Preview: Border Song
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SKU: A0.1140575
By Elton John. By Bernie Taupin and Elton John. Arranged by Jacob A Smith. 20th Century,Blues,Folk,Rock. Score. 3 pages. Jacob A Smith #740813. Published by Jacob A Smith (A0.1140575)."Border Song" is a song by Elton John with music by John and lyrics by Bernie Taupin.[2] The song initially appeared on the 1970 album Elton John, and was released in the spring of 1970 as the LP's first single. After failing to chart in the UK, it was released in North America a few months later. It met with more success there, especially in Canada, where it peaked at No. 34.[3] The appearance of "Border Song" on the Canadian charts was John's first chart appearance in any country. "Border Song" was also John's first song to chart in the United States, peaking at No. 92 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 69 on the Cash Box Top 100[4] in October 1970. A cover by soul icon Aretha Franklin (with "Holy Moses" following the title in parentheses to reflect the repeated phrase in the song) fared better reaching No. 37 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 23 in the Cash Box Top 100 in December 1970.[5] It was included as the closing track of Aretha's 1972 Young, Gifted and Black album as well. The song's melody is similar to that of a spiritual.[7] A choir sings during an instrumental break led by John's piano. John has said that the song is about the alienation Taupin felt in and about London at the time ("Brand of people who ain't my kind"), and his desire to visit home as often as he could. John himself wrote and added the last verse, which departs from the theme of alienation and speaks against bigotry: "Holy Moses, let us live in peace/let us strive to find a way to make all hatred cease/there's a man over there. What's his colour I don't care/he's my brother let us live in peace.".
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