"I've dropped in to reveal the reason why I sing "Oh my country, what a beautiful country you are" at the end of England Half English. The tune that we started off with is taken from an Algerian folk song which Lu played to us. After we had morphed it into England Half English, I asked him what it was about. He sang the Algerian lyrics and told me they said "Oh my country, what a beautiful country you are". I just thought that was so fitting. That's what we are singing just before the end, the Algerian lyrics, which I then translate into English. And no Pete, I am not being ironic, I do think this country is a beautiful country as is Scotland and Ireland and Wales. Your squeamishness about accepting my meaning is just the sort of thing that I am hoping we can overcome and start to create that new sense of belonging".
Billy Bragg Guest Book, www.billybragg.com
13th July 2001