Billy Bragg - Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards (Official Video)

A heartfelt call to join the struggle for a better world - `You can be active with the activists or sleep in with the sleepers’. The classic video features some early photo bombing as Billy joins political figures from Kennedy to Castro onstage.
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
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www.billybragg.co.uk/
Lyrics:
It may have been Camelot for Jack and Jacqueline
But on the Che Guevara highway filling up with gasoline
Fidel Castro's brother spies a rich lady who's crying
Over luxury's disappointment
So he walks over and he's trying
To sympathise with her but he thinks that he should warn her
That the Third World is just around the corner.
In the Soviet Union a scientist is blinded
By the resumption of nuclear testing and he is reminded
That Dr Robert Oppenheimer's optimism fell
At the first hurdle.
In the Cheese Pavilion and the only noise I hear
Is the sound of someone stacking chairs
And mopping up spilt beer
And someone asking questions and basking in the light
Of the fifteen fame-filled minutes of the fanzine writer.
Mixing pop and politics he asks me what the use is
I offer him embarrassment and my usual excuses
While looking down the corridor
Out to where the van is waiting
I'm looking for the Great Leap Forwards.
Jumble sales are organised and pamphlets have been posted
Even after closing time there's still parties to be hosted
You can be active with the activists
Or sleep in with the sleepers
While you're waiting for the Great Leap Forwards.
One leap forward, two leaps back
Will politics get me the sack?
Here comes the future and you can't run from it
If you've got a blacklist I want to be on it.
It's a mighty long way down rock 'n roll
From Top of the Pops to drawing the dole.
If no one seems to understand
Start your own revolution and cut out the middleman.
In a perfect world we'd all sing in tune
But this is reality so give me some room.
So join the struggle while you may
The Revolution is just a T-shirt away.
Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards
#BillyBragg #WaitingForTheGreatLeapForwards #TheMillionThingsThatNeverHappened

[@chrismorrison3696]

Met Billy at the Mean Fiddler in North London in 1990. He was so dear and sweet and generous with his time talking to me. I was so nervous and he knew it. He put his hand gently on my shoulder and said, "It's okay mate. Just take your time." I will never forget it, ever. Love, Sloppy

[@cpome7]

Hi.Was this at a Lilac Time gig?

[@chrismorrison3696]

@@cpome7 Hi CP7! This was at a private record party for Billy's "Utility" label. Billy did not play but was the MC. Clive Parker, Junger and Parker and a band called Weddings, Parties, Anything were the groups that played. All the best from Portland.

[@josemaria8177]

The song I come back to on hard times. "Make your own revolution and cut out the middle man" is one of my favourite lyrics of all time

[@r-tyomfrolov4211]

couldn't agree more

[@monikacognomen1096]

'If you've got a blacklist, I wanna be on it' is better. Story of my life...

[@edposs8483]

Perfect . Me too

[@jeffmilligan7030]

I think the lyrics to this song are just about the cleverest in pop music - ‘if you’ve got a black list, I want to be on it’ is also brilliant

[@sandyhortin8924]

Goto...... why I'm here. Song❤

[@Prince_Gordon]

After 25 years of fandom I finally get to see him tonight! The man is a legend and a hero.

[@fawn8771]

This song always brings me to tears. It reminds me that we're all just brief moments in history and our responsibility is to make life easier for our descendents. And God I hope for what mistakes I make in life my actions are a net positive on history.

[@thewangster123]

One of the greatest songs of all time 🙂

[@goods5119]

That he has always kept the lyrics current, without losing anything, is remarkable. Truly a masterpiece. I feel like any Billy is what any punk should aspire to become. Mature without losing any of the values

[@steveb3354]

Haha You've got to be kidding me 🤣

[@robertarisz8464]

Billy's heart has been straight and true for the 40 years I have followed him - a rare artist that does not demand commercials but RESPECT. Thanks to him for all he has done.

[@christophermccafferty1107]

Saw him last night at the Portsmouth Guildhall he finished with New England and he allowed us, the audience to sing all the choruses while he just played guitar. 3rd time I’ve seen Billy and every time gets better and better. Go see the roaring 40s tour if you can xx

[@vesuvius1968]

He connects the personal and the political better than anyone I can think of. Such amazing songwriting.

[@keirbateman267]

Yes amongst other greats like Leon Rosselson, Robb Johnson, Roy Bailey, Eric Bogle, Dick Gaughan and the king of them all Phil Ochs.

[@coralinejames1414]

check out The Michael Character out of Boston. one of the best bands making music for the struggle for human dignity.

