Billy Bragg on Craig Ferguson

[greyl]

Billy performed Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards with new lyrics.
Can anyone on the west coast or someone with TIVO help transcribe them?

These are the 'original' 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

Thanks!

[Lautremont]

1. I guess 'Help Save The Youth Of America' would have been too obvious.

I missed it, but I'd like to hear how he updated the song. He played here just a few days ago, and I missed that too. I saw him get stung by a hornet once, though.

[greyl]

3. He added references to Rumsfeld, websites,

paying for hospitals instead of bombs, just for a few examples.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

2. I'm seeing him on Saturday (with Steve Earle and others)

for free at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Fest in Golden Gate Park...yay.

He's doing a Songwriter's Circle with Steve and Guy Clark and Verlon Thompson. Can't wait. Will post pics after for anyone who's interested.

[dipsydoodle]

4. Cooooo !

You are indeed fortunate to have a freebee like that. Yes - please post pics. :)

[BREMPRO]

5. GREAT performance and sharp political lyrics

I've been looking for the new lyrics too, here's another one that caught my attention


something like:

"I don't thing we'll defeat the "axis of evil"
by giving smart bombs to DUMB people"


THIS IS OUR NEW PROGRESSIVE THEME SONG!!

[greyl]

6. Oh, how could I forget that line. :)

I'm sure a recording of it will end up somewhere. ;)

[BREMPRO]

7. summarized it for me!

i checked youtube....nothing yet

[greyl]

8. Keep checking this thread at billybragg.co.uk:

here

[BREMPRO]

9. thanks! here's a transcription from the link....

'WAITING FOR THE GREAT LEAP FORWARDS
(Alternative version performed on 'The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson', Los Angeles, 10/5/06).


It may have been Camelot for Jack and Jacqueline
But on the Hugo Chavez highway filling up with gasoline
Little Donald Rumsfield spies a rich lady who's crying
Over luxury's disappointment, so he goes over and he's trying
To sympathise with her but he thinks that he should warn her
To prepare to be bombed back into the Stone Age


In the former Soviet Union the citizens demand
To know why they are still the target of Strategic Air Command
And they shake their fists in anger and respectfully suggest
We take the money from our missiles and spend them on our hospitals instead (yeah)


The Cold War now is over but the stakes are getting higher
I'm frightened of collateral damage and of friendly fire
And I don't think we can defeat no Axis of Evil
By putting 'smart bombs' in the hands of dumb people


Mixing Pop and Politics they ask me what the use is
I offer them my acupuncturist and massueuses
While looking down the corridor
Out to where my ego is waiting
I'm looking for the New World Order (yeah)


Jumble sales are organised, all my mates got fat
Even after all this time you know you can still send me a fax
You can be active with the activists or sleeping with the media
While you're waiting for the Great Leap Forwards


Oh, one leap forward, two leaps back
Will YouTube give MTV the sack?
Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards


Well here comes the future and you can't run from it
If you've got a website I want to be on it
Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards


In a perfect world we'd all sing in tune
But this is reality not American Idol
Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards (yeah)


So join the struggle while you may
The Revolution's just an ethical haircut away
When you're waiting for the Great Leap Forwards

Words & Music : Billy Bragg



YEA!!! OK new favorite artist!

[greyl]

10. Nice, thanks.

I love the internets. :)