Best cowboy song ever!

What year does this masterpiece take place?

I slept through the Nineteen Sixties, I heard Dory Previn say But me I caught me the great white bird, to the shores of Africay Where I lost my adolescent heart, to the sound of a talking drum Yeah, East of Woodstock, West of Vietnam And on the roads outside Oshogbo, Lord I fell down on my knees There were female spirits in old mud huts, iron bells ringing up in the trees And an eighty-year-old white priest, she made juju all night long Yeah, East of Woodstock, West of Vietnam Raise high the roof beams carpenter boy, yeah we're coming through the rye In the cinema I saw the man on the moon, I laughed so hard I cried It was somewhere in those rainy seasons, that I learned to carve my song Yeah, East of Woodstock, West of Vietnam Oh Africa, Mother Africa, you lay heavy on my breast You old cradle of civilization, heart of darkness blood and death Though we had to play you running scared, when the crocodile ate the sun Yeah, East of Woodstock, West of Vietnam Well I think it's going to rain tonight, I can smell it coming off the sea As I sit here reading old Graham Greene I taste Africa on every page Then I close my eyes and see those red clay roads, and it's sundown and boys I'm gone Yeah, East of Woodstock, West of Vietnam Raise high the roof beams carpenter boy, yeah we're coming through the rye It was a moveable feast of war and memory, a dark old lullaby It was the smoke of a thousand camp fires, it was the wrong end of a gun, Yeah, East of Woodstock, West of Vietnam. Yeah, East of Woodstock, West of Vietnam Source: LyricFind Songwriters: Tom Russell

🐴🤠❤️🙌Tom Russell ‼️

Too Good

If you don't love Tom Russell YOU are INSANE

I have seen Tom on 5 occasions. He is GREAT in person, love his voice. I find him to be a historian and a great reader of others. Love his singing and his writing!

You sang this at my great nephew funeral. Cooper Gier rest in peace. Love you forever

Listening to this in what is damn near 2022. Not sure they would get away with having this song played on tv nowadays. I love it though.

I got to introduce this amazing singer songwriter on the Island where I live in BC Canada. I apologized to the Folk Club for not showing up very often and said when I heard it was Tom Russell nothing could stop me from coming and added if you could sing Blue Wing I would be so appreciative. He did and I got the chills I get every time I hear it

An incredible songwriter

Great promotional piece and awesome sounding band. Was great playing with you this week. Cheers

Cd is entitled?

“Tonight we ride, tonight we ride Tonight we fly, we're headin' west Toward the mountains and the ocean where the eagle makes his nest If our bones bleach on the desert, we'll consider we are blessed Tonight we ride, Tonight we ride”

Tom Russell one of the greatest living songwriters

With Andy Hardin!!!

an American treasure

I LOVE !!!!!!!! 💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓 LIKE. LIKE. LIKE. LIKE. 💓

I saw Tom in Las Cruces 10 years ago and had never heard of him before that. It was one of the best musical performances of my life. Tom has lots of contempt for his audience, all of it satirical and ironic, and all of it on point. I wish they could somehow edit out some of the guitarist's mistakes on this video, but that's why it's called live.

Dave's right...this song DID make me want to rob a liquor store. As a result, I'm serving 5 to 10. It was worth it.

My understanding is that divers are not allowed to approach or follow a whale, and must stay more than 100yards from the whale, and allow the whale to approach the diver, if that is what the whale CHOOSES to do. Its pretty clear that this diver was basically chasing after this whale. They are not allowed to touch the whale, either. Even if this baby whale accidentally bumped the diver as it was ascending, or even initiated purposeful contact with the diver, the diver is not allowed to reciprocate the contact and touch the whale. Perhaps the swim guide did not clearly explain the rules and laws governing this activity to its group of divers, but as they say “ignorance of the law is not a defense or excuse” for breaking the law, and there are vey strict laws governing swimming with whales....this is to protect both the whales and the divers. Baby whales are especially clumsy and awkward as they are learning to control their buoyancy, tail and pectoral fin movements. Being struck by accident by a baby whale’s powerful tail and fins can be very dangerous! This diver was extremely lucky he wasn’t injured...

it's harassment

Can't listen to this man too often - and Andrew adds that extra touch!

