Billy Bragg - Greetings To The New Brunette (Official Video)

‘Greetings To The New Brunette’ is the second single released from Bragg’s album ‘Talking with the Taxman about Poetry’ in 1986. The single reached No.58 in the UK Singles Chart.
A classic song about a car thief talking openly to his partner about their current and future life with some of Billy’s most memorable lines including `How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team. The very entertaining video contains a lot of archive footage of couples - laughing, kissing, pogoing, getting married underwater even boxing.
The Million Things That Never Happened' is out now on CD and Digitally. Buy on CD, stream now and pre-order the 12" vinyl LP to get it at the earliest available date BBragg.lnk.to/TMTTNH
Follow Billy Bragg:
Instagram: / billybraggofficial
Twitter: / billybragg
Facebook: / billybraggofficial
www.billybragg.co.uk/
Lyrics:
Shirley
It's quite exciting to be sleeping here in this new room
Shirley
You're my reason to get out of bed before noon
Shirley
You know when we sat out on the fire escape talking
Shirley
What did you say about running before we were walking
Sometimes when we're as close as this
It's like we're in a dream
How can you lie there and think of england
When you don't even know who's in the team
Shirley
Your sexual politics have left me all of a muddle
Shirley
We are joined in the ideological cuddle
I'm celebrating my love for you
With a pint of beer and a new tattoo
And if you haven't noticed yet
I'm more impressionable when my cement is wet
Politics and pregnancy
Are debated as we empty our glasses
And how I love those evening classes
Shirley
You really know how to make a young man angry
Shirley
Can we get through the night without mentioning family
The people from your church agree
It's not much of a career
Trying the handles of parked cars
Whoops, there goes another year
Whoops, there goes another pint of beer
Here we are in our summer years
Living on icecream and chocolate kisses
Would the leaves fall from the trees
If I was your old man and you were my missus
Shirley
Give my greetings to the new brunette
Shirley
Give my greetings to the new brunette
Shirley
Greetings to the new brunette
Shirley
Greetings to the new brunette
Shirley
Greetings to the new brunette
Shirley
#BillyBragg #GreetinsToTheNewBrunette #TheMillionThingsThatNeverHappened

[@patriotrob7066]

Man I was 19 when this masterpiece came out 54 now and still love this. Reminds me of a long lost love I had.❤

[@kennethcollins6494]

Masterpiece is correct

[@user-jg9zw5fq5d]

Just discovered this song about a week ago. I’m 19 right now and my Dad is 54, he told me about it. Such a great song. 😊

[@johnhagan-zr4pm]

If you had a small d1ck why should she stay with you ?

[@EddieJapan]

"I'm celebrating my love for you / with a pint of beer and a new tattoo." Youth, defined.

[@alexandert5783]

"I'm celebrating my love for you With a pint of beer and a new tattoo" fuckin hell - great stuff

[@robertocolanzi]

"How can you lie there and think of England, when you don't know who is in the team" - a perfect lyric.

[@richardwallace6313]

Roberto, never expected to run into you here of all the people on Earth. I hope you are well.

[@robertocolanzi]

@@richardwallace6313 hey Richard... small world. Trust everything all good with you.

[@jfluffydog2110]

@@robertocolanzi hello roberto, how are the kids.

[@InterestingFingz]

I worked in a building here in N.Z with a shared reception. It was manned by a bubbly lady called Shirley. Every-day she’d cheerily say “Morning Paul” I’d reply “Morning New Brunette” It took a month and a bit before she asked “What’s this new brunette business?” I said it’s a song and you’ll have to google it. Next day I came into work and she had download-it to her phone. Played it with a big smile. Made my day. Contains one of my favourite song lines ever “How can you lie back and think of England when you don't even know who's in the team?” Don't write like they used too. Sadly.

[@rickg8015]

The Johnny Marr solo makes this extra special…

[@Fregward]

Thank you, Billy, for writing some of the greatest love songs of all time.

[@ronbenham2183]

Thanks Billy, for giving me so many tunes of love and other stuff. 54 now, I'm not the same as I was then, but why would I be? It's more than reminiscing though. It's a longing, for something I lost.

[@trackhos]

52 here and from the other side of the world (Philippines) and i hear you man, this song transports me to a simpler, magical time where anything was possible and love was as beautiful as it was (seemed) painful.

