Canadian roots reggae kings THE HUMAN RIGHTS share “Roxham Road” today ahead of One People LP on March 7
On their new single “Roxham Road,” Canada’s roots reggae kings The Human Rights make a powerful statement about the current immigration crisis by acknowledging one of Canada’s most crucial border crossings dating back to the Underground Railroad.
Connecting the towns of Champlain, New York and Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle, Quebec, Roxham Road had provided unregulated passage between the U.S. and Canada up until the mid-Seventies. Still, as an “irregular” border crossing, Roxham Road remained the easiest point of entry into Canada for asylum seekers under the “Safe Third Country Agreement” between Canada and the U.S., until 2023 when Roxham Road was permanently closed to all border crossings.
The song’s lyrics state:
Here in the north you say life for all,
Where we say human rights to all,
Where quality of life is for sharing,
Nations together, our picture’s not perfect.
Sugar, oil and diamonds, coffee and gold… yeah
Why can’t we share the wealth your ancestors stole?
In a collective statement, the band says, “‘Roxham Road’ is a song about people taking the illegal road to freedom. Inspired by our late and beloved keyboardist Bernie Pitters, ‘Roxham Road’ calls for Canadians to take a moment and reflect on who we are before we close the door. This is especially important in the age of Trump 2.0.”
“Roxham Road” is included on The Human Rights’ fourth album, One People, officially out March 7, and another testament to the group’s tireless mission to spread good vibes along with good grooves.
The Human Rights are certainly entering 2025 with a lot of positive energy. The end of 2024 marked over 250 festival and club shows the band has played across Canada and the U.S., with a recent highlight being a Canadian opening slot for The Black Crowes. The Human Rights will be back on the road in Canada this spring in support of One People.
