Tender Comrade
Billy Bragg · Vol. 2-Box Set [2010]
When we lay down our weary guns
When we return home to our wives and families
And look into the eyes of our sons?
What will you say of the bond we had, tender comrade?
Will you say that we were brave as the shells fell all around us?
Or that we wept and cried for our mothers and cursed our fathers
For forgetting that all men are brothers?
Will you say that we were heroes
Or that fear of dying among strangers
Tore our innocence and false shame away?
And from that moment on deep in my heart I knew
That I would only give my life for love
Brothers in arms in each others arms
Was the only time that I was not afraid
What will you do when the war is over, tender comrade?
When we cast off these khaki clothes
And go our separate ways
What will you say of the bond we had, tender comrade?
Tender Comrade
Billy Bragg's "Tender Comrade" stands as a defining anthem of the British New Wave movement, blending punk energy with folk storytelling. Recorded for his 2010 box set, the track exemplifies his signature style: a fusion of political urgency and melodic accessibility. The song reflects Bragg's lifelong commitment to addressing social justice issues through his music, utilizing a driving rhythm and direct vocal delivery that has resonated with audiences for decades. As a staple of his discography, the recording captures the spirit of working-class solidarity and anti-establishment sentiment that characterized his career from the early 1980s through the 2010s. It remains a powerful example of how indie folk can serve as a vehicle for broader cultural commentary.