Between the Wars

by Billy Bragg

From the album: Back to Basics

Track 19 of 21 on Back to Basics (1987).

Duration: 2:27

Back to Basics cover art

Lyrics for Between the Wars

I was a miner I was a docker I was a railway man Between the wars I raised a family In times of austerity With sweat at the foundry Between the wars I paid the union and as times got harder I looked to the government to help the working man But they brought prosperity down at the armoury We're arming for peace my boys! Between the wars I kept the faith and I kept voting Not for the iron fist but for the helping hand For theirs is a land with a wall around it And mine is a faith in my fellow man Theirs is a land of hope and glory Mine is the green field and the factory floor Theirs are the skies all dark with bombers And mine is the peace we knew Between the wars Call up the craftsmen Bring me the draughtsmen Build me a path from cradle to grave And I'll give my consent To any government That does not deny a man a living wage Go find the young men never to fight again Bring up the banners from the days gone by Sweet moderation Heart of this nation Desert us not, we are Between the wars

Listen On

More from Back to Basics

  1. The Milkman of Human Kindness
  2. To Have and to Have Not
  3. Richard
  4. Lovers Town Revisited
  5. A New England
  6. The Man in the Iron Mask
  7. The Busy Girl Buys Beauty
  8. It Says Here
  9. Love Gets Dangerous
  10. From a Vauxhall Velox
  11. The Myth of Trust
  12. The Saturday Boy
  13. Island of No Return
  14. This Guitar Says Sorry
  15. Like Soldiers Do
  16. St. Swithin's Day
  17. Strange Things Happen
  18. A Lover Sings
  19. Between the Wars
  20. The World Turned Upside Down
  21. Which Side Are You On