As I said in the previous entry in this series, some songs make for the very saddest of short stories. Particularly when they are true.
Between Marx and marzipan in the dictionary there was Mary
Between the Deep Blue Sea and the Devil that was me
If ever anyone could help me with my obsession with
The young Suzannah York
It was Mary
In my pink pajamas she asked me for something
I gave her the short answer
She read our stars out loud
And I knew then that we should have gone sailing
But we stayed home instead
Fighting on the water bed
Like the honeymoon couple on drugs
Me and Mary
What happened in the past
Remained a mystery of natural history
She should have been the last
But she was just the latest
If she wanted to be a farmer’s wife
I would endure that muddy life
I would dig for victory
And the sound of happy couples
Coupling happily in the dark
While you and I sat down to tea
I remember you said to me
That no amount of poetry
Would mend this broken heart
But you can put the Hoover round
If you want to make a start
All my friends from school
Introduce me to their spouses
While I’m left standing here
With my hands down the front of my trousies
I just don’t know what’s to be done
I wonder sometimes how did Dad meet Mum
And how did they conceive of me
Tell me Mary
The boys who came to the shop
Always made her laugh much more than I did
When I told her this must stop
She didn’t bat an eyelid
She said you know honey it’s such a shame
You’ll never be any good at this game
You bruise too easily
So said Mary
Her two brothers took me out
Of circulation for the duration
So we went our separate ways but does she still love me
She still has my door key
Like a bully boy in a Benetton shop
You’re never happy with what you’ve got
Till what you’ve got has gone
Sorry Mary
mp3 : Billy Bragg – The Short Answer (Peel Session)
The opening line is just genius. The remainder are incredibly moving, with just the right mix of nostalgia, regret and an understanding that some things, in the long run, are for the best. We’ve all been there, haven’t we????
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
One of my fav BB songs on my fav BB lp. Chock full of great lines – the hoover one and my fav “ you know honey it’s such a shame….” same skill David gedge has at being able to put real sounding conversations into a song .
Much prefer BB when he is this world rather than his political songs
If there ever came to pass an ‘I Wish I Wrote That Lyric’ feature on TVV Billy would have half the entries. And I agree with FoRW that his personal biz is more appealing than his political biz.
Like a bully boy in a Benetton shop
You’re never happy with what you’ve got
Genius.
Although I think Walk Away, Renee (version) is sadder.
And then one day it happened
She cut her hair and I stopped loving her