Hard Times of Old England is an 18th century song from the repertoire of the Copper Family. A 1955 recording of Ron Copper made by Peter Kennedy was published in 1963 on their EFDSS LP Traditional Songs From Rottingdean and was included in 2006 on the anthology Anthems in Eden. Billy Bragg and The Young […]
We Are The 99%
We Are The 99% is a political slogan widely used and coined during the 2011 Occupy Movement. The phrase directly refers to the income and wealth inequality in the United States, (and indeed the UK) with a concentration of wealth among the top-earning 1%. It reflects the understanding that “the 99%” are paying the price […]
Flower of Scotland
“Flower of Scotland” is commonly used as the unofficial national anthem of Scotland. It was written sometime in the mid-1960s by folk musician Roy Williamson of the folk group The Corries, and its lyrics focus primarily on the Wars of Scottish independence and Robert the Bruce, who as King of Scots, secured victory over Edward […]
Yma O Hyd
The renowned Welsh anthem, Yma O Hyd, stands as a testament to the unwavering resilience and determination of Welsh speakers, making it a cherished symbol of strength and identity for the community. Yma o Hyd was written by beloved Welsh folk singer, nationalist politician and television personality Dafydd Iwan. It was first released in 1983, […]
A Place Called England
Maggie Holland sang her own song A Place Called England on her 1999 album Getting There. She re-recorded it in 2007 for her anthology Bones. She noted on the first album: “It took me a long time to finish this song—and I probably would never even have started it if I hadn’t emigrated to Scotland […]
British Political Satire
Political Satire is a type of satire that specialises in gaining entertainment from politics. Political satire can also act as a tool for advancing political arguments in conditions where political speech and dissent are banned. Political satire is usually distinguished from political protest or political dissent, as it does not necessarily carry an agenda nor […]
Liar Liar
Captain SKA is a politically-active British band which produces and performs reggae and ska songs. The band is composed of unsigned, freelance session musicians. Members of the band have recorded and performed with artists including Culture Club, Paloma Faith, the Friendly Fires, Girls Aloud, The Streets, and Vampire Weekend. The band first came to prominence […]
Which Side Are You On?
Which Side Are You On?” is a song written in 1931 by activist Florence Reece, who was the wife of Sam Reece, a union organiser for the United Mine Workers in Harlan County, Kentucky. In 1931, the miners and the mine owners in southeastern Kentucky were locked in a bitter and violent struggle called the […]
Won’t Get Fooled Again
“Won’t Get Fooled Again” is a song by the English rock band the Who, written by guitarist and primary songwriter Pete Townsend. It was released as a single in June 1971, reaching the top 10 in the UK, while the full eight-and-a-half-minute version appears as the final track on the band’s 1971 album Who’s Next, […]
The Marsh Family
The Marsh Family are an English family musical group. The group consists of parents Ben and Danielle Marsh and their children Alfie, Thomas, Ella, and Tess Marsh. The family live in Faversham, a town in Kent. The Marsh Family uploaded a parody of “One Day More” to Facebook in March 2020, satirising life during COVID-19 […]