[@johnnybravo965]

Remember first hearing this song late night - around 1am -on MTV back in ‘88 before moving from my home state to a new one the next day. Still takes me back to that special life-changing night whenever I hear it

[@bzarrazb1648]

a lot of my original favorites were found when waking up to MTV late at night. would’ve loved to hear this!

[@Democrities]

Until the final victory, always!

[@frangarcia7774]

My favorite Billy song and one of my favorite songs of all time. Love the humorous video

[@utredutredson1686]

Levis Stubbs tears changed my life

[@ryanbuckner2405]

I have a been a huge fan of Frank Turner for years. It’s quite obvious that you were a big inspiration for him. I can’t believe I just found your music. Never too late I guess. Thank you sir for your incredible contribution to music and activism.

[@craig7248]

I've loved this song for over 30 years and this is the first time I've seen this video.

[@DucktorZom]

Likewise mate! 🙌🏻

[@willrontani5894]

I remember stumbling upon this video on a college music tv program… I fell hard at the musicality and a point of view that was I wasn’t exposed to. Every one of my fiends where coddled by pop hair bands. I haven’t looked back. I got a chance to see him live at the Warfield in SF in the early 90’s on his Sexuality tour. To this day, I still don’t know why Billy’s mum hated his hair back then.

[@taramcmahon5533]

I am singing this song tonight on my first proper Facebook livestream. Thank you Billy Bragg. 😘

[@Hootville]

Great to hear this live last night at The Forum, Melbourne. Thanks Billy. And thanks Dave for the ticket! Our funeral song list is already halfway sorted.

[@daninusa5297]

A song so great, not even Bragg could do it twice. I recall listening on the radio in 1987 as a young teen with my parents in their 40s. Even upon first listen, my parents immediately got the gentle barb at Kennedy and political symbols. Now that is great music. Perhaps aimed at intellectuals, but great nonetheless.

[@stevegallagher687]

This masterpiece never gets old. Thanks BB

[@shelleyberry188]

Have loved every version of this song we've ever heard, and always learn some new knowledge. Thank you, Billy!

[@skrypthobbies]

I'm still waiting Col ... shalom brother ... 💜

[@andychrist2922]

Careful what you wish for socialism has millions of deads blood on it's hand particularly Jewish blood

[@sandyhortin8924]

I was in Melbourne Victoria in grade eight the first time I listened to this song ..... thank you Billy... Somethings don't change,why? because they don't have to, they are ageless ❤.

[@lobster211666]

Still the most inspiring song ever written

[@vesuvius1968]

And Levi Stubbs' Tears might be the saddest

[@goodun2974]

At the very least, "Never Enough" by Robb Johnston deserves mention. Here is Martin Simpson's version: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYelY5p7fayIkKc . Martin also does a terrific cover of the Depression-era song "Buddy Can You Spare A Dime", which is on KZbin somewhere. For that matter, Ry Cooders' album "Into the Purple Valley" has some equally good ones, songs about broke farmers, vigilantes, and Okies fleeing the DustBowl only to be turned back by police at the California state line.

[@destradecyril2272]

Cette chanson me touche les tripes et le coeur.... loin du brexit et de la bêtise populiste de certains politiciens !!!! Vive Billy Bragg

[@matthewarmitage6681]

Still love Billy to this day and this is a great song too xx.

[@pig1801]

You hear so many different versions of this I forgot how good the original is!! And doesn't he wear a hat well!!

[@mascadadelpantion8018]

THE BEST SONG OF ALL TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Algorithm75]

I loved this song when I was growing up... good days, thanks Bill!

[@TheFinnmacool]

Gen X is the best!

[@grimlock1211]

Wasn't the actual great leap forward a mass murderer of millions of Chinese?? Help me understand why this song is awesome.

[@lauraslocumb257]

Blame Mao Se Tung.

[@Kiwigd]

This is one of my favourites from my youth.. I’m looking forward to seeing Billy play locally in Feb ‘23..

[@robcherry6734]

I love it when he does a topical version of this Live, the Brexit one is possibly better than the original!

[@desperatemohammedantheworl5833]

Let me guess Billy "Champagne Socialist" Bragg was anti-Brexit? How the heck did this trash end up in suggestions?

[@richardpullen6053]

@@desperatemohammedantheworl5833 Calm down mate. Just don't comment and click on a song you know you won't like.

[@desperatemohammedantheworl5833]

@@richardpullen6053 I like some BB songs. This however is useless.

