Bringing the News from Nowhere
The title track of Leon's 1986 LP, this song is a tribute to the craftsman, writer and utopian Marxist, William Morris, after whose 1890 book the song is named. Leon seems to have become aware of Morris's novel during the mid-1980s, following an exhibition of his work in 1984, and warmed to its vision of work for positive purposes, to create beautiful and useful things (in a post-revolutionary society).
A warm tribute, the verses run down William Morris's political vision, his pioneering championing of the natural environment and his outlook generally. As recorded for the LP, the song drew vocal contributions from Frankie Armstrong and Roy Bailey as well as musicianship from Martin Carthy and a brass section, creating a centrepiece for side 2 to match the scale of "Who Reaps the Profits?" on side 1, and provide a positive counter-balance.
When performed on Stage in 2011, and filmed for No Gods No Masters, Leon handled the song entirely solo, tackling all the vocal sections and guitar alone.
A warm tribute, the verses run down William Morris's political vision, his pioneering championing of the natural environment and his outlook generally. As recorded for the LP, the song drew vocal contributions from Frankie Armstrong and Roy Bailey as well as musicianship from Martin Carthy and a brass section, creating a centrepiece for side 2 to match the scale of "Who Reaps the Profits?" on side 1, and provide a positive counter-balance.
When performed on Stage in 2011, and filmed for No Gods No Masters, Leon handled the song entirely solo, tackling all the vocal sections and guitar alone.
Recordings
Version 1 (1986)
Version 2 (2011) Live performance, released in 2014. Leon performs the song entirely solo
Version 2 (2011) Live performance, released in 2014. Leon performs the song entirely solo