[@robfalgiano]

You didn’t really lose anything, Friend. Life is all change. But we carry the best parts in our hearts.

[@user-it3xp8bm5z]

Chin Up mate

[@samsuzza2008]

Hey Ron, recent 50 year old messaging from Australia

[@cardigan3000]

nice words bro

[@nicolahamill3292]

The best line “I’m more impressionable when my cement is wet”. Bloody brilliant!

[@rjjcms1]

Plenty of super lines in this song. Love the video too.

[@damianmcwilliams2371]

I always thought he said.."when my singlet is wet"🙀

[@temperot]

And hearing Kirsty still makes my heart ache.

[@zioabert]

I heard this song in special time of my life, I had many talks in front of pints of beer with a beautiful girl and now that I’m near to sixties I think about those old times and I go little bit sad, so I take anotner pint of beer😁

[@richardphillips6392]

What a song. Billy and Johnny: two humans we can be proud of.

[@valyriandonkey9165]

“Whoops there goes another year.” All too real.

[@rjjcms1]

Watching this on New Year's Day,having not heard it in donkey's years. Out with the old,in with the new and all that. Discovered I'd sawn through my mobile phone charging lead with a breadknife while cutting bread,which will teach me to leave it on the kitchen sideboard,found a spot of mould on the back of the living room couch so had to launch an emergency cleaning operation,and the £30 of cash I had left in my wallet has mysteriously vanished. Other than those minor mishaps,the last day or two of 2022 went spiffingly. Hopefully,2023 will be a step up for everyone; a lot of people out there need it to be.

[@dantesinferno1258]

And I’m 18 again. Greetings from the old brunette.

[@TheSuwanneeMama]

And this old brunette, too

[@ceeemm1901]

When I was at WAAPA in Perth in 1989... my classmate Peter Webb said to me, reminding me, as I was a big Billy fan, "When all else fails,...Billy Bragg".And as I see the the entropy of civilisation in Nov. 2021....I feel warm listening to Billy in an otherwise cold hedonistic world.

[@justl0ew437]

It‘s weird, but this song and the video make me nostalgic about a time i wasn‘t even born

[@rjjcms1]

Understandable.

[@michaelbove3973]

It hurts my heart so badly when I listen to this.

[@DavidAKZ]

Why is that ?

[@michaelbove3973]

@@DavidAKZ It breaks my heart all over again duer to overwhelming nostalgia.

[@malcolmwhite6588]

@@michaelbove3973me too man , me too- lost youth the good times the hard times(melancholy sigh) 😢😂

[@saucyvinnie3812]

This song tears me up inside. In a good way I suppose. I hope you and Johnny Marr record something soon!

[@mitch2620]

One of the greatest love songs ever written. Top drawer, Bill.

[@userknownastom]

I’ve always loved this video - stock footage, budget spent on beer, and a few glam shots of Billy went a long way. Still have the 12” too!

[@samsuzza2008]

“How I love those evening classes” …. I really love that. Great stuff Billy

[@notlob23]

A stunning vinyl from my youth. Brings back great memories. Now nearly 58 but seems like yesterday. Marr's guitar riff is superb . The late great Kirsty McColl too...

[@psycobe]

grazie signor Bragg

[@robfalgiano]

Still perfect. Always has been. Always will be.

[@FoxyFreddie]

A perfect, perfect song. Means so much to me. Bless you Billy

[@MrMartinmozz]

I bought this album (late to the game, but I was only 18 so give me a break!) on the strength of Billy's Reading 1996 performance, because I had fallen in love with Waiting For the Great Leap Forwards. I was amazed he had written so many other beautifil/powerful tunes. He was like The Jam, The Smiths - but he did it all on his own! I then went out and bought a guitar and learned "The Mlkman of Human Kindness" which is still one of my favs. Thank you so much Billy x

[@geraldinewalters8377]

Absolutely broke my heart to have to miss you in Cambridge last week. Bloody Covid. Seeing this just confirms my pain. Loved you and everything since first sight at The Diorama Club in 1985/6. Thanks.

[@melodyalfie]

Thank you Billy for writing the best love songs alongside the political songs!

