I’ve been a huge fan of Billy Bragg since I first saw him open for Echo and the Bunnymen at the Ontario Theater (now a CVS in Adams Morgan – Wash DC). More to the point his ability to blend the personal with the political is inspiring and at the same time heartbreaking. Billy has written amazing throw away lines like “Revolution is just a t-shirt away” but usually more interestingly it is the quiet social commentary and pathos of our lives which strike me as most extraordinary. The Song “The Home Front” is a perfect example of this:
Mother shakes her head and reads aloud from the newspaper
As Father puts another lock on the door
And reflects upon the violent times that we are living in
While chatting with the wife beater next door
The bottom line is that I’m always interested in how Billy Bragg puts his ideas into action. In a rather new example is Jail Guitar Doors an initiative which aims to provide instruments to those who are using music as a means of achieving the rehabilitation of prison inmates.
I think the idea is valid and impressive. I think you might find it to be the same.