Paul Heaton - The Old Radio Lyrics

When segregation reigned
It blared out Brother Ray
When original white hoodies marched
It brought us MLK

Carrying story from Seattle
To Miami bay
From the seahawk to the dolphin
Hope was on its way

The night that John F. Kennedy died
I swear the whole bar cried
Crackling in the corner
Whilst all of our tears dried

Cynics knowing smirk
Sat there justified
Our bar room hopes and liquid dreams
Were once again denied

But on the night that Jailhouse Rock first
Tore right up those billboard charts
The night that Hammerin' Hank
Sank those New York Yankee hearts

When Sugar Ray taught KKK
That black was fighting right back
A change was gonna come okay
But not till after this track

The night it roared out loud
When Iwo Jima fell
But not before the Ink Spots sang
Soft but clear as hell

Back when singer had a melody
Radio tale to tell
And transistor was a jukebox
With a lesson in as well

The heartbeat of this place
We thought we'd never lose
The lifeline from the Astor
To the Mississippi blues

From Pearl Harbor's ships
To Ginger Rogers hips
It took rainy night in Georgia
And placed in dancing shoes