This is going to be real obscure…
OK, many years ago I heard a punk rock song on college radio. I recognized the words as being those of that old English Civil War ditty The Diggers Song. I could have sworn that someone the radio said that it was the band “X”, but a look through their discography shows they’ve apparently never done such a song.
Anyone got a clue who did this ‘cover’?
Billy Bragg did a version on a record released in the U.S. in the mid-80’s called “Life’s a Riot with Spy vs. Spy.” I believe the album was made up of two different British EP’s, one called Life’s a Riot and the other called Spy vs. Spy.
It was most likely Chumbawamba, believe it or not, from the album English Rebel Songs 1381-1984.
OK, now that I’ve pulled the record out, I have to make some clarifications.
Billy Bragg’s version is called “World Turned Upside Down” and it’s on an album that was comprised of two different British EP’s, but the EP’s were titled Life’s a Riot with Spy vs. Spy and Between the Wars. “World Turned Upside Down” was originally on the Between the Wars EP. U.S. release was 1985.
Sorry for posting misleading information.