Border Song (1970)

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Border Song is a song that was released at 20 March 1970 and originally performed by British musician Elton John. Lyrics are credited to Bernie Taupin, although John himself wrote the words to the final verse. The music was composed by John.[1]

Key Lyrics

Holy Moses, I have been removed

I have seen the spectre, he has been here too

Distant cousin from down the line

Brand of people who ain't my kind

Holy Moses, I have been removed


I'm going back to the border where my affairs

My affairs ain't abused

I can't take any more bad water

Been poisoned from my head down to my shoes, oh

Holy Moses, I have been deceived


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 color? I don't care

He's my brother, let us live in peace, oh

Interpretation

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 racism and 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."[2]

Released and Reception

Border 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 #34. The appearance of "Border Song" on the Canadian charts was Elton John's first chart appearance in any country.[3]

Border Song" was also John's first song to chart in the United States, peaking at #92 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #69 in the Cash Box Top 100 in October 1970.[4] A cover by soul icon Aretha Franklin (listed with "Holy Moses" following the title in parentheses, to make it more identifiable as being a repeated phrase in the song) fared better reaching #37 in the Billboard Hot 100 and #23 in the Cash Box Top 100 in December 1970. It was included as the closing track of Aretha's 1972 Young, Gifted and Black album as well.[5]

In the Netherlands it peaked at #29 in the Dutch Top 40 in January 1971.[6]

References

  1. "Border Song 45cat". 45cat. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  2. Border Song. Wikipedia. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  3. "RMP 100 Singles". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 14 September 2014. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  4. "Cash Box Top 100 10/03/70". tropicalglen.com. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  5. "Cash Box Top 100 12/19/70". tropicalglen.com. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  6. Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. "Elton John - Border Song". Top40.nl. Retrieved January 31, 2021.