WXJL Tonight

WXJL Tonight is a song written by The Human League and included as the closing track of their 1980 album Travelogue. It was recorded at Monumental Studios, Sheffield and produced and engineered by The Human League and Richard Manwaring.

Content and lyrics
 The song concerns a fictitious radio station named WXJL, effectively the last manned radio station earth, when all other stations have been automated. the lyrics firstly give a subjective description of the situation "the way it was in the past" when people would "listen to the DJs talk", before "automatic stations came and sent them all away". The perspective then shifts to the last remaining DJ in first person who addresses the listeners directly "now I'm left alone...and you're the one who makes the choice to turn me on or turn me off". The song finishes with the appeal "I don't want you to go tonight!", together with invented radio station chichés and slogans such as "hit pick or phone-in show" and "news headlines on the hour".  Comparisons with the song have been made to Harry Chapin's song "W.O.L.D." 

Versions and availability
There is only one officially recorded version of the song, with a duration of 4:35.

The track is available on the original Travelogue album release and successive CD releases in 1988 and 2003, and was also included as the B side to the 7" single of 'Only After Dark' released in Germany.



Cover versions

 * Battery Operated Orchestra
 * Heaven 17 - Virgin40 live set