30 Songs In 30 Days – Day 15

Day 15 – A Song That Describes You

The Boy Done Good – Billy Bragg

Apologies before I start, a rather serious post to go with this one!

Video is a solo version, the band version is better but can’t find it on YouTube.

This has been the most difficult song to choose so far, which is the main reason why I am a day late posting it.  The main problem is that I have been taking this whole thing quite seriously and giving a fair bit of thought to most of my selections (not surprising as I take most things quite seriously, especially music, and tend to be a bit all or nothing).  This one caused me a problem, as I am very self-critical and tend not to value myself very highly.  Having struggled hard to battle depression, anxiety and related things for years, part of me still defines myself by that, even though I am well along the road to recovery.  My first shortlist contained several songs about dealing with this kind of issue.  When I was discussing my choices with Sally-Jayne, she pointed out to me that I was selling myself short to define myself that way, and my choices should focus on the current, positive side not the negative past.  It really gave me a wake up call, and I did a lot of thinking about what she said, as it applies generally to how I think about myself, not just these song choices, which are not really so important in the grand scheme of things.  Realising she was right (she usually is about this kind of thing), I set about finding songs that reflected the fact.  Surprisingly, there turned out to be quite a few, but this was my final choice.

So why does it describe me?  Firstly, it uses football imagery as a metaphor for life and, let’s be honest chaps, most men have done that at some stage with their chosen sport.  Or is it just me and Billy Bragg?  Whatever… Secondly, it talks about leaving behind feeling like a loser.  That is very much how I feel – but as in the song it has been with help, love and support from other people as well as my own efforts.  Thirdly, the lyrics are clever and funny, like many of Billy’g songs, and one thing that I have never done is lose my sense of humour, no matter what has been going on in my life.  Even when talking about quite dark emotions, I find myself trying to inject some humour when I can.  And, on top of all that, it is a great tune with one of my favourite choruses.

So, our 30 Songs took me on an unexpected journey over the past couple of days.  I expected a thorough exploration of my music collection when I started it, not such an exploration of my psyche, but it actually did me a lot of good.  I discovered that, even though I don’t always think so, when all said and done, the boy has, indeed, done pretty good.