Billy Bragg: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

OK Go helped us move the Tiny Desk from our old building to NPR's new headquarters, and The National performed the first full new-building Tiny Desk Concert we posted to the site, but Billy Bragg gave us the first full Tiny Desk Concert we actually recorded in our new office.
Bragg, one of the world's finest contemporary folksingers, appropriately sang "Handyman Blues" as his first tune - and was quickly met with lot of hammering on our rooftop by some real handymen as they put the finishing touches on NPR's new home.
Bragg, along with Dobro player C.J. Hillman, also channeled the spirit of legendary American folksinger Woody Guthrie, with whom Bragg collaborated - albeit posthumously, in Guthrie's case - when he took Guthrie's unsung words and set them to song with the help of Wilco. Here, he takes a song Guthrie himself co-opted and altered: a gospel tune ("This World Is Not My Home") he'd turned into an anthem against inaction.
In "I Ain't Got No Home," Bragg follows in the folk tradition by altering the song to address the issue of universal health care. It's a rare talent to make it work, but Bragg, as always, finds a way to blend politics and music with grace, charm and a rough edge. --BOB BOILEN
Set List
"Handyman Blues"
"I Ain't Got No Home"
"Sexuality"
"No One Knows Nothing Anymore"
Credits
Producer: Bob Boilen; Editor: Denise DeBelius; Audio Engineer: Kevin Wait; Videographers: Denise DeBelius, Gabriella Garcia-Pardo; photo by Marie McGrory/NPR

[@MarkBTomlinson]

I first heard Billy back in 84, the year of the Miners strike in the UK, and the man resonated with me. All these years later I have come to treasure his gentle resistance and intellect. Great artist and humanitarian.

[@sderoski1]

I first heard Billy when he opened for the Smiths at the Beacon Theater in NYC in the 80s, I don't remember the year, but I was enlightened

[@WGBHMusic]

The slide guitar works so perfectly with his voice & guitar playing. Lovely stuff.

[@rbsz6202]

Can't believe I missed this. Billy is a legend. We've been singing his version of the internationale every Friday evening at the bar for years.

[@moblackledge]

Loved him since the 80’s.

[@nzfreeski]

Same Just saw him in Portland maine

[@ba7926]

Billy Bragg is one of the greatest, well, of my time alive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@yerk3]

Billy Bragg looks like he's slowly metamorphosing into Davos Seaworth.

[@harrisonpates7618]

Hopefully doesn’t lose the fingers

[@tobylowe4482]

Oh Billy. Thank you x 1000 times. You helped me shape my ideals through my life. You are a marvellous individual.

[@suegha]

I have been a fan of Billy Bragg for 30 years, he just gets better and better!

[@troybaugh4490]

Now this in an amazing little find just browsing around the site on an insomniac night. Billy's always been a treasure, and to see that after all these years he's still in fine form is a true treat. A man, his guitar and the truth: can you beat that?

[@notsureonnameyet633]

the one and only bill bragg. I love him so much, legend

[@HGPTW]

One of the UK's musical heroes - telling it as straight to you in the US (about universal healthcare) as he has for many years over here! One of the best; well done, Billy!

[@otto5723]

I'm ashamed to say that I took a Billy Bragg hiatus for a few years... bad move. I'm back and loving it.

[@desperatemohammedantheworl5833]

I've taken a 44 years and counting Billy Bragg hiatus. The guy could write the best song ever but I wouldn't care because he's such an arrogant champagne socialist tool.

[@folksnake]

@@desperatemohammedantheworl5833 What brings you here?

[@desperatemohammedantheworl5833]

@@folksnake The "you might also like" bar.

[@folksnake]

@@desperatemohammedantheworl5833 I guess they need to replace 'also' with 'not'

[@guidoparco2851]

That's all good. Art comes and goes in and out of favour. Not a bad move, just a move you took at the time that's what art is supposed to do. Some of the best artists whom are godley idols in the infamy they creat, it goes to their heads. And then they turn again. Sometimes our appreciation of art changes because of what's happening in our own world. That's the beauty of art, the paradigm shifts continuously depending on our notion of what we as individuals are experiencing.

[@Cashdekiller]

Why is this man not so much more popular around the world? He definitely deserves it, what a show!

[@adamb.2964]

I wish I was there. Been a longtime fan of NPR but this just gives them an instant 100 points in my book. Go Billy!

[@colintook3357]

I ain't got no home in this world any more.... I know the feeling.

[@ouchalargerock]

a real inspiration of a person

[@suzannejarvie6394]

I hope I can eventually fulfill my dream of singing a duet with this man on Between the Wars - one of the most beautiful songs ever written.

