BB is a giant among the Liliputs in the protest song scene of the moment--but for me, his love songs are the best. A certain character emerges: a naive idealist, whose passion for a better world is belied in relationships where he's always eventually rejected by more sophisticated but also more cynical lovers. Is love really that different than politics? By the way, the guitar on this track is from Johnny Marr, the redeeming quality of the Smiths. Thanks for posting.
i heard this version before any of the others, and so was surprised that the Left Banke original and most other covers have totally different lyrics that sre sung, not spoken!
thanks for the points. I do love the "And then she cut her hair and I stopped loving her" line, and Coppertunes thanks for mentioning again that it's Johnny Marr playing the guitar. I could listen to him play this tune for hours with no words. It's just a great and haunting rendition.
It's Johnny Marr (ex Smiths guitarist) who is playing the guitar. Johnny has played on a few of Billy Braggs recordings, during one session Johnny started to play this instrumental of 'Just Walk Away Renee' Billy told the engineer to record it. Billy then wrote the words on the train home that evening then he put it together the following day.
This is one American who has always loved this version - (which is the actual title, right ?- "Walk Away Renee (version)" - he takes it totally somewhere else. No one writes better loves songs - one of the best things he's done. Can't speak for the rest of my "fellow americans."
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Blah Blah Blah, make with the melody, Limey bastard...you gotta be kidding. That's it?! Who gives a shit if Johnny Marr is playing. Worst version I've heard.
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BB is a giant among the Liliputs in the protest song scene of the moment--but for me, his love songs are the best. A certain character emerges: a naive idealist, whose passion for a better world is belied in relationships where he's always eventually rejected by more sophisticated but also more cynical lovers. Is love really that different than politics? By the way, the guitar on this track is from Johnny Marr, the redeeming quality of the Smiths. Thanks for posting.
semcgregor 1 month ago
Brilliant!!
thank you so much for posting this!
400OTD 2 months ago
and i always loved the "illegible/eligible" play on words, and the "that's why i never could read those silly letters you wrote!" punchline!
ladyvanessa14 4 months ago
i heard this version before any of the others, and so was surprised that the Left Banke original and most other covers have totally different lyrics that sre sung, not spoken!
ladyvanessa14 4 months ago
vonda shepard has a great verson:)
titanicwebkinz89 3 years ago
I was dumped three hours ago and I sought out this song.
brittlebrit187 3 years ago 4
Go on son,, great tune...
sidensvans54 3 years ago
I had no idea this was Johnny Marr. If possible, I love this song even more now.
bookgirl3175 3 years ago
Beautiful
flexdream 3 years ago
do u think that u could maybe get just the instrumental of this? x x x x
MissAmiiBabiie 3 years ago
One of Billy's best Ideas ever - though i wasn't even aware of Johnny Marr I always loved the Song
sungami 3 years ago
thanks for the points. I do love the "And then she cut her hair and I stopped loving her" line, and Coppertunes thanks for mentioning again that it's Johnny Marr playing the guitar. I could listen to him play this tune for hours with no words. It's just a great and haunting rendition.
bellhhh 3 years ago
Love it. Sad and funny and sweet and bitter and that gorgeous line about sitting in the bathtub and thinking about her until the water had gone cold.
The Left Banke had a great song and a lousy record; this is one American cousin who loves Billy playing the tune and talking over it.
bellhhh 3 years ago
she cut her hair and i stoped loving her
lol, great line
doulsy 3 years ago
It's Johnny Marr (ex Smiths guitarist) who is playing the guitar. Johnny has played on a few of Billy Braggs recordings, during one session Johnny started to play this instrumental of 'Just Walk Away Renee' Billy told the engineer to record it. Billy then wrote the words on the train home that evening then he put it together the following day.
Coppertunes 3 years ago
That was fun! More like that, please...
sawncare 3 years ago
I've always found Billy Bragg boring and pretentious. But if others like him it's cool.
guarddog22 3 years ago
sod off with your "buy a pint of cool" comment...Bill is beyond your reach.
braggette 3 years ago 3
I'm guessing but it must be our American cousins that don't care for this piece of modern art!
I'm content in the knowledge that they don't get it :)
Magooder 3 years ago 5
i think its total class
doulsy 3 years ago
Exactly, you're all wrong, it's a bloody gorgeous song.
billienomates 3 years ago
This is one American who has always loved this version - (which is the actual title, right ?- "Walk Away Renee (version)" - he takes it totally somewhere else. No one writes better loves songs - one of the best things he's done. Can't speak for the rest of my "fellow americans."
excathead 3 years ago
@Magooder by the way, magooder, calm down, we're all busy feeling sheepish about some nationality or another.
semcgregor 1 month ago
Somewhat of a self endulging version.
50choices 3 years ago
"buy a pint of cool"? Yeah that's way cool.
petebeech 4 years ago
"she cut off her hair and i stopped loving her"... one of my favourite lines in song EVER!
shriekingvioletta 4 years ago 3
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Blah Blah Blah, make with the melody, Limey bastard...you gotta be kidding. That's it?! Who gives a shit if Johnny Marr is playing. Worst version I've heard.
wellsonors 4 years ago
Agreed. What´s with the speech? Boooooooring.
sleslie23 3 years ago
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No wonder his love is always unrequited... he's kind of a dork. Here's five dollars, buy a pint of cool.
ukkfayooyay 4 years ago
Just a little fact for you, The beautiful acoustic guitar in this song is played by johnny marr of the smiths, what a lovely song!!
DesandMel 4 years ago 3
no wonder it's so hard to play.
bunerzissou 4 years ago
Always thought it was Bill. Thanks for the tip.
afredus 3 years ago
Nobody ever did unrequited teenage love better than Bill. Probably tapping into a rich vein of experience.
robspiked2007 4 years ago 5