GOD'S FOOTBALLER-BILLY BRAGG

[@LaughingStock_]

Billy Bragg has never got the recognition he so rightly deserves. He truly is one of the finest songwriters and lyricists England has produced. This is a perfect ballad.

[@Archi-Bald]

Peter Knowles never got the recognition he deserved either. I think neither Billy or Peter craved it though

[@Archi-Bald]

Great ballad about a great footballer and a man who still has the faith and conviction that what he did was right. He’s never regretted leaving football but wolves supporters like me have. Up the wolves

[@elainewright8518]

Privileged to serve with him. A humble man loved by all.

[@Pragwo1f]

I still remember the headlines at the time, and my family of Wolves supporters talking about his departure as if it was a funeral. A brilliant player. I am sure most see him now in a positive light-a man of huge integrity who had the courage of his convictions.

[@andr3wt3rry]

Great song, I've always admired Peter Knowles for his conviction, I'm now a witness too and I know his choice helped me along the way. I still love the Wolves, they've just slipped a little in priority 😀⚽️😀⚽️

[@forgive7449]

wolves are in the fa cup semi final. does that excite you ?

[@huxleypig69]

My dad told me about Peter Knowles lots during our times going to Molineux. He sounded like a great player.

[@barrywest2170]

Saw him play many times a great footballer with amazing talent Was so sorry when he left the game but you have to respect and admire his principle in following his spiritual path 🙏🙏🏿🙏🏽⚽️⚽️🐺🐺🐺🐺

[@davidantonyaston]

Great song. Great player. Spoke to a JW at work the other day who told me Peter is still very much involved.

[@elainewright8518]

Lovely man who has never wavered in his choice and his faith.

[@ants5120]

a great video to a great song,he score's goal's on a saturday,he Save's soul's on a Sunday.nice

[@carathebaker]

One of Billy Bragg's beautiful ballads

[@budthebusker]

Great Song. It's a shame the video has a picture of a building (church) with a cross (ancient pagan symbol ) out the front instead of a Kingdom Hall.

[@Telstar62a]

I don't think he's being sarcastic; I think Billy was just touched in some way about Knowles's story, turning away from a burgeoning career because he was fearful of somehow being responsible for possibly ruining another man's career by injury, and turning to his faith. I think Knowles believed (and rightfully, imo) that there are more important things in life than empty fame and fortune - however, he is one of the few that have put that strong belief into action.

[@chrisbarlow2131]

Very well said.

[@elainewright8518]

True to his faith.

[@usheit]

God's footballer hears the voices of angels Above the choir at Molineux God's footballer stands on the doorstep And brings the Good News of the Kingdom to come While the crowd sings 'Rock of Ages' The goals bring weekly wages Yet the glory of the sports pages Is but the worship of false idols and tempts him notGod's footballer turns on a sixpence And brings the Great crowd to their feet in praise of him God's footballer quotes from the Gospels While knocking on doors in Black Country back streetsHe scores goals on a Saturday And saves souls on a Sunday For the Lord says these are the Last Days Prepare thyself for the Judgement yet to comeHis career will be over soon And the rituals of a Saturday afternoon Bid him a reluctant farewell For he knows beyond the sport lies the spiritual

[@EmethEverywhere]

Great song about a great guy.. !

[@bedfordwolf]

Fantastic song, been looking for it on youtube for ages so thanks - video not bad either! I AM a Wolves fan and can still vividly remmber being heartbroken when Peter Knowles announced he was giving up the game to become a Jehova's Witness. Fair play to him though - he stuck at it and never came back even though most thought he;s be back in a few months.

[@garyripley1]

I think I once saw a little documentary on Peter, - On British T.V. I think his brother was Cyril Knowles , great defender at Tottenham Hotspurs in the late sixties , early seventies. ' Nice One Cyril'. Peter had fantastic skill, and was hailed as 'the English George Best'.On the program I think I can remember him saying when Wolves played Manchester United (before the game)... " I'm going to get sent off today,..To take the limelight away from George" - and he was !

[@Telstar62a]

Well done! A great song which lends itself well to your images; and an interesting sport-related story.

[@albertus1950]

Billy Bragg - God's Footballer Tekst piosenki: God's footballer hears the voices of angels Above the choir at Molineux God's footballer stands on the doorstep And brings the Good News of the Kingdom to come While the crowd sings 'Rock of Ages' The goals bring weekly wages Yet the glory of the sports pages Is but the worship of false idols and tempts him not God's footballer turns on a sixpence And brings the Great crowd to their feet in praise of him God's footballer quotes from the Gospels While knocking on doors in Black Country back streets He scores goals on a Saturday And saves souls on a Sunday For the Lord says these are the Last Days Prepare thyself for the Judgement yet to come His career will be over soon And the rituals of a Saturday afternoon Bid him a reluctant farewell For he knows beyond the sport lies the spiritual

[@Telstar62a]

Good job, poultryhen, i like your choice of images. When I first heard the song and before I knew the Knowles story, I kind of pictured the song as a "Between the Wars" story, 1930s, grey, rainy town with deserted streets and a few dogs running around, the occasional delivery van, etc. with a doorstep preacher making his way along the streets. A very picturesque song.

