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Billy Bragg – Ideology (1986) | Track profile | Dork

Tracks
Billy Bragg
Talking With the Taxman About Poetry
Ideology

TRACK

Ideology

Release date: 21st September 1986

From Talking With the Taxman About Poetry

Track 4

3:28

Alternative Folk Music Singer/Songwriter Rock

Spotify Apple Music More on Billy Bragg

About This Track

"Ideology" is a track by Billy Bragg, from the album Talking With the Taxman About Poetry, released 21st September 1986. The track is 3:28 long. It's filed under Alternative Folk. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 1 article about Billy Bragg.

About the Artist

Billy Bragg

Billy Bragg

Lyrics

Ideology

When one voice rules the nation
Just because they're top of the pile
Doesn't mean their vision is the clearest
The voices of the people
Are falling on deaf ears
Our politicians all become careerists

They must declare their interests
But not their company cars
Is there more to a seat in parliament
Than sitting on your arse
And the best of all this bad bunch
Is shouting to be heard
Above the sound of ideologies clashing

Outside the patient millions
Who put them into power
Expect a little more back for their taxes
Like school books, beds in hospitals
And peace in our bloody time
All they get is old men grinding axes

Who've built their private fortunes
On the things they can rely
The courts, the secret handshake
The Stock Exchange and the old school tie
For God and Queen and Country
All things they justify
Above the sound of ideologies clashing

God bless the civil service
The nations saving grace
While we expect democracy
They're laughing in our face
And although our cries get louder
The laughter gets louder still
Above the sound of ideologies clashing

Above the sound of ideologies
Above the sound of ideologies
Above the sound of ideologies clashing

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From Talking With the Taxman About Poetry

3:281986

Listen

Album

Talking With the Taxman About Poetry

22nd September 1986

Track number

4

Release year

1986

1Greetings to the New Brunette
3:32
2Train Train
2:13
3The Marriage
2:32
4Ideology
3:28

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Tank Park Salute (John Peel Session, 12th May 1991)Best of Billy Bragg at the BBC 1983 - 2019

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Goodbye, Goodbye (Phill Jupitus Live, 30th March 2007)Best of Billy Bragg at the BBC 1983 - 2019

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Between the Wars (John Peel Session, 18th September 1984)Best of Billy Bragg at the BBC 1983 - 2019

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Levi Stubbs' Tears (Glastonbury Live, 26th June 2015)Best of Billy Bragg at the BBC 1983 - 2019

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View all tracks by Billy Bragg →

A Lover Sings (John Peel Session, 18th September 1984)Best of Billy Bragg at the BBC 1983 - 2019
4:06
Accident Waiting to Happen (John Peel Session, 12th May 1991)Best of Billy Bragg at the BBC 1983 - 2019
4:01
Between the Wars (John Peel Session, 18th September 1984)Best of Billy Bragg at the BBC 1983 - 2019
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Brickbat (John Peel Session, 13th October 1995)Best of Billy Bragg at the BBC 1983 - 2019
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Can't Be There Today
City of Heroes
Days Like These (John Peel Session, 20th August 1985)Best of Billy Bragg at the BBC 1983 - 2019
1:54
Fear Is a Man's Best Friend (John Peel Session, 27th July 1983)Best of Billy Bragg at the BBC 1983 - 2019
2:38
Freedom Doesn't Come for FreeThe Million Things That Never Happened
3:22
Freedom Doesn't Come For Free
3:22

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27 Feb 2025 • 11:45 am

5Levi Stubbs' Tears

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—Honey I’m a Big Boy Now

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Credits

Production & Engineering

Writer: Bob Dylan
Producer: John Porter, Kenny Jones