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Girl with the Blue Transistor

by John Flynn

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about

“Girl with the Blue Transistor" is a song about a young girl from South Philadelphia whose life was transformed by the ubiquitous, newly-portable radio that served as a musical lifeline for the teens and tweens of the early Sixties. Even though "the Boss Jocks said no girls", Helen Leicht never gave up on her childhood dream of being a DJ. “Never quite the same once the music kissed her”, she went on to become a trusted tastemaker and beloved broadcasting legend on Philadelphia's storied FM landscape. Artist-writer John Flynn credits Leicht with being one of the first to play his music on the radio. He and producer Harvey transcend Flynn's folk and Americana roots to indulge their mutual love of music from the period in order to create a jangly, joyful power-pop canvas.

lyrics

GIRL WITH THE BLUE TRANSISTOR BY JOHN FLYNN

JUST A LITTLE KID SO MUCH MUSIC HELD
INSIDE HER HEART AND TO HER EAR
A.M. STATIONS THAT SHE LOVED SO WELL
PLAYING ALL THE HITS SO LOUD AND CLEAR
AND ALL THE PICTURES ON HER BEDROOM WALL
WERE OF GEORGE AND RINGO, JOHN AND PAUL

PHILLY RADIO JUST COULD NOT RESIST HER
TALKIN' BOUT THE GIRL WITH THE BLUE TRANSISTOR

MUSIC COMING THROUGH THAT LITTLE HEADPHONE WIRE
TUCKED UNDERNEATH THOSE GOLDEN CURLS
ALWAYS DIALED IN TO HER HEART'S DESIRE
ALTHOUGH THE BOSS JOCKS SAID NO GIRLS
BEHIND THE MIC THEY DIDN'T KNOW ONE DAY
SHE'D BE TELLING ALL THE BOYS WHAT SONGS TO PLAY

PHILLY RADIO JUST COULD NOT RESIST HER
TALKIN' BOUT THE GIRL WITH THE BLUE TRANSISTOR

SHE TOOK RADIO TO SCHOOL EACH DAY
TOOK THAT RADIO TO BED AT NIGHT
IF YOU ASK WHY SHE'LL ONLY SMILE AND SAY
THAT RADIO MADE THINGS ALRIGHT
THAT DJ ALWAYS HAD THE POWER TO PLAY
A SONG TO LIFT HER UP AND TAKE HER FAR AWAY

RADIO RADIO-OH-OH-OH-OH
RADIO RADIO-OH-OH-OH-OH

AGAIN AND AGAIN A LITTLE ANTENNA
FOUND SONGS NO ONE HAD LISTENED TO
THAT'S WHY I'M HERE SINGING FOR YOU

FROM SOUTH PHILLY STOOPS, BLANKETS ON THE BEACH
FROM PASSING CARS ON KELLY DRIVE
THROUGH THE WINDOW SCREENS UP IN THE GREAT NORTHEAST
HER VOICE WOULD ALWAYS MAKE US SMILE
WHILE OTHER STATIONS PLAYED THE SAME OLD SONG
EVERYBODY COOL WAS TURNING HELEN ON

PHILLY RADIO JUST COULD NOT RESIST HER
TALKIN' BOUT THE GIRL WITH THE BLUE TRANSISTOR
NEVER QUITE THE SAME ONCE THE MUSIC KISSED HER
WHEN SHE WAS THE GIRL WITH THE BLUE TRANSISTOR

RADIO RADIO-OH-OH-OH-OH
RADIO RADIO-OH-OH-OH-OH


(c) 2021 Flying Stone Music

credits

released October 8, 2021
Produced by Harvey at Barndance Productions

John Flynn - lead and background vocals, six and twelve string acoustic guitars

Harvey - background vocals, electric guitar, bass, drums, slide, high-strung guitar.

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about

John Flynn Wilmington, Delaware

Acclaimed singer-songwriter known for smart, heart-centered lyrics and stirring songs of social justice. The former Nashville staff-writer has released thirteen albums in a career spanning four decades, often sharing the mic with Kris Kristofferson, a long time champion of Flynn's work. John also runs New Beginnings-Next Step, a 501C3 dedicated to fighting recidivism in the state of Delaware. ... more

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