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Border Radio

by Neil Nathan

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about

The song's title and chorus references the radio stations on the US Border with Mexico, with powerful signals able to reach the entire USA, the only stations beaming country music far and wide. "Country greats Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings said they grew up listening to the Carter Family on border broadcasts. Border radio also introduced Mexican and Mexican-American artists like Lydia Mendoza, to a larger audience. Maybelle Carter's guitar playing styles and innovations — widely credited as forming the foundations of American country music — were shaped by Mexican guitar playing styles". - How unregulated radio stations out of Mexico fueled the country music boom in America, Business Insider

The song is about a woman at home with a child, missing her man, who may or may not be dead. Says Neil, "I've always wanted to cover this one since I first heard Dave Alvin's fingerpicked version of the more rocking original he wrote and played in The Blasters. No explicit references to the current border crisis, but a great song can travel across time and place...one could certainly imagine the man/father being missed is a casualty of the current border mess."

This is another remote cross continent collaboration with Thales Posella (Brazil).

This is the first of regular releases from me every 6 weeks or so for the foreseeable future! I've been sitting on too many recordings for too long and it's time to release them into the world. If you want to support my recording adventures, please consider purchasing the track and pay what you want.

lyrics

One more midnight, her man is still gone
The night moves too slow
She tries to remember the heat of his touch
While listening to the Border Radio

She calls toll-free and requests an old song
Something they used to know
She prays to herself, wherever he is
He's listening to the Border Radio

This song comes from nineteen sixty-two
Dedicated to a man who's gone
Fifty thousand watts out of Mexico
This is the Border Radio
This is the Border Radio

She thinks of her son, asleep in his room
And how her man won't see him grow
She thinks of her life, hopes for a change
While listening to the Border Radio

This song comes from nineteen sixty-two
Dedicated to a man who's gone
Fifty thousand watts out of Mexico
This is the Border Radio
This is the Border Radio

They play her tune but she can't concentrate
Wonders why he had to go
One more midnight and her man is still gone
She's listening to the Border Radio

This song comes from nineteen sixty-two
Dedicated to a man who's gone
Fifty thousand watts out of Mexico
This is the Border Radio
This is the Border Radio

credits

released March 22, 2024
Written by Dave Alvin
Produced by Brainstorm Bros - Neil Nathan & Thales Posella
Recorded & Mixed by Thales Posella
Stereophonic Mastering by Timothy Stollenwerk

Vocals - Neil Nathan
Acoustic Guitars, Banjo, Percussion - Thales Posella

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Neil Nathan New York, New York

"Impressive." Vinyl District

"A warm, soulful voice, full of longing." Magnet Magazine

"A good time." Huffington Post

"A talent that cuts to & through the heart." Philadelphia Daily News

"A profound steward of great American folk-rock music." - Indie Band Guru

"There are few out there with this combo of energy & soulful songwriting, Matthew Sweet & Jeff Tweedy qualify." Powerpopaholic ... more

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