He would go on to sign with the label releasing his first solo album in 1990 entitled A Crack In Time. In promotion of the album, Russell began touring extensively throughout Europe achieving a level of success he had yet to obtain back in the United States.
Russell would go on to release over a dozen albums on various labels. Throughout his career, he battled with drug and alcohol addiction and was arrested in Texas for cocaine possession in 1995.
On 3 April 2011, Russell died in Garfield, Texas, after a lengthy battle with liver cancer at the age of 62. He is survived by Swiss-born wife, Cynthia, who continues to live in Central Texas and son, Justin.
Wikipedia: Calvin Russell
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One Meat Ball
Calvin Russell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To find an eating place in town,
He read the menu through and through,
To see what fifteen cents could do.
One meat-ball, one meat-ball,
He could afford but one meat-ball.
One Meatball - Josh White
He found an eating place in town,
He read the menu through and through,
To see what fifteen cents could do.
One meatball, one meatball,
He could afford but one meatball.
He told the waiter near at hand,
The simple dinner he had planned.
The guests were startled, one and all,
To hear that waiter loudly call, "What,
"One meatball, one meatball?
Hey, this here gent wants one meatball."
The little man felt ill at ease,
Said, "Some bread, sir, if you please."
The waiter hollered down the hall,
"You gets no bread with one meatball.
"One meatball, one meatball,
Well, you gets no bread with one meatball."
The little man felt very bad,
One meatball was all he had,
And in his dreams, he hears that call,
"You gets no bread with one meatball.
"One meatball, one meatball,
Well, you gets no bread with one meatball."
The lyrics of Calvin Russell's "One Meat Ball" tell the story of a destitute man who is searching for a meal in a restaurant. He scans the menu, but due to his lack of funds, he has to choose the least expensive option, which is just one meatball. When he attempts to order, the waiter loudly announces to the other guests what the man has chosen, causing the man to feel ashamed. When the man requests some bread to go along with his meal, the waiter denies him with a callous response. Ultimately, the man is left feeling very sad, and even in his dreams, he cannot escape from the taunting voice of the waiter.
The song serves as a commentary on poverty and the experiences of people who are struggling to make ends meet. It highlights the humiliating treatment they receive when trying to access basic needs such as food. The mocking tone of the waiter in the song is indicative of the lack of empathy that is often present in society towards those who are economically marginalized. The song's message speaks to the need for greater compassion and understanding towards those who are less fortunate.
Line by Line Meaning
A little man walked up and down,
A small man who's probably hungry is walking around town in search of a place to eat.
To find an eating place in town,
He is in search of a place to eat.
He read the menu through and through,
He carefully goes through the list of food items on the menu.
To see what fifteen cents could do.
He wants to see what he can buy with the little amount of money he has, which is fifteen cents.
One meat-ball, one meat-ball,
He eventually decides to order one meatball.
He could afford but one meat-ball.
Since he only has fifteen cents, he can only afford one meatball.
He told the waiter near at hand,
He explains to the nearest waiter what he wants to order.
The simple dinner he had planned.
His dinner plans are not grand, just a simple meal of one meatball.
The guests were startled, one and all,
The other diners are surprised and taken aback by his order.
To hear that waiter loudly call,
They hear the waiter loudly call out his order.
"What, one meat-ball, one meat-ball?
The waiter confirms his order, which surprises the guests.
Hey, this here gent wants one meat-ball."
The waiter informs everyone that the small man only wants one meatball.
The little man felt ill at ease,
The small man feels uncomfortable and uneasy after the commotion about his meal.
Said, "Some bread, sir, if you please."
He asks politely for some bread to go with his meal.
The waiter hollered down the hall,
The waiter shouts to the kitchen staff.
"You gets no bread with one meat-ball.
The waiter informs him that he cannot have bread with his one meatball.
One meat-ball, one meat-ball,
The waiter emphasizes once again that he can only have one meatball.
Well, you gets no bread with one meat-ball."
The waiter repeats that he can't have bread with his meal.
The little man felt very bad,
The small man feels sad and unhappy about his situation.
One meat-ball was all he had,
He has to make do with just one meatball since that's all he can afford.
And in his dreams, he hears that call,
He dreams of the waiter's voice telling him he can only have one meatball without bread.
"You gets no bread with one meat-ball.
The waiter's voice echoes in his dreams, reminding him of his meager meal.
One meat-ball, one meat-ball,
The only thing he can have is one meatball.
Well, you gets no bread with one meat-ball."
He is reminded that he cannot have bread with his meal, which is just one meatball.
Contributed by Lillian O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@TheWolf1340
When I met Calvin Russell in 1999, he said that this song was a part of his personal life, when he sang his songs in the street, trying to get a one dollar bill for a "simple dinner"! RIP my friend!
Little man, he walked up and down
To find an eating place in a town
He looked the menues through and through ,
To See, what a dollar bill might do
One meatball,
one meatball,
one meatball,
All he could get was this one meatball
He told the waiter so near at hand
The simple dinner he had planned
The guests were startled, one and all
To hear the waiter so loudly call
One meatball,
one meatball,
one meatball
This lousy guy gets just one meatball
Little man, he fell so will at ease
He said, some bread, Sir, if you'd please
The waiter hollered way down the hall
You get no bread with your one meatball
One meatball,
one meatball,
one meatball
You getno bread with your one meatball
Little man felt so very bad
One meatball was all he had
And in his dreams he can still hear that call
You get no bread with your one meatball
One meatball,
one meatball,
one meatball
You get no bread with your one mea. one meat ball
@christophecohin9972
Couscous!
@kasimir7506
Awesome
@gregmerk427
I know this song because my friend did a Ska version with his band, The Skatologists
@TheWolf1340
A great song to face the United "free for all" States of America with their human (un)respect, with the living condition of the "no wall street" people! RIP Calvin Russell! Nice to meet you in '99!
@ilovehifi
This shit is so fucking epic. Whenever I need to really feel something as far as music and blues this is one of the greats I turn to.
@gillessauvan2380
merci pour mes esgourdes pour toujours
@1kick2stomp
The entire world has become "ONE MEAT BALL" !!
@MrCybergone
one meat ball !!
@TheWolf1340
When I met Calvin Russell in 1999, he said that this song was a part of his personal life, when he sang his songs in the street, trying to get a one dollar bill for a "simple dinner"! RIP my friend!
Little man, he walked up and down
To find an eating place in a town
He looked the menues through and through ,
To See, what a dollar bill might do
One meatball,
one meatball,
one meatball,
All he could get was this one meatball
He told the waiter so near at hand
The simple dinner he had planned
The guests were startled, one and all
To hear the waiter so loudly call
One meatball,
one meatball,
one meatball
This lousy guy gets just one meatball
Little man, he fell so will at ease
He said, some bread, Sir, if you'd please
The waiter hollered way down the hall
You get no bread with your one meatball
One meatball,
one meatball,
one meatball
You getno bread with your one meatball
Little man felt so very bad
One meatball was all he had
And in his dreams he can still hear that call
You get no bread with your one meatball
One meatball,
one meatball,
one meatball
You get no bread with your one mea. one meat ball
@factorylad5071
I am going to have a whip round because meatballs and spaghetti is quite nice infact.