Billy Bragg – A New England

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  General Comment:I remember having read that all the song was built around the "artificial shooting star" thing, based on an actual event that happened to our beloved Billy.
  I've listened to a few versions of this song and I still prefer the raw version from worker's playtime album much more than those more elaborated ones (including the acoustic with Kirsty McCall and the extra - and to me, unnecessary- lyrics).
  It gives the song a more agressive touch, as it is indeed a song of anger: anger about fake things (fake shooting stars), anger about still be thinking about an old love. He'd wish to stop thinking about her and looking for a new love.
  About "I don't feel bad..." He feels embarrased of telling her he is still in love with her, not with the fact itself. That's the meaning to me...

  Flag spac3b0yon April 12, 2013   Link

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• +2
  My Interpretation:"Though I put you on a pedestal, they put you on the pill"
  From the first verse, I don't think he is wanting to have children as he hasn't fully grown up himself, so her being on birth-control would be a non-issue. I interpret the pill he is referring to is something for their mental state; he thinks the world of them, but everyone else thinks they are crazy.
  Just my interpretation, obviously.
  
  Beautiful song.

  Flag CasualCasualtyon December 13, 2009   Link

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• 0
  General Comment:It's at NME awards 2007 and it's foundations/neew england merger

  Flag Bananamobileon August 06, 2008   Link

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    0

    There's at least one other song, "1969" by the Stooges (itself covered at least once) which mocks the "last year I was 21" lyric from "Leaves that are Green". I'm guessing BB was familiar with both songs.

    Flag John Johnstonon March 17, 2009  
• -1
  General Comment:Have a look at the Kate Nash/Billy Bragg version on youtube - excellent!

  Flag Bananamobileon August 06, 2008   Link

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• +1
  General Comment:What I find really poignant about this song is how cold and brutally honest he is. "I don't feel bad about letting you go I just feel sad about letting you know" - he knows it's going to be painful but he feels no guilt. And also the "I'm just looking for another girl". Imagine saying that to someone when you broke up!

  Flag spdrmnkyon August 05, 2008   Link

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• 0
  General Comment:The best line from it all:
  
  "People ask me 'when will you grow up to be a man?'
  But all the girls I loved in school are already pushing prams"
  
  Simple, he's looking for a girl, but not just any ole' girl.

  Flag mad about the boyon December 27, 2007   Link

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• 0
  General Comment:and also fantastic

  Flag Wallamanageon December 11, 2007   Link

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• 0
  General Comment:Fanastic

  Flag Wallamanageon December 11, 2007   Link

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• 0
  General Comment:I read it like this:
  
  But they were only satallites
  belonging to Vision Space-hardware
  
  Geniously funny...

  Flag Unionbaronon August 07, 2007   Link

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  General Comment:Another note, the reason for the relationship ending seems to be distance, "I can't survive on what you send"

  Flag basspro76on August 06, 2007   Link

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