Best singer/songwriter in America...and he keeps getting better!

I drove from Seattle to Chotau, Montana to a rodeo grounds to see Tom and his group perform on July 3, 2006. Letterman sponsored the show for the locals, cause Dave's ranch is near there. Dave was there but hidden from sight, I was told later by Tom who played the Tractor Tavern in Seattle about a year later.

I will take the live over the studio version, hands down.

Tom's the greatest lyric writer out there doing this kind of stuff.

Bab ??

This kicks so much ass

Just heard this on WMLB AM 1690 in Atlanta. Once the announcer stated who the artist is, next stop KZfaq. Song is great!

But i remember when every boy i knew in early high school (including my brother) were assigned a lottery number .. the lowest numbers went. My brother had a high number. And most of them died, and those left came back really f-up !! We used to sing Itchygoo park there in the park there in 8th grade. And too quickly after that, they all went off. One either had to have power or money to avoid the draft ... which they did .. the spoiled brat kids (which they were). Fact.

Really .. did he not kick ass on this one ?!

Had this CD for a while..... good stuff!

His lyrics never cease to amaze me .. when I'm too damn old to sit a horse, I'll steal the warden's car .. break my ass out of this prison .. leave my teeth there in a jar .. What more needs to be said ??

damn, i can relate to this song. the wild dirty rough west still lives on. tonight I ride.

this song is so incredibly cool!

Sorry if this was addressed in another comment but could ANYONE tell me what the hell that thing Paul Scaefer (sp?) is playing is?? Looks like a giant harmonica, but I doubt that's it. I've been playing music for over 30 yrs and never seen that instrument. Any help?? Thanks

I hope this was meant to be humorous, otherwise he's a terrible writer.

Fantastic!! thanks for sharing

Arizona Rattler euridite reptile If Tom does not go platinum, win a few grammies as time goes by the people and critics and the Academy of CM dies not take serious notice something is seriously wrong. Tom is one of the most talented lyricst with imagination just off the or shall I say; should be ON THE CHARTS WITH A BULLET FOR EVERY SONG.

most cowboy thing that has ever taken place in New York

That's awesome.

Not going to try to analyze this song, rhythm and words were strong and powerful --- big,big thumbs up.

So, Poncho Villa was a politician ~ now I get it !

@bpalmer367 So he really likes Tom Russel, that's an opinion and he's entitled to it. Calling an opinion ignorant purely because you don't agree with it is bigoted.

It's been a long time since I heard from Tom Russell. This tune is brilliant - sheer poetry at its very best! This tune would lend itself very well to a movie soundtrack (about the 1960s, of course). A magnificent/sublime retrospective tune. If he was alive today, I wonder what Joseph Conrad would think of this one?

@Imissthepostoffice Well okay, maybe it was 3 weeks ago. Alright .. I have been out of town a lot. and it's hard to keep track. Just keep doing what you're doing please. It is a fresh breath and a joy to hear someone who has a talent .. Like Guy Clark or Robert Earl Keen, but you top them all, according to my book. Absolutely !

Amazing ! I missed him the last time he was in Chicago - just last week - Fitzgeralds in Berwyn. I was out of town. Thank you, Tom, for your excellent song writing and music. In my lifetime, one of the very best .. Love, Marianne. Keep 'em coming .. they just get better. Hope to see you at Fitzgerald's next time .. !!!!

If anyone has access to guitar sheet music or tablature for this awesome song, please post a link in the comments.

I finally got to see Rom Russell live this week, and I still have stars in my eyes. The man is a tremendous entertainer and storyteller.