[@4boysandalittlelady358]

Best football songs ever

[@alonsocampusanoo]

Peter eligió el mejor de los caminos ...el angosto...el único que conduce a la vida. Well done Peter

[@poultryhen]

Thanks for the comments. I'm pleased at how it turned out. Just missed the local Billy Bragg gig against the BNP. Looking for another chance to see him. Last time was at the NUT march in London.

[@revol148]

@henry707 well it's a superb song (I still reckon his greatest moment) - we'll have to agree on that one!

[@libertinauk1975]

Out of darkness cometh light 💛🖤

[@domoreilly3451]

Nice video.

[@vegetubleman]

A really beautiful song - thanks for putting it up. I only discovered it this year, and still wasn't sure who it was about til I saw your video. I remember Cyril Knowles, but I'd completely forgotten Peter. And in spite of his love of football, Billy doesn't pass judgement at all does he?

[@andypandy2797]

Anybody now what congregation he goes to in Wolverhampton

[@tremendouspaulrobinson]

Tremendous. Peter could have done both JW and Wolves which I'm sure he truly really regrets. Love Billy. Shame Billy has moved to the right wing...x

[@TheLastOilMan]

@johnjarvo Im a Baggie fan, seem to remember watching him demonstrate the art of football at the Custard Bowl back in the 70's ! What a loss to the game ,I blame the Dingles for that !

[@b3ngunn]

C'est triste a'en pleurer. Merci bien.

[@DEEDEEGARRETT1]

He is one of Jehovah's Witnesses.

[@revol148]

An utterly superb song taken from album almost without a single duff song in it.Quite where Bragg went wrong after this stage in his career is a matter for speculation - the complete loss of his songwriting talent is my guess.

[@vineset55]

i have to apologize for the negative comments i made before. I think what I was really trying to say is that in my opionion, and I have listened to all of Billy Bragg's music, is this song is sarcastic, and I have a hard time believing anyone would admire it if they really were a fan of really either one of them.

[@chrisbarlow2131]

That's just as negative Mark. As one of Jehovah's Witnesses I think Billy was being really respectful to Peter. It's all in his lyrics.

[@revol148]

@poultryhen because of course EVEN thinking of discussing immigration or analysing the very concept of a multi-cultural society makes one a Nazi by default.I can sympathise with you for taking that line - after all I used to be leftwing and well meaning at one stage of my life.Now I'm politically centre-right and realistic - no longer looking for perfectability in mankind just making the best of a bad deal (well when dealing with humanity what else can you do?).

[@vineset55]

speaking of lost, I had a dear friend who had been a JW, rejected by the religion commit suicide, but I know they are "good" people, but so were the Puritans, any religion can work in a closed society....

[@huxleypig69]

Fat chance of that mate! I know you posted this 4 years ago but it's sad to see now we are in the 3rd tier...

[@chrisbarlow2131]

Not these days! 👍

[@chrisbarlow2131]

Funny how times change Huxley!

[@huxleypig69]

@@chrisbarlow2131 Haha, yes! Going great guns again now. :-)

[@revol148]

@vineset55 is that right buddy? - or do you mean apart from British troops currently in Afghanistan,the current arial bombing of Libya and the fact that there are still soldiers in northern Ireland,Cyprus,Bosmia and the Falklands quite apart from the little bits of the Carribean that are still British!Oh and by the way how much does the US owe China? (give or take the odd billion?)They lend the US money in order for the US to buy ever more Chinese goods: is that really sustainable?

[@MisAnnThorpe]

Make that trillion.

[@nige601]

Strange that you use 777!!!!!!!

[@vineset55]

@Telstar62a maybe so, maybe im the naive one. maybe just immature. its funny you should say that about injury, because that is why I appoligized in the first place, for the reference. I also dont think Mint Car by The Cure is an honest expression, but you could i guess. Head injury = ADD,imo

[@4boysandalittlelady358]

E be the one who say they 😂❤don’t know 🎉how they do that they don’t even care re❤ 😂the only thing they 😂know how to do it is to be 😂 I

[@usheit]

wenn you will know Jehovah witnesses go to jw.org

[@vineset55]

i believe it has been well determined England's colonialism/imperialism days are over

[@Scrumpywolf]

A little bit sad, what a waste of a very talented footballer.

[@chrisbarlow2131]

But what a treasure Peter uunearthed instead!

[@joekavanagh7171]

​@@chrisbarlow2131 are you saying that people who use their God-given gifts to the full won't get into Heaven?

[@vineset55]

I dont know football in england, but it sounds like this player was very valuable...but I mean do you really want someone playing for you when he is so "spiritual"? I cant imagine a player standing there with a halo and angelic stare, being smashed in the face with a soccer ball!. Look what happened in Texas, George Bush Nolan Ryan born again do gooders....got their ass kicked by the "feaks" of SF. Spirituality...hum...its over rated.....

[@chrisbarlow2131]

You have no idea what you are talking about.

[@steviewondek]

🤮🤮