Thread: Immigration argument is set to country music

Immigration argument is set to country music

Web Posted: 09/20/2006 01:04 AM CDT

Hernán Rozemberg
Express-News Immigration Writer

Illegal immigration has gone country.
While politicians in Washington continue their months-long slog to reach a compromise on a proposal overhauling the country's immigration system, a pair of veterans in the Central Texas country music scene hope their latest collaboration at least may serve as educational entertainment for a desperate public still longing for changes.

It remains to be seen if the nascent effort will draw national attention, but it seems to have captivated folks in the Waco area in less than a week.

The song, "So Long, Texas — Hello, Mexico!" has drawn interest not just in Waco but, with the assistance of the Internet, across several states and even overseas, according to Johnnie Bradshaw, who recorded the song as Johnny Tex and the Texicans.

The lyrics satirically play on criticism of undocumented immigrants from Mexico who benefit from living in the United States, taking opportunities from working Americans without trying to assimilate into their new society.

On the Web
The lyrics:

So long, Texas! Hello, Mexico
I'm gonna swim the Rio Grande
At El Paso
I'm leavin' tonight
I ain't gonna pack
I'm only takin' the clothes on my back
I'll drive a rattletrap car
With no liability
I'll demand equal rights
Though I'm there illegally
I'll protest in the streets
'Til they finally grant 'em
Sing English words
To their national anthem

Listen to the song:
www.johnnytex.com

In the song, it's an American who illegally crosses the Rio Grande into Mexico, makes demands and abuses the host country's social services, all while refusing to acculturate by speaking English and flying the U.S. flag.

It's arguably the first country-western song overtly taking an immigration-restriction stance. Some music industry observers couldn't recall immigration ever being the subject of a country song.

Wade Jessen, director of country charts for Billboard, said the only recordings that came to mind spoke in general terms about the United States being a welcoming nation of immigrants, such as Willie Nelson's "Living in the Promiseland" in 1986.

And San Antonio's own Holly Dunn put out a song — later picked up by superstar Reba McEntire — two years later, "Just Across the Rio Grande," a tale of a man in Nuevo Laredo pondering a risky illicit river crossing in hope of landing a job in Laredo to help his poor family.

While popular Mexican corridos, or folk ballads, delve into the issue, there has been no attempt to use country music to make a statement on the contemporary national immigration debate, Jessen said.

"Country music has always had some kind of social consciousness, but this is probably a first, especially if it gets national attention," he said.

Though landing a solid spot on the Texas charts was the realistic goal, gaining a national spotlight would be a nice bonus, said Bradshaw, a country music performer, band manager and disc jockey in Waco since the 1970s.

Bradshaw said he was immediately drawn to "So Long, Texas" from the first time he read the lyrics, written by Rita Jones. After unsuccessfully pitching the song to a couple of up-and-coming musicians in the area, he decided to record it himself.

"I realized the timing was right for this song," he said. "It's a humorous way of pointing out a reality."

Never did Jones think that this one, all of the songs she had penned over the years, would be the one that could finally take her to the big time.

Jones said she'd much rather be known for her love songs. In fact, "So Long Texas" was destined to be, at most, another sheet in her scrapbook.

And though she never intended the song to become any sort of political rallying cry, as its popularity and demand continue to grow, all she did was write sentiments shared by countless others, she said.

"I'm not one of these in-your-face political people," said Jones, 57, a former public library secretary in Waco. "I'm not bitter. I'm not a racist. But there are so many illegals in the country now, that it has gotten out of hand."

Interest in her song began intensifying after it was picked up by the morning show of Waco's top radio station last month. Then, on Friday, Bradshaw set up a Web site where people can download the song or order the CD.

The site received more than 1,000 hits the first day and hundreds of CDs have been sold, he said.

Unexpected backing from immigration restrictionists has further helped the effort.

William Gheen, president of Americans for Legal Immigration, a political action committee based in Raleigh, N.C., said he's urging all his 7,000 supporters to ask radio stations across the country to play the song.

Pam Shane, country music analyst for Shane Media in Houston, publisher of Texas Music Chart and Best in Texas Music magazine, said the song has the potential to go national.

"If you have a way to get a song to radio that reflects what people are thinking, it'll get play," she said. "The wind across the country right is blowing against immigration. In two to three years, we'll probably have tons of songs like this one."

If you would like to order the song or listen, please visit www.JohnnyTex.com

If you would like to help ALIPAC distribute the song nationally, please visit and participate at

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ic&t=41096

Original article at
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/ ... 8121a.html

Just posted to Charlotte.com Carolina Issues again lets see how long they let it stay this time.

http://forums.prospero.com/kr-cltissues/messages

Thanks COI,

added to the homepage

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=N ... e&sid=1514

I've placed a call for help from ALIPAC activists distributing this article in the FOCUS Campaign section.

W

I just checked it is still up on Charlotte.com that mod who does not like my C/W music posts bust be sleeping in today.

well Charlotte.com has pulled it. But I'll put it right back on there tomorrow morning.

Looks like someone posted it again.

COI,

Please give me a call do discuss this. Might be time for a conference call to Charlotte.com to explore the problem.

W

Originally Posted by ALIPAC

COI,

Please give me a call do discuss this. Might be time for a conference call to Charlotte.com to explore the problem.

W

William, missed your call I was out doing my hour of road work. Tried to call you back, no answer.
This one is back up, has been since yesterday. For some reason perhaps the way it was posted the 1st two were pulled during the past week.
This one was posted with a different heading.
It was the 1st time I had problems with ALIPAC articles.(the song)