[@kenkerr8091]

@@desperatemohammedantheworl5833 Thanks for your opinion.

[@jamespicksley5781]

@@desperatemohammedantheworl5833 considering the vitriol in your first comment, I suspect you're lying and backtracking after the sheer idiocy of clicking on a song you knew you wouldn't like was pointed out

[@MasonHellCat]

Love it! Thanks Billy. This song continues to inspire and rouse me every time I hear it. Brilliant.

[@TheFinnmacool]

It just popped in my head today and came back for it. Found this version! Agree!

[@MikeCee7]

As an American, this is only the 4th major song (with somewhat popularity) from my childhood, of a British artist singing with a thick British accent, (as opposed to most other British songs/artist/songs that have been popular here in America)

[@DJProfessorDan]

Things really get exciting when Billy starts philosophizing about “mixing pop and politics” and starts communicating in the best political protester tradition: with slogans! “If no one seems to understand, start your own revolution and cut out the middleman.” And of course the immortal “The Revolution” is just a T-Shirt Away!!!” “Waiting For The Great Leap Forward” is a 10!

[@thomasdungl8493]

So much great pearle of the eighties ... thank you so much for sharing !

[@susannewitt6112]

Love you Billy since ca, 1986/7 or something. ZDF magazin on a sunday morning shows me what music must be.

[@calmurphymusic]

Billy Bragg - what an absolute legend!

[@smithy280663]

still brilliant in 2023

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

Wonderful song…perfect video.

[@CousinCreepy]

Still waiting Billy, and it gets harder and harder to remain optimistic. We could all use a small step backwards into a simpler time.

[@GreenMonstah77]

I love this song so much. All time favorite. And nice video as well. 😎✅👍🏼

[@Justicescales]

Love this song ❣️

[@AndreBeverage]

we need more of this!

[@XeniaAidonopoulou]

♥ this song...

[@karimmoukaddem4491]

This is fantastic. I can't believe it's new to me.

[@JeffreySmith84]

Another gem I didn't know existed! Thanks for posting, Billy!

[@ianmcbride412]

This classic when I heard it again just after the tories peroged parliament, it really gave me strength to still believe, and it brought a few tears to me eyes 🏴‍☠️🧷🤓

[@becausky518]

Billy Bragg...hat off!

[@virlinguarum4907]

I love this eternally evolving theme tune 😍

[@LasArmas_]

me too. stomach hurts but my heart is warm

[@steverowe5990]

OMG I love this song and the sensibility behind it.

[@robertocolanzi]

Bragg played this at a Uni of Tasmania concert 1987 (I think). What a song, what a concert, what a night.

[@penguinuprighter6231]

Always a delight. Thanks Billy.

[@reindeer-o-stoole]

always a shirty bore. no thanks william.

[@bigmagic96]

So enjoyable, love it.

[@HamCubes]

What a song, Mr. Billy Bragg! Bravo! 👏🤩🙏🫴🔥

[@tennesseejermyn7705]

This is an anthem

[@berndgruner8510]

Danke. Für. Diesen.Song. Danke

[@TheSquishBucket]

2023, still waiting... and feels farther than ever

[@feelsgoodman1349]

Keep organizing united for those who want to hold us down so they can have all power. ✊

[@saschajanen4367]

The one and only Soundtrack of my Youth.

[@lupodelupis3672]

Greetings to the comrade Billy Bragg from Italy.✊

[@marcobertoni2381]

Oh allora non sono l'unico italiano...a Sestri levante erano praticamente tutti british al concerto...

[@Legaboia]

Eccolo… dagli anni ‘80 ci sono anche io. Ma non sono una zecca. Ci tengo a dirlo

[@lupodelupis3672]

@@Legaboia e allora caro ratto di chiavica non capisco che ci fai qua, visto che Bragg è più rosso che mai...

[@marcobertoni2381]

@@Legaboia eccolo un fascio che non capisce ciò che ascolta...e comunque non te lo ha chiesto nessuno.

[@johnmargham9299]

Excellent lyrics

[@SunflowerSocialist]

My personal anthem

[@lauraslocumb257]

Tank Park Salute is my favorite song. This one second.

[@adriennechristy3935]

all the love to you, and thanks for all the love from you, to all of you 💕

[@ilcasuelyilca6520]

Capítulos emblemáticos da história.

[@vanThomzen]

This video ... omg ... incredibly good. Billy's acting skills are great. And don't forget, the song is great too. Thank you very much Billy!

[@MrMLD1972]

❤

[@douglasparkinson4123]

awkward billy bragg waving at people in JFKs wedding is my entire social interaction history.