[@ade1963]

Wonderful memories from a lifetime ago

[@jgarnernorth1391]

My favorite song in history

[@kennethcollins6494]

Here we are in our summer years, living on ice cream and chocolate kisses, would the leaves fall from the trees if I was your old man and you were my Misses

[@tonyspoetry]

Great video

[@C64Forever72]

Didn't know the song in the 80s, stumbled upon this masterpiece in a 80s playlist on spotify. Heard it one time and loved it!

[@thesilverhuck]

Curious if you can share the name of the playlist.

[@berndgruner8510]

Danke. Ich bin. Froh Deine Stimme. Zu..hören

[@thulsadoom2719]

Classic Anthem

[@HermanWaldorf]

I'm celebrating my love for you with a pint of beer and a new tattoo

[@rely9]

i love existing footage videos, one of my specialties.

[@Lyndanet]

❤️‍🩹 I always think of this as the perfect song to welcome a new little wonder into the world …it’s such a classic

[@johnlipinski2395]

Such a unique talent Billy was

[@jasonph2522]

He's not dead mate.

[@jconradh]

I absolutely love your music, thanks!!

[@alessandrolugli-nb3dk]

Grazie Billy per questa canzone commovente e bellissima

[@iriswigle]

Haven't had time to check out all of Billy Brags. I did go to a Carol King theatre thingy in Canada last week. Everyone there was like between the age of 60 to 90. Life goes on Billy Brags.

[@Benno7844]

What a tune, it hits deep, you don't even have to relate to the lyrics (although they are excellent), just the feel of the tune, beautiful and hopeful piece of music :-)

[@bennyhillschineseblokechar3689]

If only we had top 10 singles ( . . . Whatever that is today!) with such great lyrics like this around today.

[@aidankilmartin2521]

Always Liked Billy ,top songwriter and more importantly a top man

[@antster1983]

As featured on NOW That's What I Call Music 8, released in November 1986. Record/Tape 2, Side 1, Track 7 (or CD 2 Track 7 of the 2021 reissue).

[@antster1983]

Personnel Billy - vocals, acoustic guitar Johnny Marr - electric guitar Kirsty MacColl - backing vocals John Porter - bass guitar, slide guitar, co-producer Simon Moreton - percussion Kenny Jones - co-producer, engineer

[@robertoriva2758]

Grande Billy! 🖤 Roberto from Italy 🇮🇹

[@carmengueye8050]

Thanks from Italy

[@fresoui]

So much fun!

[@timberframingbear]

Do much time has passed since I first found you. Always amazing!

[@jimmyzbike]

Amazing. Thanks for sharing

[@drstevie]

Beautiful.

[@peteroborn1692]

Love it. Timeless.

[@purplegrrl711]

You were so young billy love this song

[@richardalder2498]

Billy this my favourite of your songs, supper lyrics. Well done.

[@rebeccahill7912]

This song has the best line ever in it

[@mrsainsburys1]

Top 10 songs everrrrrrrrrr 🦉🙏👍❤️

[@carmengueye8050]

Unforgettable

[@adrianjohnson918]

Loving this film montage and the tunes, natch!

[@terryhurley1]

the greatest..surely?

[@mblumenstein1]

This song means everything to me. Everything. Thank you @Biily Bragg

[@loadedorygun]

I love the shot of Kruschev kissing during the “sexual politics has got me all in a muddle” line and then the intersex boxing for “ideological cuddle.” And a Wiggy sighting!

[@slimjim4239]

a real heart

[@kaeedou722]

Still play this song today as I did in my summer years with my old cheap guitar

[@user-it3xp8bm5z]

Classic

[@MarckKnitwear]

RIP Great Britain, destroyed by power and greed by all those change agents and influentials, you know who you are!!

[@surfsup5757]

It's just as bad in America. The rich are moving to any coast while pushing the less desirables inland.

[@32cekm]

You have...not understood Billy Bragg's music at all

[@_zigger_]

destroyed by brown people

[@ringodingo]

Surely, you can't be serious ! : )

[@fonzisalgado512]

COOL

[@fernandocesar5254]

2022, from Brazil ❤️❤️❤️

[@birgitkeinath7409]

Lieblingslied

[@helgemoller5158]

So long time passed since "New England" Saw u only one time live in Hamburg on ur Concert. Most of ur LP´s on Vinyl but no place for a Player ;)

[@JMarinelli]

Fucking hell, this is perfect.

