Willie Nelson, the renowned figure in country music, is honoring border patrol officers by unveiling a fresh rendition of Rodney Crowell’s 2019 song, “The Border.”
Although some may find this tribute somewhat ironic, considering Nelson’s endorsement of Joe Biden in 2020, when the now-president pledged to loosen border restrictions and undo the border security and immigration policies implemented by former President Donald Trump.
“The Border” will be featured on Willie Nelson’s upcoming album, also titled “The Border,” which is scheduled for release on May 31.
In his rendition of Crowell’s song, Nelson takes the perspective of an officer with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. “There’s a price on the head of every border patrol,” he sings. “Where the smugglers do business, that’s where I make a stand.” Later, he sings: “I come home to Maria in a bulletproof vest, with the weight of the whole wide world bearing down on my chest.”
The Border” was a collaborative effort between Crowell and Allen Shamblin, and it appeared on Crowell’s Texas album released in 2019.
Willie Nelson, who is set to celebrate his 91st birthday this year, publicly supported Joe Biden’s presidential campaign in 2020. During that time, Biden pledged to open up the southern border to undocumented immigrants, pledging to eliminate long-term detention and provide migrants with a safe and dignified living environment while they await their court hearings.
