Billy Bragg - Levi Stubbs' Tears

Once, I pondered on the possibility of a unique answer for all the world's problems. Religion is an easy one, philosophy has made its efforts (and let's not forget Google...). But they are not what you'd call an answer; more likely, they are total solutions for a total result, one that makes life bearable, with a promise of a foreverafter. I get the idea, I'm just not ready to buy just yet. And I'm a pretty easy guy to convince. I fall for everything.

Imagine, then, if I actually came across the answer to all the world's problems? Read on, my beloved reader.

"You can look at my nose and say "Billy Bragg,what is the answer to all the world's problems". Now, it's impossible to have one song that answers all the problems of all the world - except this next song I'm going to play for you now...which answers every single problem in your life whatever that problem may be. It may be that someone here's building a nuclear power station at the end of your road or it may be that when you get up in the morning and go for a piss it hurts. Whatever your problem is, this is the answer to it. All you have to do, all you have to do boys and girls is go home, put a kettle on, make yourself a nice cup of tea, sit down, put on a record by The Four Tops - everything is going to be alright".
These are the words of one Billy Bragg, singing his heart out that evening of 10th October 1986, in Malmo, Sweden.

I don't think I've mentioned my trust in Billy. There is sth about this man that makes me feel safe. I'm not talking about the clear, firm voice, nor the clear, firm songwriting. I'm talking about Billy Bragg himself. The entity of a man with principle, with a clear face, with a reason seemingly running through his vains. It is comforting for me to know that there is a person that goes on through life, knowing that he can only follow his principle, as it is his only truth, and for that, the world's, too.

For me, "Levi Stubbs' Tears" is a perfect song. It includes everything I can imagine that makes a perfect song: it's clear, strict, the melody is perfect, the rhyme is poetic, the theme is universal and open to interpretation, the structure sets the problem and gives a solution, and one that it so humane. Apart from that, Billy's voice just bends me. I believe him, as I believe my lover and family love me. And the trompone signals that songs are not solutions, they are a means to fuck the pain away until Billy's yell wakes you up at the end of the song. And then reality takes over again. 3 minutes.
I can listen to this song over and over, year after year, decade after decade. It's fucks reality away and for a cloud walker like me, this is a means to an end. The question if it is the perfect song (as in the case of the answer to all the world's problems), yes it is. In my own little world, it is. In your own little world, you only know.

"Levi Stubbs' Tears" was the first single from Billy Bragg's third album, "Talking with the Taxman about Poetry" (1986). The album title is a reference to the great Vladimir Mayakofsky's same-titled poem. The song reached #29 in the UK charts. Names mentioned: Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield are responsible for many huge hits of Motown, like "I heard it through the grapevine", "Smiling Faces Sometimes", "Cloud Nine", "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone". Brian and Edward Holland and Lamont Dozier are also responsible for many huge hits of Motown, like "Stop! In The Name Of Love", "You Keep Me Hanging On", "(Love Is Like A) Heat wave". Levi Stubbs was the lead vocalist of the Four Tops (birthname Levi Stubbles, 1936-2008)