The Milkman of Human Kindness - Billy Bragg

I've come to believe that empathy is the currency of popular music, it’s what we offer the listener in return for their time. It’s certainly been a key aspect of my songwriting, all the way back to track one, side one of my debut album 40 years ago - 'The Milkman of Human Kindness'
Order 'The Roaring Forty' - bbragg.lnk.to/theroaringforty
Stream Playlist - bit.ly/407rQNt
#BB40 #TheRoaringForty 33

[@nc6766]

I have always thought that the lyric, "I am the milkman of human kindness, I will leave an extra pint", is one of the most beautiful I have ever heard.

[@spiritov69]

Agree ❤

[@doclime4792]

and let's not forget that the fact that milkmaids having prior exposure to cow pox indirectly lead to the development of a smallpox vaccine. Milkman and milkmaid both deserve hundreds of folk songs for their contribution and historical relevance to our great labor history. To milkmaids and milkmen!

[@Supercazzola]

Except Billy said it’s about being a sperm donor

[@warwalker]

Still love this song four decades on. Thanks, Bill for *all* the music and all the milk.

[@Phylaetra]

I was introduced to your music by a friend who sent me "Back to Basics" (oh - decades ago - in the 80s?), and I want to let you know that your music, your words, are at least a part of what kept me from shifting to the right as I have seen so many in my age cohort do. Music has power to shape the way we think, and there is a reason bards are more powerful than warriors.

[@versioncity1]

I remember as a 13 yr old going into Probe records in Liverpool to buy the Bunnymens Porcupine album with my hard earned paper round money and I saw this. It said pay no more than £2.99 and I had £3 left. The cover seemed some how cool and I liked the idea that the artist was saying how much it could be sold for. I bought it and it kind of blew me away. A cockney bloke who couldn't really seem to sing, played a scratchy guitar but wrote amazing lyrics. Thanks Bill, you were a big part of my teenage years.

[@lena-Ramone]

Bunnymen are cool this dweeb is a misogynist

[@lena-Ramone]

Bunnymen are cool this dweeb is a misogynist

[@arthurthistlewood1225]

yeah but porcupine was brilliant wasn't it?

[@versioncity1]

@@arthurthistlewood1225 Indeed it was, at that time the Bunnymen seemed like the best band around by a country mile.

[@jfu5222]

Thanks from an old punk rocker in St.Paul, Minnesota USA

[@evilchicken17]

I have always loved that you sound exactly the same live and recorded

[@jonathanmurphy3141]

I got a cassette of his music, back in 1987, with “Levi Stubbs tears” and “welcome to the new brunette”. I was traveling in Canada, went into a record store, and was interested in the song titles. I had no clue who Billy was, yet quickly became a fan.

[@monkeezorg]

More - never get enough of these videos.

[@johnwilson9328]

Can’t wait till next month. Going to see him at rock city Nottingham my daughter who will be almost 8 months pregnant

[@_OopsieDaisies]

forever one of my faves

[@oswaldomf5829]

Superb... Mr Bragg rocks...

[@slojam-sz7ey]

First vinyl I ever bought was the Levi Stubbs Tears 7” (with his amazing version of Walk Away Renee on the b side) along with White Lines by Grandmaster Flash. Spent that summer simultaneously learning C, G and D upside down on my dad’s guitar (I’m a lefty) and trying to do the caterpillar/crazy legs on the kitchen floor. Still love Bill and still love Flash.

[@sirbarnabyst.johntoffingto9017]

Early BB=top notch👍

[@timbetween]

Love this SO MUCH!

[@darren8183]

Went down the billy bragg HIGHWAY..YEARS AGO..and haven't got off on an exit yet..?ABSOULT GOLD.all 4lanes..thank.you.b.b.

[@lapper220]

Brilliant.

[@JohnSmith-cm9gh]

Be kind, kids

[@saburu79666]

Cracking ❤❤❤

[@chrismorrison3696]

Friend, mentor, North Star....thank you Bill. Love, Sloppy

[@stigroo9058]

Still 💙💙💙🙏

[@popguynyc]

Terrific! I wonder what the Stones are up to these days?

[@tommyrawlings3046]

Procol Harum did a song called the milk of human kindness

[@idontagree9658]

Hey can y'all post some more live show and collaborative stuff? Bragg's a busker at heart and theirs often something really great when musicians get together and improvise live. Any of his SXSW shows would be amazing!

[@martinda7446]

You will have to account for this if you live long enough. There will be no hiding when the world comes to its senses.

[@PhilipNorthcutt]

GOAT.

[@martinda7446]

S.H.I.T

[@MrDiscoseeker]

Good bye and good luck to the promises you’ve broken Bragg, once my hero….

[@zoltan-zq3xe]

Love the Morrissey haircut on Billy here.

[@jonathanmurphy3141]

I did know Kirsty MacCol’ “a New England” then, yet didn’t yet know the link.

[@dirkbogarde44]

Where did it all go wrong?

[@LillyPaterson-th8uf]

The greatest singer songwriter of all time.

[@martinda7446]

Yeah, of course. MY ARSE!

[@theragoooverlord5021]

Impotent Globo mayson.

[@forest9696]

Ed sheeran wishes he could be billy bragg

[@smithy280663]

still as poignant now Bill................

[@Nina5144]

Billy who? I only came across this name after reading his comments on Phil Collins (yes THE Phil Collins). Brag apparently criticised Phil’s song ‘Another Day in Paradise’ (with him jumping on the bandwagon not wanting to be left out), insinuating that Phil had used the homelessness theme purely for his own record and needs. Sadly Mr Bragg was unaware of Phil’s constant generous contributions to homeless charities throughout the world. Some people give quietly and anonymously, others ‘Bragg’ about their causes.

[@willrontani5894]

I kinda like the sound out of your Burns Steer a little better than this instrument. Seems a bit high on the treble which is throwing me off.

[@lsimmo78]

Bill wishes he could have written a song as good as 'Rich Men North of Richmond'.

[@TreMolloy]

I doubt it, rich men is a bit lost like a lot of poor Americans it seems to think trump and other rich men are the answer to their poverty it also has a silly reference to " minors being abused by rich men on another rich man's island" totally ignoring fact trump was there with epstein, the rich men in the south are as much to blame as the ones north of Richmond, it could of been a classic protest song alongside people like Tracey Chapman, but I think he decided he didn't wanna get cancelled by the Republican side of country music like the chicks did

[@andreaspieper3817]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3ixd4Vtpcyrers

[@dmor6696]

You've been milking man kind? Seriously?

[@SP-ie1vx]

This is horrific. Vocally, lyrically and musically horrific.

[@JinxMarie1985]

😂😂😂 this is the trashiest sh** I've very heard.

[@jeremywestern7067]

Always hated this w⚓️since he ruined a style council gig at the Ipswich corn exchange in 1984…total kont

[@martinda7446]

😁😁😁

[@thelaughingbasset]

I didn’t start disliking him until he showed us all how much he hates women. I’m sure if I’d have paid attention I’d have disliked him way before then.

[@jeremywestern7067]

@@thelaughingbassethe hates Maggie . His red wedge tour in support of Neil Pillocks Labour party is prob what gave mrs thatcher 2 more election victories

[@MrCozzie28]

It should be "MilkTheyThem" Its wrong to assume that all milkmen are men. Billy needs to check his privilege.