Last week I was putting together a set of songs for my show (Dog’s Dinner, Wed eves. 8:30-10, wmpg.org) on the subject of Mexicans, walls and so forth, for example this gem from Tom Russell:
In the course of my researches I discovered that the U.S. Border Patrol has been quietly commissioning pop songs for Mexican radio on the subject of illegal immigration — specifically, how trying to slip across the border will be a horrible mistake and probably get you killed. Some of these numbers, like La Bestia Norte (aka Death Train) have gotten really popular on commercial radio:
It’s so catchy the lyrics come as a surprise:
…The threatening snake appears/
Her scales made out of iron/
Her womb as well…
And we haven’t even boarded yet.
If this stuff is selling — and it is — and if we the people are producing it — and we are — where’s the money?
