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about

The many problems with the Trump-era US Postal Service and the fact that Rosie’s parents both work for the USPS have kept that institution at the forefront of my mind for many years. This concern was intensified by our post office being burned down during the May 2020 uprising. Moreover, when I was in my late teens (in the early 1990s), I’d read that the Beatles recorded a cover song called “Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues,” and I wondered what it would sound like but never made the effort to find a bootleg. (Back then, it wasn't as easy to find music, as some will recall.) Then, a few years later, it was released on the Anthology series, but even though I knew of and then later bought those albums, I never listened to any of those tracks until recently. It’s a good song, and they sound great on it, of course. But then I remembered what I thought the song should sound like—opening with a more plaintive cry of “mailman!” and set in a bluesy minor mode. This song grew unconsciously from that old song idea, but it then developed in line with all of my accumulated songwriting habits and preferences many years later. The second wordless bridge section ends with a buried allusion to some of the music from the original Twin Peaks series, written by the late Angelo Badalamenti. Teresa's Webernesque viola solo and Nate's slide playing are especially evocative on this track.

lyrics

Mailman, yes your bag is getting heavy
And you’ve walked up here already
But your feet still feel unsteady

Mailman, must’ve dropped all of your letters
’Cause these days we’re all forgetters
Never listen to your betters

Mailman, spare me from the morning news
When you weigh conflicting views,
Should you let the reader choose?

Mailman, keep my sins all to yourself
Have the papers on the shelf
That show the cleanest bill of health

Mailman, you must brave the gusty breezes
Does he understand diseases?
He will do just as he pleases

Mailman, I am on my knees in prayer
Underneath the surface layer
Always lies a cold betrayer

credits

from The Honor and Glory of The Gated Community, released February 3, 2023
Sumanth Gopinath: lead vocals, acoustic guitar, Hammond organ
Rosie Harris: backing vocals
Beth Hartman: backing vocals, tambourine
Teresa Gowan: viola
Nathan Knutson: electric guitar (including slide)
Cody Johnson: bass guitar
Paul Hatlelid: drums

written August 2020, recorded summer 2021–spring 2022

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The Gated Community Minneapolis

The Gated Community is a country/bluegrass/Americana band with rock influences based in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area in Minnesota and has been in existence since early 2006.

Bandmembers: Sumanth Gopinath
Rosie Harris
Beth Hartman
Paul Hatlelid
Cody Johnson
Nate Knutson ... more

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