[@martinfinegan8045]

Ha, complimented a fellow traveller on their t-shirt this morning, and of course I started giggling when I listened to this just earlier. After all "the revolution is just a t-shirt away"!

[@tawfimania]

Qué genialidad!!

[@VALTERJONBURGESSIII]

♡

[@christianew.2367]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@herc_ules_therealone]

No matter the tune, I believe all artists need to make a statement in their time, political, social, or otherwise.

[@robwood8331]

Wooooooow

[@andrewwilks9149]

Features on my favourite film, Face. Or was it Rod Stewart? Grown to love it.

[@Coastwiser]

I love your work so very much Billy Bragg keep it coming I saw you once on the banks of the Delaware River in Philadelphia then a thunder storm came in and threatened us and you asked us to leave for our safety and we did and we enjoyed for we saw you for a while Song to the tune of Billy Bragg's voice

[@thereal_kpatz]

Saw him at a Red wedge concert in 87 at Islington, kin brill.

[@JamieBarton1984]

BB is truth.

[@herbieshine1312]

Don't know if I've ever seen this. It's always been the problem liking less familiar music. It's always difficult to see videos for the stuff you like! Utterly wonderful

[@herbieshine1312]

@conceptobject here in the uk independent music predominantly only played on John Peel. Possibly 10pm-12am Monday-Thursday. David Jenson and later Janice Long played some more accessible alternative music beforehand, 8pm-10pm Recording peel sessions on to tape. I kept most of them until earlier this year. Thatcher and the tories in government. We did have independent record shops that sold alternative music, but from experience it was usually only one such store in your average size town. Being an indie/ alternative fan would lead to calls of various insults when walking out and about for the clothes you wore or the hair style you had. To be honest I loved that, I still have an indie "heart" and I'm proud to have been different then and still now. I like and liked the tribalism we had. Although music I listen to now is much wider. Edit: punk was more of a 70's phenomenon here but lead to the indie scene I loved

[@canecreek00]

Billy that’s sacrilege volume fading out the “beam me up scotty” the ducks eye of the track.

[@frankhiggins4269]

2022...superb!

[@zhendawes8802]

🖖

[@tommynocash2419]

The more things change the more the stay the same, thanks billy, proper tune, lend us a tenner

[@TimothyDurnbaugh]

Thanks man as a sucidalal RN post covid Ill keep waiting.

[@user-ew7rw8wu7g]

SEN on Facebook, the truth will set you free. Thanks Billy, always had a great message❤

[@marcshaw8552]

Genius

[@Ross17033]

A fantastic song, one of my favourites of yours, but the video.... Best version I've ever heard of this was live in Portsmouth with Michelle Shocked and The Beatnigs.

[@goodun2974]

Michelle Shocked ! I saw her several times in the 80's/early 90's, both with backing bands, and solo, and she was wonderful---- but then she went over to fundamentalist Christianity and went off her rocker.

[@johnbarry1965]

Have loved Billy since first hearing "A13 trunk road to the sea" on Peel 1983, a national treasure xxxx

[@TheChipmunk2008]

Still waiting, and wiling

[@Ceafer247]

Love this song.

[@section8atl]

The fight continues

[@agardi0827]

glory to workers

[@JacobSmith-hz2tr]

Never a truer sentiment for the bleak times we are living through today,

[@drstevie]

FAB :)

[@chrishaps6846]

I'm waiting dude

[@TheFinnmacool]

Baraxo! Push the Red Button! NO Wait!

[@eddiej9733]

Found good success, but still feel it’s a massively under appreciated song. The lyrics and musicality are cracking

[@hilo6755]

A National Treasure X

[@cutelilmurderer4829]

Im currently making up a modern version of this song to describe the desperate times we are facing in the UK

[@therajaofashbourne8483]

feel free to post a link to it here as a reply when it's finished (if it isnt already). Would love ta hear it! This kind of music is so important rn.

[@johngallagher72]

Go see Billy sometime in concert he tweaks the lyrics every so often .. when I went to see him in concert in '98 it was the night after the New York Yankees won the world series ... he changed the lyrics to ... ' the 15 fame filmed minutes of the New York Yankees"

[@yt8co]

Did you finish it?

[@myfaveyoutube]

Thanks BB you helped form my mind as a teen !

[@velikotilainen3472]

I have always been a great fan of him He used to visit Finland often times during 1980's but after Soviet Union collapse- he kind of predicted it during glasnost - he sort of disappeared from mainline media