[@pig1801]

Brilliant - thought I'd seen just about everything! But no! Never saw that one - brilliant though!

[@Pazuzu82]

Johnny Marr on guitar

[@jfluffydog2110]

Only electric

[@davidwhirled6024]

Mental note,,,, if I'm ever invited to dessert island discs ,,,,,, 🧐

[@VictorianDad]

Love all the different Shirleys... Shirley MacLaine Shirley Bassey Shirley Temple

[@susannewitt6112]

What a song?

[@thomassinnott6370]

Don't write songs like this anymore class act billy

[@iriswigle]

Billy Brags? I forgot all about you. Your dedication seems to imply you know Shirley???? I am sorry I do not remember you....must listen to all your videos

[@katiecramerson7778]

1:33: Whilst being serenaded by her son Stephen W., Mrs Bragg looks on despairingly and wonders "When will he ever get a real job."

[@katiecramerson7778]

From one of the songbooks that a boyfriend of mine had in the 90s. I loved the picture so much, he made me a color photocopy (expensive back then!) and that's still pinned to my fridge today! Still love the pic and the caption.

[@peterlorrequartet6559]

I'm celebrating my love to you With a pint of beer and a new tattoo And if you haven't noticed yet I'm more impressionable when my cement is wet

[@jgarnernorth1391]

Me toi

[@johncaballero8430]

Lyrics: Shirley It's quite exciting to be sleeping here in this new room Shirley You're my reason to get out of bed before noon Shirley You know when we sat out on the fire escape talking Shirley What did you say about running before we were walking Sometimes when we're as close as this It's like we're in a dream How can you lie there and think of england When you don't even know who's in the team Shirley Your sexual politics have left me all of a muddle Shirley We are joined in the ideological cuddle I'm celebrating my love for you With a pint of beer and a new tattoo And if you haven't noticed yet I'm more impressionable when my cement is wet Politics and pregnancy Are debated as we empty our glasses And how I love those evening classes Shirley You really know how to make a young man angry Shirley Can we get through the night without mentioning family The people from your church agree It's not much of a career Trying the handles of parked cars Whoops, there goes another year Whoops, there goes another pint of beer Here we are in our summer years Living on icecream and chocolate kisses Would the leaves fall from the trees If I was your old man and you were my missus Shirley Give my greetings to the new brunette Shirley Give my greetings to the new brunette Shirley Greetings to the new brunette Shirley Greetings to the new brunette Shirley Greetings to the new brunette Shirley

[@saraliza3137]

Shirley, it's so exciting to be sleeping here in this new room Shirley, you're my reason to get out of bed before noon Shirley, you know when we sat out on the fire escape talking Shirley, what did you say about running before we were walking? Sometimes when we're as close as this It's like we're in a dream How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team? Shirley, your sexual politics have left me all of a muddle Shirley, we're joined in the ideological cuddle I'm celebrating my love to you With a pint of beer and a new tattoo And if you haven't noticed yet I'm more impressionable when my cement is wet Politics and pregnancy are debated as we empty our glasses And how I love those evening classes Shirley, you really know how to make a young man angry Shirley, can we get through the night without mentioning family? The people from the church agree It's not much of a career Trying the handles of parked cars Whoops there goes another year, whoops there goes another pint of beer Here we are in our summer years Living on ice cream and chocolate kisses And would the leaves fall from the trees If I was your old man and you was my missus? Give my greetings to the new brunette Shirley Greetings to the new brunette Shirley Greetings to the new brunette Shirley Greetings to the new brunette Shirley Source: Musixmatch Songwriters: Stephen William Bragg

[@twistwashereagain]

I was told by my father, that Shirley Temple was a PinUpGirl for PedophoelliaMen. I am horrified that this could be true, let alone the need for him to disclose that to me.

[@yancywest]

Well at least now i know who frank turner has been stealing from. Dude!?choose better.

[@elliehartland1396]

Fancy running for government and putting the people first?

[@Pappy207]

Is Shirley a girl though Billy ????

[@thomashardcastle6464]

"Would the leaves fall from the trees If I was your old man and you were my missus" shirley is a girl

[@mach1853]

shots of Shirley MacLaine early in clip makes u wonder whether it was coincidendal

[@andymurph3394]

The only good song that he had the rest of songs are awful. He can says what he wants about morrissey but he will never be as good as him .