Caption: PRX default Piece image
PRX default Piece image 

Who's Gonna Build Your Wall

From: Western Folklife Center Media
Length: 03:31

Tom Russell discusses his song, "Who's Gonna Build Your Wall" a song about immigration on What's in a Song. Read the full description.

Default-piece-image-2

Tom Russell is a regular performer at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, who lives near the U.S. and Mexican border in the town of Canutillo, Texas. In this song, titled "Who's Gonna Build Your Wall?", he asks if skilled illegal workers may be critical to building the very wall that separates Mexico from the United States. Tom says that although it is not a political song, feelings run high when it comes to the subject of immigration, which makes it a good premise for a song.

 

 

To hear the full audio, sign up for a free PRX account or log in.

More from Western Folklife Center Media

Caption: A flyer for Spy Hop's "Open Mic" program

Spy Hop: Making Music, Changing Lives (08:42)
From: Western Folklife Center Media

In Salt Lake City, an organization called Spy Hop is harnessing the power of music to help "at risk" youth turn their lives around. The Western Folklife Center's Taki ...
Caption: PRX default Piece image

Silver Bells (04:38)
From: Western Folklife Center Media

Composer Ray Evans penned the Christmas classic, "Silver Bells." He discusses how "Silver Bells" came to be in What's in a Song.
Caption: PRX default Piece image

It Takes A Whole Village (03:56)
From: Western Folklife Center Media

The African Children's Choir sings, "It Takes A Whole Village." Chimera Victor discusses the song and the group on What's in a Song.
Caption: PRX default Piece image

Wildfire (04:43)
From: Western Folklife Center Media

Michael Martin Murphy discusses the inspiration for his song, "Wildfire" on What's in a Song.
Caption: PRX default Piece image

Twilight (04:24)
From: Western Folklife Center Media

Mary Chapin Carpenter discusses her song "Twilight" on What's in a Song.
Caption: PRX default Piece image

Mariachi (03:09)
From: Western Folklife Center Media

High School students explain the importance of mariachi music in this edition of What's in a Song.
Caption: PRX default Piece image

Harvest Time (03:18)
From: Western Folklife Center Media

Stephanie Davis talks about her song, "Harvest Time" on What's in a Song.
Piece image

Debt (03:00)
From: Western Folklife Center Media

Brenn Hill talks about his song, "Debt" on What's in a Song.
Caption: PRX default Piece image

Ruby (03:42)
From: Western Folklife Center Media

Bluegrass singer Amber Collins discusses the old classic, "Ruby."
Caption: PRX default Piece image

Cornbread Nation (02:35)
From: Western Folklife Center Media

Songwriter Tim O’Brien talks about his song, "Cornbread Nation" on the series, What's in a Song.

Piece Description

Tom Russell is a regular performer at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, who lives near the U.S. and Mexican border in the town of Canutillo, Texas. In this song, titled "Who's Gonna Build Your Wall?", he asks if skilled illegal workers may be critical to building the very wall that separates Mexico from the United States. Tom says that although it is not a political song, feelings run high when it comes to the subject of immigration, which makes it a good premise for a song.