Magdalena is a location in Mexico. The song "Magdalena" by Brandon Flower is about a apology, self-punishment of walking a long road. The pounding drums gives off a hopeful sounds and distant echoes that shows of joy in seeing the long journey is coming to an end, the hope that the prayers have carried with them on that journey they're prayers will be answered. "be delivered from the depths of darkness and be born again by candlelight" indicates that they have escaped from the shadows and now they can be reborn and start fresh.
There had been a documentary, journey from Nogales, Mexico to Madalena, Sonora, Mexico. The artist Brandon Flower himself must have been on this journey, the soul of his voice can carries the pain of a thousands tears and the character of blood-stained, muddy feet to his audience.
If there are any illegal immigrants involved, it's those who cross from America back to Mexico. As one who made the journey recalls: "All of us walked with a promise or to ask a miracle to be granted once the walk was complete and a kiss planted on the head of the statue of San Francisco in the church at Magdalena."
Is Brandon Flowers' "Magdalena" encouraging the deaths of Immigrants, giving them false hope as they cross through the desert or drive over the boarder? In a way, I hope "Magdalena" does. I hope that in every mile of that march, pilgrims are bathed anew and as the sun rips their skin and the road tears their feat, that the old man they leave behind will never be picked up again. I hope it encourages us all to drop our old man even if we are thousands of miles away, and that "we'll dance and the band will play" and that we'll "be delivered from the depths of darkness" as we "runneth over the ancient clay" and know that we are clean.
As much as it is about taking the harsh Nogales to Magdalena journey, it's just as much about crossing the border between earth and Heaven. I hope we all make the journey, even if we must become a "two-time beggar" to get there.
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