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Billy Bragg è un chitarrista e cantante inglese nato a fine 1957 la cui musica è caratterizzata da un misto di folk e punk coniugati all’impegno politico.
Alla fine degli anni 70 suona in un gruppo punk, ma la band si scioglie dopo qualche anno e la pubblicazione di alcuni singoli. Entra nell’esercito, ma presto lo lascia, tornando a suonare, questa volta da solista e dedicandosi ai temi sociali.
Nella sua carriera ha pubblicato circa una ventina di album (un paio realizzati con la band americana dei Wilco). Dall’album del 1996 ho selezionato Upfield, un brano talmente carico e frizzante che non può non fare saltare in piedi.

I’m going upfield, way up on the hillside
I’m going higher than I’ve ever been before
That’s where you’ll find me, over the horizon
Wading in the river, reaching for that other shore

I dreamed I saw a tree full of angels, up on Primrose Hill
And I flew with them over the Great Wen till I had seen my fill
Of such poverty and misery sure to tear my soul apart
I’ve got a socialism of the heart, I’ve got a socialism of the heart

I’m going upfield, way up on the hillside
I’m going higher than I’ve ever been before
That’s where you’ll find me, over the horizon
Wading in the river, reaching for that other shore

The angels asked me how I felt about all I’d seen and heard
That they spoke to me, a pagan, gave me cause to doubt their word
But they laughed and said: “I doesn’t matter if you’ll help us in our art
You’ve got a socialism of the heart, you’ve got a socialism of the heart”

I’m going upfield, way up on the hillside
I’m going higher than I’ve ever been before
That’s where you’ll find me, over the horizon
Wading in the river, reaching for that other shore

Their faces shone and they were gone and I was left alone
I walked these ancient empire streets till I came tearful to my home
And when I woke next morning, I vowed to play my part
I’ve got a socialism of the heart, I’ve got a socialism of the heart

I’m going upfield, way up on the hillside
I’m going higher than I’ve ever been before
That’s where you’ll find me, over the horizon
Wading in the river, reaching for that other shore