A New England

Billy Bragg

About A New England

"A New England" is a song written and recorded by Billy Bragg, included on his album Life's a Riot with Spy Vs Spy, released in 1983. It became a hit single when covered by Kirsty MacColl the next year, and remains a signature song from the early years of Bragg's recording career.


Year:
2003
66 

Lyrics currently unavailable…


Billy Bragg

Stephen William Bragg (born 20 December 1957) — known as Billy Bragg — is an English alternative rock musician and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes. His music career has lasted more than thirty years. more »

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10 facts about this song

Artist Background
"A New England" is a song composed and originally performed by British punk folk musician Billy Bragg.
Release Information
Billy Bragg first released this song as a single in 1983.
Inspiration
The song is renowned for its raw energy and passionate politicism, reflecting Bragg's experiences growing up in the U.K. during the Thatcher years.
Critically Acclaimed
In 2004, Bragg's original version of the song was listed in Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs of All Time'.
Popularity
Despite not charting in the Billboard Top 100, 'A New England' remains one of Bragg’s most frequently played songs on UK radio.
Kirsty MacColl Version
In 1984, a cover version by the British singer Kirsty MacColl was released and became a bigger hit than the original, peaking at no. 7 in the UK Singles Chart.
Extra Verse
When Kirsty MacColl covered the song, she felt it was too short and asked Bragg to write an additional verse. This verse is only included in MacColl’s versions of the song as Bragg felt it didn’t fit with what he wrote originally.
Tribute
Following MacColl's tragic death in 2000, Billy Bragg began to include the extra verse in performances of the song as a tribute to her.
Miscellaneous
The lyrics of the song reference Peter Seeger's protest song "I Come and Stand at Every Door."
Commercial Use
The song's melody was later used for a jingle for a series of television commercials for a UK telecommunication company.

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