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For Immediate Release:
Radney Foster releases Spanish version of his lullaby
“Godspeed (Dulces Sueños)” as “A prayer for the border” to benefit RAICES Texas.
“The only way to change someone’s mind, is to first change their heart.
Songs can do that in a way that arguments can not.”
-Radney Foster
Nashville, Tenn. -- June 25, 2018-- Texas singer/songwriter Radney Foster has released a Spanish version of his classic lullaby, “Godspeed,” as “Godspeed (Dulces Sueños).” The song and video have quickly garnered attention for compassionate and soulful lyrics.
Listen
here
.
“I was born and raised on the Mexican border in Del Rio, Texas,” says Foster. “I’m heartbroken by the image of young children being taken from their parents. When I originally wrote “Godspeed,” I was a desperate father, separated by thousands of miles, literally by a continent, from my son. I wanted him to know how much I loved him. I can only imagine the desperation of these parents and children.”
Foster wrote the song as a lullaby to his young son, who moved to France with his mother when he was only five. He released the song (with background vocals by
Emmylou Harris
), on his 1998 album
See What You Want To See
. The song was later covered by
The Dixie Chicks
on their album
Home
, which sold six million copies. It’s also been recorded by
Kenny Loggins, Nick Lachey and Marc Broussard
.
The accompanying video show the translated new lyrics, which speak of hard roads, wide waters and sleeping under the light of the moon. Where the father in the original is reading “Goodnight Moon” to his son, the father in “Godspeed (Dulces Sueños)” tells his son, “We have no books on this journey, but I can sing.”
“It’s frustrating to hear people opine about the border crisis, who have never even been there,” Foster continues. “ I’m a fourth generation border native. Though not Latino, I was raised in a bilingual home and taught to respect everyone, regardless of race, creed or color. That’s an American value. Watching children being forcibly taken from their parents, solely because they crossed a border is antithetical to everything I believe. My conscious tells me it’s wrong, my faith tells me that’s wrong and the values I was taught at the dinner table tell me it’s wrong.”
“My prayer for these children is that they will be quickly reunited with their loved ones, whether they are allowed to stay in this country as new citizens or return to their country of origin.”
“My hope in rewriting “Godspeed” was that people might lose their preconceptions about these families and look at them as human beings who should be treated with dignity, mercy and grace. The only way to change someone’s mind, is to first change their heart. Songs can do that in a way that arguments can not.”
Foster’s current project
,
For You to See the Stars
, is a book of short fiction and a CD of accompanying songs, his eleventh studio album.
Foster has written eight number one hit singles, including his own "Nobody Wins," and "Crazy Over You" with duo Foster & Lloyd.
His discography contains cuts by artists including Keith Urban, The Dixie Chicks, Luke Bryan, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Kenny Chesney, Hootie & The Blowfish and countless others.
Radney has long been involved in children’s charities. Currently he’s working with “A Place to Stay, Tour for Foster Awareness” in conjunction with The Real Life Real Music Foundation. For more visit
https://aplacetostaytx.org/
.
Proceeds from “Godspeed (Dulces Sueños)” will go to RAICES Texas. The Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services serves immigrants and refugees in our community by providing immigration-related legal services, advocacy and opportunities for educational and social support. They believe that by actively promoting the well-being and informed participation of immigrants and refugees in the community, everyone benefits.
https://www.raicestexas.org
On tour:
06/29/2018 - Lubbock, TX - Cactus Theater
06/30/2018- Arlington, TX- Levitt Pavillion
07/01/2018 - Plano, TX - Love and War in Texas
07/12/2018 - Clinton, NJ - The Red Mill Museum
07/13/2018- Baltimore, MD- Creative Alliance at the Patterson
07/14/2018- New York, NY- Opry City Stage NYC
07/15/2018- Woodbridge, NJ- Music on Main Street
07/26/2018 - Topsail, NC - Quarter Moon Books*
07/27/2018 Topsail, NC - Quarter Moon Books*
08/02/2018- Arvada, CO - Arvada Center for Arts and Humanities
08/04,05/2018- La Veta, CO- Rio Grande Scenic Railroad
08/09/2018- Tomball, TX- Main Street Crossing
08/10/2018- New Braunfels, TX- Gruene Hall
08/11/2018- Sonora, TX- Sutton County Fairgrounds Pavillion
08/23/2018 - Charlotte, NC - Neighborhood Theater
08/24/2018 - Asheville, NC - ISIS Theater
08/25/2018 - Chattanooga, TN - Barking Legs Theater
09/06/2018 - Dallas, TX - The Kessler Theater
09/07/2018 - San Angelo, TX - A Place To Stay benefit concert for foster care
09/08/2018 - Lindale, TX (private event)
09/19/2018 - Seattle, WA - Chatwin Books*
09/20/2018 - Seattle, WA - Freemont Abbey Arts Center
09/21/2018 - Portland, OR - The Mission Theater
09/22/2018 - Pendleton, OR - Pendleton Book Company*
09/23/2018 - Garden City, ID - Cinder Winery
09/29/2018 - St. Petersburg, FL - The Don Cesar Hotel
10/14/2018 - Waco, TX - A Place To Stay benefit concert for foster care
10/25/2018 - All Saint's Episcopal Church - Austin, TX
10/26/2018- Greenville, TX- Texan Theater
10/27/2018- Temple, TX- Mayborn Auditorium at Cultural Activities Center
10/28/2018 - Round Top, TX - Winedale Historical Complex
