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Billy Bragg – The Short Answer (1988) | Track profile | Dork

Tracks
Billy Bragg
Workers Playtime
The Short Answer

TRACK

The Short Answer

Release date: 31st August 1988

From Workers PlaytimeTrack 10

5:00

Alternative Music Rock Singer/Songwriter

Spotify Apple Music More on Billy Bragg

About This Track

"The Short Answer" is a track by Billy Bragg, from the album Workers Playtime, released 31st August 1988. The track is 5:00 long. It's filed under Alternative. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 1 article about Billy Bragg.

About the Artist

Billy Bragg

Billy Bragg

Lyrics

The Short Answer

Between Marx and marzipan in the dictionary there was Mary
Between the Deep Blue Sea and the Devil that was me
If ever anyone could help me with my obsession with
The young Suzannah York
It was Mary

In my pink pyjamas she asked me for something
I gave her the short answer
She read our stars out loud
And I knew then that we should have gone sailing
But we stayed home instead
Fighting on the waterbed
Like the honeymoon couple on drugs
Me and Mary

What happened in the past
Remained a mystery of natural history
She should have been the last
But she was just the latest
If she wanted to be a farmer's wife
I would endure that muddy life
I would dig for victory

And the sound of happy couples
Coupling happily in the dark
While you and I sat down to tea
I remember you said to me
That no amount of poetry
Would mend this broken heart
But you can put the Hoover round
If you want to make a start

All my friends from school
Introduce me to their spouses
While I'm left standing here
With my hands down the front of my trousers
I just don't know what's to be done
I wonder sometimes how did Dad meet Mum
And how did they conceive of me
Tell my Mary

The boys who came to the shop
Always made her laugh much more than I did
When I told her this must stop
She didn't bat an eyelid
She said you know honey it's such a shame
You'll never be any good at this game
You bruise too easily
So said Mary

Her two brothers took me out
Of circulation for the duration
So we went our separate ways but does she still love me
She still has my door key
Like a bully boy in a Benetton shop
You're never happy with what you've got
Till what you've got is gone
Sorry Mary

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From Workers Playtime

5:001988

Listen

Album

Workers Playtime

1st September 1988

Track number

10

Release year

1988

1She's Got a New Spell
3:26
2Must I Paint You a Picture
5:32
3Tender Comrade
2:50
4The Price I Pay

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Scholarship Is the Enemy of Romance (Janice Long Session, 18th December 1985)Best of Billy Bragg at the BBC 1983 - 2019

Days Like These (John Peel Session, 20th August 1985)Best of Billy Bragg at the BBC 1983 - 2019

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

No-One Knows Nothing Anymore (Latitude Festival Live, 18th July 2014)Best of Billy Bragg at the BBC 1983 - 2019

Accident Waiting to Happen (John Peel Session, 12th May 1991)Best of Billy Bragg at the BBC 1983 - 2019

Fear Is a Man's Best Friend (John Peel Session, 27th July 1983)Best of Billy Bragg at the BBC 1983 - 2019

It Says Here (Janice Long Paris Theatre London Live, October 1999)Best of Billy Bragg at the BBC 1983 - 2019

The Saturday Boy (David Jensen Session, 22nd December 1983)Best of Billy Bragg at the BBC 1983 - 2019

Like Soldiers Do (David Jensen Session, 22nd December 1983)Best of Billy Bragg at the BBC 1983 - 2019

Brickbat (John Peel Session, 13th October 1995)Best of Billy Bragg at the BBC 1983 - 2019

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

This Gulf Between Us (John Peel Session, 13th October 1995)Best of Billy Bragg at the BBC 1983 - 2019

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

The Man in the Iron Mask (David Jensen Session, 22nd December 1983)Best of Billy Bragg at the BBC 1983 - 2019

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

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

Way over Yonder in the Minor Key (Bob Harris Live, 6th May 2012)Best of Billy Bragg at the BBC 1983 - 2019

The Busy Girl Buys Beauty (Janice Long Paris Theatre London Live, October 1999)Best of Billy Bragg at the BBC 1983 - 2019

The Warmest Room (John Peel Session, 2nd September 1986)Best of Billy Bragg at the BBC 1983 - 2019

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
2:40
Brickbat (John Peel Session, 13th October 1995)Best of Billy Bragg at the BBC 1983 - 2019
2:57
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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Mika, Jade Bird and Billy Bragg have joined the Latitude Festival 2025 lineup

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Mika, Doves, and Billy Bragg join a star-studded lineup at Suffolk's Latitude Festival 2025, alongside headliners Sting and Snow Patrol.

27 Feb 2025 • 11:45 am

3:34

5Little Time Bomb

6Rotting on Remand

7Valentine's Day Is Over

8Life with the Lions

10The Short Answer

5:00

11Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards

—Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards

—Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards

Credits

Production & Engineering

Writer: Billy Bragg
Producer: Joe Boyd, Wiggy (musician)
Bass: Billy Bragg
Acoustic Guitar: Kenny Jones (3), Wiggy (2)
Cello: Julia Palmer
Electric Guitar: Billy Bragg
Percussion: Tony Maronie
Slide Guitar: Wiggy (2)
Viola: Theresa Pamplin
Violin: Camilla Brunt, Donna Welchman