Festive 50 1988 Number 25

How do I love this song? Let me count the ways:
1) The lyrics, including these wonderful couplets:
Mixing pop and politics - he asks me what the use is/I offer him embarrassment and my usual excuses,
It's a mighty long way down rock 'n' roll/from Top Of The Pops to drawing the dole,
It's a perfect world we'd all sing in tune/but this is reality, so give me some room -
So join the struggle while you may/the revolution is just a t-shirt away!
2) The politics - I prefer Billy when he's subtle, singing here about the importance of (despite everything) optimistic political activism, of needing to believe that you, we, despite numerous setbacks, are making progress. The song is 28 years old and is as relevant as ever. I kind of wish it weren't.
3) The build up. The drums don't even kick in properly until verse four. The chorus is delayed and delayed until you want, need, it to spill over into the rousing choral of Great! Leap! Forwards! And when it does, it satisfies.

The fact that it references Fidel Castro, or his brother at least, seems almost too apt today.