Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Rachel Garlin releases “Road Trip Song,” a powerful video about the election

The San Francisco-based out singer-songwriter-activist and mom wanted to show her daughter how important democracy is to ensuring our equal rights.

Rachel Garlin, 46, released “Road Trip Song” the week before the election and it tells the story of traveling to the polls with her three-year-old daughter.

Singer-songwriter-activist Rachel Garlin | Photo by Irene Young

On their trip, Garlin evokes the trailblazing women from the past who made such a journey possible. Traveling down San Francisco’s historic Market Street, Garlin and her little girl are accompanied by phantom activists:

We follow in the footsteps of Dolores, Gladys and Eleanor / They tucked their shirts into their trousers, long before you could / We stand on their suspenders like they might’ve dreamed we would

The warm, upbeat tune is perfect for driving with a smile on your face. It also anticipates the mood of relief and joy we are currently basking in after the election results were declared on Saturday and Joe Biden and Kamala Harris made their historic victory speeches.
 
Garlin’s gentle vocals and literate lyrics fit into a time-honored folk tradition that is perfect for the healing, honesty, and unity America now must embark upon.

Rachel Garlin’s latest album, Mondegreens, is out now

The single features the ever-brilliant Allison Miller on drums, Julie Wolf on piano, James DePrato on guitar, and Jonny Flaugher on bass.

“Road Trip Song” is a particularly timely release in the wake of a Democratic victory and the landmark and long achievement of Kamala Harris as the first woman and first person of color to take up the office of Vice President of the United States.

Watch Road Trip Song here.

If you’re not familiar with the lovely musical stylings of Rachel Garlin, visit her website and tune in.

Merryn Johns

Merryn Johns is the Editor-in-Chief of Queer Forty. She is an award-winning journalist, as well as a broadcaster and public speaker. Originally from Sydney, Australia where she began her career in journalism in the 1990s, she is based in New York City where she became the editor-in-chief of Curve Magazine and wrote for a variety of publications including Vanity Fair, Vogue, Slate, and more. Follow on Twitter at @Merryn1

Merryn Johns has 140 posts and counting. See all posts by Merryn Johns

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