Waiting For The Great Leap Forward

[tonee727]

The intro sounds like "Rod Stewart - Do you think I'm sexy"

[misssiberia69]

It makes me cry...

[baad0501]

I love songs like this - those that you randomly stumble upon not knowing what you're gonna hear, and then end up listening to it many times after that.

[trikowsky]

Billy has a talent few have.

[gropingwithastoker]

One of my favorite songs of all time. I know Billy has updated it several times, but this version is still the best.

[bettyswollex]

Thanks for putting up the origenal... it is the best.

[baad0501]

I'm an American who interned in Melbourne for a few months - yet it wasn't until I came back to Minnesota when I heard this song and loved it.

[yuyupb]

Im a huge metal head, I have never been into this kind of music but, I am addicted to this song. I got all my friends to listen and appreciate this song haha good stuff.

[annikee59]

@yuyupb Welcome to Bragg fandom. He's the Dylan of our times.... Peace.

[royhobbs78]

Sends shivers down my spine...still

[royhobbs78]

Sends shivers down my spine....

[TimthedogLinehan]

Songs are a bit bleak sometimes but BB is quitew a cheery chap

[DDGurman]

@TimthedogLinehan His songs certainly can be incredibly bleak - usually because they're a stark reflection of the society we live in - but surely this is one of his most upbeat tracks?

[crappycrew123]

There is a million person protest in London on March 26th!! Take to the streets against the cuts, the banks and our rotton economic system!! Lets take our country back

[DDGurman]

@crappycrew123 Thanks for flagging that CC123, I only called in here to add this video to the March's Facebook page - see you there!

[jaklemaan]

hes talking about the bush admin

[HippieJimi]

I just played this 20 times in a row....20 times in a row.....and # 12 sounded just as good as # 7....and # 9 sounded just as good as # 18 ETC....ETC....I cut out the middle man LOL......Waiting for the Great Leap Forward......Waiting for the........

[bigbootband]

Nice one - like HippiJimi says you don't often see/hear this version - good call - thanks!

[HippieJimi]

So good to hear the studio version....like ya said there are a shit load of live versions,but nothing beats this one....Thank you kindly..... Jimi :-)

[DDGurman]

@Andrewww666 God you're a cheerful chappie aren't you! Obviously it's no accident that you've got a thoroughly depressing bastard like Morrissey as one of your favourites!

[TheKingsEvil]

@DDGurman hE DOESNT BELIEVE IN gOD. iT'S NO ACCIDENT HE HAS A SOCIAL CONCSIENCE, JUST AS IT'S NO ACCODENT YOU DON'T! gO BACK IT LISTENING TO aqua AND bRITTNY sPEARS AND LEAVE SERIOUS MUSIC WELL ALONE!

[DDGurman]

@TheKingsEvil What are you talking about??? (Clue: you might be slightly less confusing if you took your Cap lock off and read back what you've written before posting it - although I suspect not!)

[tonee127]

Glastonbury '92 Billy's 1st pyramid stage performance + the red stars = The Best Performance I've ever seen!!

[DDGurman]

@tonee127 I've got a great "B B & the Red Stars Live Bootleg" CD, which was recorded at that gig and includes a brilliant up date of "Waiting For The Great Leap Forward"

[tonee127]

@DDGurman Woah!! we need to discuss that, I only have "accident waiting to happen" from that gig. I think that was before the bbc starting recording every glasto, but there was a double CD called "in a field of their own" from that year with misc. artists. Is their anyway you can let me at it?

[SuperAntisocialite]

Michelle Shocked leads the chorus. From Anchorage, Alaska!!

[SuperAntisocialite]

Michelle Shocked leads the chorus. From Anchorage, Alaska!!

[BOYBLUE444]

Great track..best version!

[THESTAFFIECHANNEL]

That first line is such a true observation of Cuba.In Latin America there are 30 million homeless children..And none of them are Cuban.

[jaws3michael0]

@THESTAFFIECHANNEL i also saw a stat like 1 in 4 women on the planet are illiterate and not one of them is cuban <3

[MACHAWK123]

I'd been loking for the original version for a while as it's one of my all time favourites. I love the way Billy has adapted the song over the years and there are so many fantastic versions available on YouTube, but I do love the original.

[harrysor]

"BEAM ME UP SCOTTY" bloody brilliant

[ladbrady]

This time the REVOLUTION was not "an Epochal Haircut Away". but there was hope. Thanks Dave.

[axiom1912]

Barking >>>>>>> Dorset

[johnmcglinchey]

Stuff "God Save the Queen" - This should be the National Anthem

[johnmcglinchey]

Stuuf "God Save the Queen" - This should be the National Anthem

[TheCheesemandave]

top class song the best one 

[OonaCanute]

I found out about this from a vegan outreach blog post. I can't believe this song isn't better known!!!

[Lotek83]

@OonaCanute awesome! Oh, a though occurred recently, veganism without organic sustainability and rejection of factory farming in all its forms is essentially just a pose. We've got to look at our farming methods, not just rejection of animal cruelty.

[OonaCanute]

Good grief this is so much better than the "updated" version.

[GoinDownToJunkieTown]

reamarkable how this song is so barely known. i only found out about it through the ricky gervais show.

[DDGurman]

But which live version SepradistPhantom? I have a terrific one from the "B B & the Red Stars Live Bootleg" that I bought at one of his gigs in '96; but although the lyrics had been brilliantly updated, I don't think they'd be half as powerful if you'd never heard the original.

Whatever the case, it's great to know that Billy at his best can still moisten the odd eye.

[Andrewww666]

@DDGurman This is a catchy tune a friend first played to me over 20 years ago, but thats as far as it goes, billy bragg is a fucking English arsehole who writes songs bout shite coz he is full of shite and his political views are shite, and he makes me sad and ashamed to be English, England is doomed, Gawd I hate England and he is a filthy orphan

[777system777]

@Andrewww666 "A filthy orphan" Sheesh! if that don't say it all.

[Loui3535]

I love the build-up in this song.

Brilliant !

[SepradistPhantom]

That just brought tears to my eyes.

[samwisegamgeese]

I personally am waiting for the Second Coming

[lukewilson123]

@samwisegamgeese

im sure he will wear a condom

[lukewilson123]

@samwisegamgeese

yeah jebus is great

[SepradistPhantom]

I think i prefer the live version, but thanks non the less. Great man is our Billy.

[gordimhor]

such an uplifting song reminds me of Thunder Road that way

[DDGurman]

I don't understand what you mean by "a bit misguided with his socialism..."? Are you saying that he's not as overtly socialist as he used to be? Or are you suggesting that that it's socialism itself that is misguided?

[bartleby2007]

Billy means well but is a bit misguided with his socialism....

Puts on a great show though....or at least used to do when he toured all the time...

[karlwild71]

Cheers mate, been wanting to hear the original for ages Hope your friend liked it?!

[Christian121y]

amazing song

been looking for the original version too

thanks!!!

[scottishwildcat]

So good they named a Motherwell FC fanzine after it....

[Narcissisticnobody]

Wow, this takes me back, great stuff

[prisonplanetdotcom]

I've got it on an old video somewhere. I'll post it when I find/upload it. Classic Bragg.

[ATaxingWoman]

Yes - hope someone finds the old footage.

[dreadboystarchild]

THANK YOU