Tapping on the Line

Album: Edge of the Sun (2015)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The Calexico band members have known Neko Case since the early 2000s and they have made several contributions to her records, but this was the first time she's sung on one of their tracks. It was regular touring member Sergio Mendoza who encouraged frontman Joey Burns to request the folk-rocker's participation. He told Spin: "I've never asked her to be on a Calexico record till Edge of the Sun, so Sergio again was like, 'C'mon, she's coming through town with these photographers, she'll have time to come by.' I was like, 'You're joking, man. She's busy. She's probably exhausted from being on tour like all of us.'"

    "But she came in and she put some beautiful vocals on the bridge to the song called 'Tapping on the Line,' which is one of the more unlikely Calexico-sounding songs," he added. "She just cruised in and gave some great vocals, and then she just kind of gave us a hug and went off to play a show."
  • Joey Burns commented to The Tucson Weekly regarding the lyrical content: "Hearing so much about wire tapping in the news, it was only a matter of time before a song like this showed evidence of their influence."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions Answered

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions AnsweredSong Writing

10 Questions for the author of Precious Metal: Decibel Presents the Stories Behind 25 Extreme Metal Masterpieces

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Greg talks about writing songs of "universal truth" for King Crimson and ELP, and tells us about his most memorable stage moment (it involves fireworks).

Paul Williams

Paul WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

He's a singer and an actor, but as a songwriter Paul helped make Kermit a cultured frog, turned a bank commercial into a huge hit and made love both "exciting and new" and "soft as an easy chair."

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine Band

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine BandSongwriter Interviews

Harry Wayne Casey tells the stories behind KC and The Sunshine Band hits like "Get Down Tonight," "That's The Way (I Like It)," and "Give It Up."

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And Hell

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And HellSongwriter Interviews

Guitarist Tony Iommi on the "Iron Man" riff, the definitive Black Sabbath song, and how Ozzy and Dio compared as songwriters.