[@harrythompson9315]

Dose he cover it?

[@TerminalSaint]

@@harrythompson9315 He wrote it.

[@scottforbes4931]

My Favorite BB tune.😊😅😮😢🎉😂

[@brewster8]

Love Billy. Can't wait for the autumn gigs

[@jamescassidy5852]

Love your down to earth music. Thanks Billy.

[@thomasdungl8493]

Very fine and great session, thank you so much for sharing !

[@masollat]

Brilliant. And ever pertinent.

[@warrenm3542]

The banter elevates the music

[@volkwino]

so great!!

[@vickylikesthis]

Love this.

[@ddc9817]

Uncle Billy! I love this man.

[@chezza2412]

Billy you are great!! Am learning your songs thank you for some off the best music I have lisend to in my life!! Thank you'd

[@MoiraRussell]

Amazing!

[@LuisFernando-bn6wt]

Great Billy Bragg!

[@thomasvello-xamon7732]

wheres billy bragg now??we need him more then ever!!

[@Kiwigd]

Currently touring, due here in NZ in Feb ‘22

[@daviecrocket9160]

@@Kiwigd oh you guys really need him right now hahaha BlackRock got ya by the balls

[@tomlovesyou7180]

Billy is the best

[@thiagofavoretto4072]

Salute for Brazil

[@Giantcappuccino]

Billy Bragg is so much better live, just him and his guitar. Love this!

[@nopasta922]

this made me happy. i can't change everything. you made my life better.

[@mossy1s]

Love it

[@mateusoliveira7556]

Wonderful liric. I listen um my workplace and is very Good. Bless for you brother

[@RamblinAround]

Excellent!

[@Osteopathy]

Excellent performance!

[@jkhristian9603]

Awesome!

[@betterthantelly2993]

10 out of 9. I got trapsed around Glc functions in the 80s and I remember well as a 10 year old your sincerity and I'm finding you Again. Thank you.

[@Ancientchicken1]

Billy Bragg pure class

[@chroniclesofbap6170]

Big hugs, Billy.

[@heidiannemorris]

AWESOME ♥

[@ciropalumbo8087]

I love BB

[@richieroma]

this man is a living saint. Bow down before him.

[@Aldeus509]

I've been very late on this great musician. I really like him and think like my favorite rocker "The Boss"" this guy is also great.

[@jesusquinteromena1789]

New offices! Congratulations. I hope everybody are fine and happy. I love what you do. Greetings from Mexico City.

[@jayp.1145]

This should have at least twenty million more views.

[@lorig2828]

I smiled during this entire video

[@77inthedark]

started this while in the shower...started it again when I got out just to watch the full thing - start to finish. gotta give the guy some credit for singing about sexual rights with such plain and blunt language. Plus the song is over 20 years old! So relevant with recent supreme court ruling in America! One of the few NRP TDCs I have enjoyed from start to finish. Wonderful

[@craigmullen9046]

Puff!!!

[@bronyr]

So sorry I missed this. Love BB.

[@colleygate]

just pure class really

[@KazisCollection]

colleygate *classless

[@allandrummond8028]

Rediscovered billy again via this newish song

[@harkcali]

❤coming to see you in Sac soon Billy 💥💥💥

[@michaelmcdonald9814]

Better every time, Glasgow loves you.

[@OttobreMusic]

gran bel pezzo !

[@davidcarlson1208]

great !! hope to see him! K

[@muktimukti15revolutionrevo60]

❤️❤️

[@karaloca]

He's one of the people. honest.

[@rowinggorilla9437]

humility with so much talent and grace.

[@rucksacks]

Every second of this is absolutely lovely.

[@Abert32]

I wonder what its like to be able to sing that effortlessly...

[@yerdasellsavon9232]

0:20 handyman blues 4:50 I aint got no home in this world anymore 11:20 sexuality 16:30 no one knows nothing any more

[@joseespinoza6283]

Greetings from Venezuela Billy. Nice performance!

[@pauljones5066]

mismo es en Venezuela ahora? Todia via con revolucion Guevara Bolivar Chavez ?

[@jimmyzbike]

a true national treasure

[@sderoski1]

A treasure for the whole world!

[@pidedpiper2832]

theres no music except the blues we all live in the blues. dont we>>>>>>

[@heidiannemorris]

beautiful catchlights in his eyes 16:09 :)

[@robersoto76rgs]

I don´t know any bad song by Billy Bragg

[@falseteeth5621]

They're all shit.

