Ugh.

Would love to hear "We can't make it here anymore" by Mr. McMurtry

...even if the message is not the most uplifting, sometimes the truth hurts.

Sorry, Radio Paradise.  You can't make me like James McMurtry.

As one who has lived south of the river for many moons, I really get a chuckle out of this song. I've always liked this guy anyway.

Oh, he sounds so tough. Rubbish.

Come on Jimmy, put some feeling into it! Sounds like you're singing karaoke!

 twrl33 wrote: 
This song exposes cutting racism. It exposes the grit that the American dream is covered in. It hurts, because it's far too real. It isn't comedy, it's a look in the mirror of America.

He brings out the PSD in me.

i sure don't see this as racist....... more of a grim reality actually.....now then, where's that bingo parlor?

James McMurtry has written some great lyrics.

 twrl33 wrote:  In comedy and satire, not everybody gets the joke. Sorry you didn't.

And Bill does play other songs by him. Most are equally offensive to someone. See my other post(s) for details.

 Byronape wrote:  Yes, I am. Sorry I was not more direct.
As mentioned below, this song is really about the bigoted racists who actually believe those stereotypes. I've heard this song many times, and never considered it any other way.

Consider another of his more famous works, 'Choctaw Bingo'. Or 'Levelland'. He writes songs about the people he grew up around: bigoted, small-minded, intolerant racists. People who bled the land dry and ruined it. People who cook meth, go to cockfights, screw their cousins, shoot guns for fun (okay, he got me on that one). He writes songs about people he cannot STAND. This one is no different.

Mr. McMurtry has a regular Wednesday night gig at the Continental Club on South Congress. If he was actually racist he'd've been booted years ago.

impressive lyrics

I think that this guy can do no wrong..and as a lyricist he was one of the few where I listen intentally as he is such a good story teller.

 twrl33 wrote:
The lyrics are describing the fear that one culture has of another and visa-versa. Each side is said to have a fear of the other propagating their own urban myths about the other and that they each deal with that fear in a similar way, by arming themselves or hiring private police if you are the side 'where black gold flows.' Most importantly not venturing out of one's own perceived "Safe Side" perpetuating the misinformation and lack of community. You can insist that things that frighten you should be banned, but that isn't going to help anyone's awareness of such problems or contribute to the dialogue of solving them. I would encourage you to concentrate on the real message of the song, but there is a problem.

I didn't say this in order to elevate this song to the status of a prayer wheel. McMurtry's somewhat passionless arrangement is more of a curse than a blessing, and if this platter is spun too often, fire and brim stone shall surely result. That's enough of a reason not to play it. It has its merits, does anyone know of a good cover version?

Cutting to the chase, this song is shockingly racist.  If it's irony in the context of the singers body of work, then play the whole body of work.  I know of far too many people who like nothing better than to have these prejudices confirmed.
In a time when the nation is struggling to resolve massive issues of immigration, drug wars, elections, there is nothing funny, clever or entertaining in the insensitivity displayed here.

I strongly urge Radio Paradise to stop playing this "song"  or any other similarly questionable in taste or discouraging to "the better angels of our natures."

Satire is a form of comedy anyway, so if it's satire, let Comedy Pandora or whatever play this creep.

 Byronape wrote: 
Yes, apparently cc_rider has never spent anytime along the border in Texas, New Mexico,
or Arizona.

 Bobert_ParkCity wrote: 

cc_rider wrote: 
Are you being sarcastic cc_rider?  I hope so, otherwise you need to get out more. 

 Bobert_ParkCity wrote:  That's crazy talk.

meh. after the clash, this is very ho hum.

Media loves to dump on Mexico - but for real this song could be about any number of places in the States - virtually any population area, really. Which is what I think he is getting at...

Just read an article where McMurtry explains that this song is actually ridiculing the anglo (gringo) narrator singing the song.  I was surprised at first that a Texan would say anything negative about Mexicans until I read that article.  As a former Texan, I love Mexicans and would love to some day live in Mexico.

This is a great song. 

OK, I guess I'd better stay away, 'cause I have no idea what that hole in the floor is for.

I saw James at the Austin airport not too long ago.  He and that hat of his don't stray too far from one another, apparently.

Wasn't it James McMurtry who starred as the father in "My three sons?"

 mauflex wrote: 

Ahhh the beauty of music and its total subjectivity! I love this and Lou Reed!

 Rooney wrote: 
I hope you'll get past the voice and actually LISTEN to the damned song (I promise, you won't be compelled to drive ice-picks into your ears.      )   Google the lyrics. If all you want is ear-candy, listen to the Go-Go's. Sometimes I love to just listen to a song for the beat, or the melody, or the way it makes me feel when I'm driving or working, and that's cool, I think - as long as it's not the total focus.

It's been a long week today, and I'm really knackered (but I'm tanned and have muscles and my hair is a couple of shades lighter, so it all balances out, right?)

Gotta go - this song just seguéd into "Jessica" by the Allman Brothers. I hate to miss a good set... 

 diddelit wrote:  He is singing in Spanish with a TEXAS accent. That's how it sounds around here. I can understand how his voice might grate though.