Billy Bragg has announced his tenth studio album, The Million Things That Never Happened, out Oct. 8.

The LP hails itself as “the first pandemic blues album of our times” and Bragg has already shared the pensive lead single, “I Will Be Your Shield.”

Explains Bragg, “To me, ‘I Will Be Your Shield’ is the heart and soul of the album. I’ve come to the conclusion that empathy is the currency of music – that our job as songwriters is to help people come to terms with their feelings by offering them examples of how others may have dealt with a situation similar to that in which the listener finds themselves. After what we’ve all been through, the idea of being a shield – physically, emotionally, psychologically – resonates beyond the pandemic.”

On Sept. 21, Bragg will also offer an online concert experience, featuring the live debut of many of these tunes plus some of his greatest hits.

Pre-order The Million Things That Never Happened here.

Watch an official live clip of “I Will Be Your Shield” below: