Billy Bragg, the British folk-rock singer and lifelong determine in protest music, has shared a brand new music for Palestine. The discharge coincides with the launch of the World Sumud Flotilla, which set sail yesterday (August 31) to ship humanitarian help to Gaza. Written and carried out by Bragg, with extra keyboards and backing vocals by JJ Stoney, “Hundred 12 months Starvation” takes its title from the e book of the identical title by E Mark Windle. Give it a pay attention beneath.
Bragg defined the music’s backstory on Instagram, writing, “‘Hundred 12 months Starvation’ seems to be on the present famine that Israel has created in Gaza by the lens of a century of enforced meals insecurity and malnutrition imposed on the Palestinian folks, firstly by British imperialism, then as a weapon of mass displacement by the state of Israel.”
“Sumud is an Arabic phrase which interprets into English as steadfastness or perseverance,” he continued. “It’s utilized by Palestinians to explain their nonviolent on a regular basis resistance in opposition to Israel’s occupation. Sumud emphasises the dedication of the Palestinian folks to stay on their land regardless of hardship and oppression, elevating their on a regular basis existence right into a type of resistance. Lan narhal interprets as ‘we is not going to depart’. Collectively ‘Sumud! Sumud! Lan narhal’ conveys the dedication of the Palestinian folks to refuse to be displaced.”
It’s been 4 years since Bragg final launched a full-length album, 2021’s The Million Issues That By no means Occurred. He did crew up with R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe for a collaborative cowl of Eric Bogle’s “My Youngest Son Got here Dwelling As we speak” in 2023, although. Bragg initially coated that monitor for his 1990 album The Internationale, barely modifying the 1982 battle protest music, which was impressed by the Troubles.
Learn “Stop-Hearth Now: 16 Profit Compilations for Palestine.”