Stewardship, and Fair Trade.'

[jimbomckeckney]

Bound to lose, boys.

[yorvik21]

@jimbomckeckney

still dance on Thatchers grave

[Avenmarc]

apart from " starting wars based on lies." I disagree with you, isn;t that the glory of democracy? it is not without it;s fallacies - but it is the best we have at th emoment.

[jimbomckeckney]

I think you need a brief history lesson, mate, if you think the Tories (or anyone else, for that matter) would have done a better job over the last twelve years. Winstanley would have loved the Human Rights Act.

[TheHonestTheist]

/watch?v=fFH0khjgA0U (add to address)

[FENNYMAN]

It's not Dick Gaughan who wrote it. It was an British songwriter called Leon Rosselson.

Where is that active anger now when we need you?

[Fergyguitar]

FENNYMAN, Leon Rosselson is still very much active. I played a gig with him, Billy Bragg and Martin Carthy a while ago.  It was a commemoration of the Tolpuddle Martyrs held in London. what a good day that was.

[FENNYMAN]

Thanks. I saw Rosselson over 35 years ago in a pub in the wilds of Walsall when I was at college there. Good to hear he is still going - must be older than me! Can't remember too much of the gig ...... Saw Billy Bragg a bit over a year ago in Warwick with a large number of others - including Carthy. Both of them superb performers!!!!

[hangeygirl]

it's a dick Gaughan song i'm sure. Billy's doing a cover. Dick Gaughan's song 'stand up for judas' is a MUST hear for everyone. timeless, vital music.

[douggokellam]

Both this song and "Stand up for Judas" are by Leon Rosselson.

[hostroute]

St Georges Hill is in Weybridge and is now a very exclusive gated community, former home to John Lennon and currently houses many rich people including Cliff Richard. I always find that fact rather ironic when I hear this song.

[docdaneekaflies]

My understanding is that there is a public foot path through the middle of it and the residents are happy that the rest of us are unaware of the fact. It stops loads of hairy arsed anarchists wandering around and absolutely ruining the view!

[theemperor2312]

another billy bragg classic, a song that actualy means something.

[psychobollox]

i'd the pleasure and privilege of meeting Billy at Helsinki airport just before his Tavastia gig back in 2001. He'd just been working on the Woody Guthrie song project before that, and he was really great to chat with in the dinner queue :)

He's a folk songer. No pretensions.

Would be good to see him gigging more over here.

[ukdankemp]

yeah this was a pretty sick performance

[jellyterrorist]

sick meaining good?

[ukdankemp]

yes

[stanleymaiden]

When God comes to sort this mess out, HE will want to know what have YOU done, to have clear the mess we are in.

HE will ask us, did we really believe that we were living in God's kingdom, and did we really believe that HE was all powerfull and worship him only.

Or did we think that those who are in power are all powerfull and worship their ways, adding to the suffering of his people.

Liberation theology is not about comtemplating, it's about assuming God's kingdom NOW.

ASSUME IT NOW

[Avenmarc]

we will not bow to the masters or pay rent to the lords... (or bishops)

[TimMars66]

As a Christian, I agree with you. God gives us a brain to work out how to live and doesn't expect people to follow him from blind obedience or fear of damnation. Many atheists are more 'Christ-like' than some Christians.

[simontheboy]

Hi Tim, I believe I am one of those athiest, I do follow the Christain teachings such as be nice to one another and help those less fortunate than me (such as sponsoring a child and as a teacher paying for my own breakfast program for children at work). I do think that the teachings of Christ (be him a person or an idea) are worth following). Bragg articulates this beautifully.

[Avenmarc]

"Many atheists are more 'Christ-like' than some Christians"

This has been my personal observation too.

I think the key word is "tolerance"

I think organised religions go through cycles of tolerance looking at history. In the middle ages Islam was a more tolerant religion than Christianity. These days in certain areas the reverse is true (not worldwide)

Im agnostic..so i have no bias to/against any relgion

[LordInksworth]

@TimMars66 "Lords" refers to the british Lords, ie landowners. Not to christ or religion at all. And who pays rent to bishops anyway?

[MTAllenby]

@LordInksworth

Take a history lesson. "In London the brothels of Southwark were owned by the Bishop of Winchester." The Church made big money from rents in the Middle Ages.

[thepunkfish109]

@TimMars66 I'm glad you said that man. I'm a Naturalist rather than an athiest but... that was a very cool thing you said.

[FENNYMAN]

@TimMars66 Tell that to the pope.

[spannerotoole]

Look for The Black Family's Version of this song. It is much better

[tomazao]

you taking the piss?

[spannerotoole]

No, Really there's a lot more instrumentation in it and the harmonies are just beautiful

[TheGreatEckscape]

Songs like this ain't about harmonies!

[spannerotoole]

And people like you don't listen to much music....

[GeorgeGallowayfan]

Thats a fantastic song and a fantastic performance.

[southwicklion]

brill

thAnks for the download