[@rwdh199]

+Brennan Hilliard He forgot the word "the" before the word "shit." And if I am mistaken, I still laughed when I read "They're all shit." Then I laughed when you got defensive about it. I just laugh at god damn everything there is to be said in this world these days. Live, Laugh, Love... hahahahah fuck that is so fucking cliche and something I HATE when people say..... seemed ridiculously fitting in my comment. My comment is my own and because of that I think it is the best fucking comment in the entire god damn world and aint NO ONE gun'change that. Your comment was by far, the best comment in the entire world, according to you, and False's comment was BY FARRRRR the best comment in the entire bloody world. We're all so egotistical. I love you.

[@ericfriedland-kays3103]

i totally agree with you robersoto ... Billy Bragg is so predictably offering us great catchy tunes, meaningful words, and deep feeling. Fun and meaningful, in my opinion, so so often. Thank you for your comment.

[@karaloca]

False Teeth I’m with you, I’d file this under shit too.

[@tommys88]

all political ones...

[@SondraSneed]

Writers get material from everywhere and I just got, "alteration trumps grammar every time!" Thanks for that!

[@David-ph3ce]

Alliteration, not alteration.

[@ronmiller811]

Wow, Is he ever charming.

[@PickeringSamuel]

The Handyman of Human Kindness

[@willsmith9325]

the internationale unites world in song 💕

[@BeatkidsBerlin]

Yeah, you slow the world! That's relaxed. Big like, BEATKIDS Berlin, Germany

[@LONEEAGLE_space_rock]

i saw him live here in new zealand way back, must have been early 1990s, he had Johnny Marr with him on guitar, not completely sure but think it was JM from the Smiths. At the end they did a version of the Clash's Garageland

[@Rustsamurai1]

Wellington Town Hall?

[@RF-us4yw]

Read Johnny Marr biography. He collaborated with Billy on a lot of Billy’s work. I’d say “ Yes” that Johnny Marr.

[@whitelight7733]

....& this is how music talks to you...but they were busy ...building something...

[@jonbarnhart1947]

@ Larry, it's a Gibson J-45

[@spectralmelodies5979]

I got an ad in the middle of "I aint got no home" how appropriate.

[@edison3615]

Billy Bragg’s son is my school principle.

[@SteveSmith-kc8rn]

Pal...that bloke is yer pal.

[@pidedpiper2832]

for the Folks like us

[@westonshumaker6231]

Oh man Billy you can't let the banging of a hammer bother a man in your position.

[@mateusoliveira7556]

P.S. i listening in Brazil. Sai hello to us

[@LoLoo-wg3wj]

william should be an actor; looking good my brother.

[@stevemel908]

Uncle Bill a genius

[@ernestmaciel]

I'm not your handyman. I'm your milkman.

[@DavidKroll]

"Alliteration trumps grammah." I'm using that!

[@ebel74]

00:18 Handyman Blues 07:38 I aint got now Home 11:30 Sexuality 17:05 No one knows nothing anymore

[@rich3371]

Funny how every single thing he said he couldn't on the handyman song I've done before- I guess we're polar opposites, ha ha. Great songs BTW

[@larryolson3309]

Just wonderful. Tell me which Gibson guitar Billy has, model and year. He makes it sound so beautiful.

[@tonycash27]

Gibson J-45

[@nickfromCO]

the thumbnail made this guy look just like matt berninger from The National

[@paulwilkinson7144]

I love Billy Bragg. He reminds me of my happy childhood. He does whinge on a bit though..

[@drewanderson7396]

Contd...the lyrics are just that :about embarrassment..a Song ive always loved of billys..what, i wonder brings

[@huldraslaat225]

does anyone know what kind of slide he's using?

[@bradbennett9970]

I wish I had the balls to sing my own songs. X

[@airinaimran2710]

do it Brad! do it now!

[@jagarfi]

what if our ancestors had stayed up in the trees? would we still be weighed down by these worries? nobody knows nothing anymore...

[@msimonse]

...I saw two shooting stars last night I wished on them but they were only satellites, BB too fine.

[@ade1963]

Pass the hat round 🤣

[@jude999]

His music reminds me of line from a poem tribute to Maud Gonne by Yeats: "She could have called over the rim of the world." Ask Billy about wait times in England to see a doctor.

[@mattschneider7294]

Wait times in the US for medical services are often very much longer , as in "never."

[@CaLebHillSmallMt]

what is the friar from van helsing doing playing dobro here?!

[@SondraSneed]

Yes, that was a spelling corrector error - I meant to write alliteration, but then it looks silly to go back and say "'alliteration,' I meant." So I just thought, ehhhphf, and moved away.

[@cameronhollbeck3765]

Dammit! I misread the title. I thought it was Bill Bailey! What with the B's and everything

[@philg379]

He actually said 'alliteration trumps grammar'