Born in Lawton, Oklahoma, United States, Russell began playing piano at the age of four. He attended Will Rogers High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Also at Will Rogers High School were Anita Bryant, who was one year older, and in the same 1959 class, David Gates. Russell and Gates played and recorded together as the Fencement. Another student at Will Rogers during this time was Elvin Bishop, although he was a few years younger than the previously mentioned. During this time Russell was already performing at Tulsa nightclubs. After moving to Los Angeles in the late 1950s, he became a session musician, working as a pianist on the recordings of many notable 1960s musical artists. By the late 1960s, Russell diversified, becoming successful as an arranger and songwriter. By 1970, he had graduated to solo recording artist, although he never ended his previous roles within the music industry. After performing country music under the name Hank Wilson in the 1970s and 1980s, Russell had largely faded into obscurity. He re-emerged in 2010 when Elton John called on him to record an album that became The Union. The album brought renewed popularity to Russell who has since released a solo album and toured around the world.
Russell was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on March 14, 2011. In June, 2011, Leon Russell was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Known as a session musician and artist in his own right, Russell has played with artists as varied as Jerry Lee Lewis, Phil Spector and The Rolling Stones. With a solo career spanning the genres of rock, blues, and gospel, Russell began his musical career at 14, lying about his age to land a gig playing backup at a Tulsa nightclub to play with Ronnie Hawkins behind Jerry Lee Lewis. Two years later, after settling in Los Angeles, he studied guitar with James Burton, and worked sessions with Dorsey Burnette and Glen Campbell.
After becoming a part of Phil Spector's studio group, Russell played backup on many of the most popular hits of the 1960s, including The Byrds, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, and Herb Alpert. He also served as Snuff Garrett's assistant on numerous productions. Russell built his own recording studio in 1967, and recorded his first LP, Look Inside the Asylum Choir, in a collaboration with Marc Benno.
His first songwriting hit was Joe Cocker's 1970 cover of "Delta Lady", and Russell went on to organise Cocker's Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour. Shortly thereafter, Russell released another solo album, Leon Russell, which included the original version of the popular "A Song for You". Also in 1970, Russell played piano on Dave Mason's album, Alone Together (notably, on the song "Sad and Deep as You").
During the 60's and 70's, Russell had a large mansion home in Tulsa near Woodward Park and was much an attraction for teenagers growing up in Tulsa. He also owned the infamous Church Recording Studio on 3rd street there, a meeting place for Russell and many friends. The Church Studio is now owned by Glen Mitchell and one-time Russell studio engineer Steve Ripley of the country band The Tractors. Russell still records there frequently.
Russell also owned a large home on Grand Lake, in northeast Oklahoma. It stills stands near Dripping Springs, remodeled now, but a fond reminder of the days gone by for the now-grown kids in Oklahoma. At one time, it stood to be one of the largest homes on the lake. The home is now owned by Tulsa chiropractor and Leon Russell enthusiast Dr. F.J. Huskey. The home still contains the famous dining room table and chairs made from church pews from his Church Studio. On the property stands a private recording studio that has seen many famous names, including members of The Beatles.
In 1971, Russell appeared at George Harrison's Concert for Bangladesh (performing a memorable medley of the songs "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "Young Blood"), after recording sessions with B.B. King, Eric Clapton, and Bob Dylan, and went on to tour with the Rolling Stones. After focusing increasingly on his solo career, his album Carney reached #2 on the charts, although the two following albums were not received as well.
During the 70's, Russell continued to pop in occasionally and perform in Tulsa at the Paradise Club and other noted music spots around town. He surprised his fans one night performing with Flash Eddy and the Eclectics at the Paradise.
His 1975 album Will O'the Wisp was fairly commercially successful, as was its single "Lady Blue". Gailard Sartain, fondly remembered by Tulsans as Mezeppa Pompazoidi (a Saturday night movie host, joined many times by Gary Busey), did the artwork for Russell's Will 'O the Wisp LP cover.
Later that year, Russell married Mary McCreary, a former member of Sly & the Family Stone's background vocal group Little Sister. The two collaborated on The Wedding Album in 1976, and Russell penned "This Masquerade", which earned a Grammy Award for George Benson. In 1977, Russell and McCreary reunited for another album, and in 1979 Russell worked on a collaboration with Willie Nelson. He spent the next two years touring with the New Grass Revival, and released two more albums with Paradise before the label folded. For several years, he stayed largely out of the music spotlight, releasing Anything Can Happen in 1992, and then releasing two more albums in 1998 and 1999. Russell continues to tour at the age of 71. His bassist, Jack Wessel, has been with Russell close to 25 years. His son with McCreary, Teddy Jack (named after Gary Busey's character on Sartain's show), has also toured with his dad, as well as sisters, Tina Rose and Sugaree.
Pixies vocalist Black Francis credits Russell with influencing his vocal style: "I realize there's a certain kind of vocalizing I do that takes its cue from Leon Russell. He sang in a southern accent but it was very blown-out and exaggerated, very free and loose."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Russell
I'm Movin' On
Leon Russell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Means your true lovin' daddy ain't commin' back
Because I'm movin' on
I'll soon be gone
You where flying too high for my little old sky
So I'm movin' on
That big loud whistle as it blew and blew
When we're movin' on
O' here my song
You had to laugh at me so I've set you free
And I'm movin' on
Mr. fireman, won't you please listen to me
Cause I got a pretty momma in Tennessee
Keep movin' me on
Keep rollin' on
So shovel the coal let this rattle a rollin'
Keep movin' me on
Mr. engineer, take that throttle in hand
This rattle is the fastest in the southern land
Keep movin' me on
Keep rollin' on
Your gonna ease my mind put me there on time
And keep rollin' on
I've told you baby from time to time
But you just wouldn't listen nor pay me no mind
Now I'm movin' on
I'm rollin' on
You broken your vow and it's all over now
So I'm movin' on
You switched your engine
Now I ain't got time for a trifling woman on my main line
Because I'm movin' on
You done your daddy wrong
I warned you twice now you can settle the price
Because I'm movin' on
But someday baby when you've had your play
Your gonna want your daddy but your daddy will say
Keep movin' on
You stayed away too long
I'm through with you too bad your blue
Keep movin' on
The lyrics of Leon Russell's song "I'm Movin' On" depict a man who is leaving his lover for good because she has betrayed him. The first two lines of the song convey that the man is leaving and his departure is permanent. He would no longer be coming back to her, no matter what. The "big eight-wheeler rollin' down the track" is a metaphor for moving on from a relationship. The train is symbolic of the man leaving his past behind and moving on to a new life. The chorus conveys the same message, where the singer is expressing his desire to leave and continue moving forward.
The second and third stanzas describe the man's journey on the train towards the south, where he is moving on to a new, better life. The man seems to be in a mood of excitement, and he sings of his journey with joy. The poet expresses that he is returning to his roots and looking forward to a new start. The lyrics also suggest that the woman he is leaving behind, by not taking his warnings seriously, has lost her chance. The final verse reminds the woman that she cannot have him back because it is too late. The singer has already moved on and found someone new to love.
Line by Line Meaning
That big eight wheeler rollin' down the track
The train is moving, and it's a sign that I'm leaving forever.
Means your true lovin' daddy ain't commin' back
It means you won't see me again.
Because I'm movin' on
I'm leaving permanently now.
I'll soon be gone
I'm leaving soon.
You where flying too high for my little old sky
You were out of my league and I didn't fit into your life.
So I'm movin' on
I'm leaving because I don't belong here.
That big loud whistle as it blew and blew
The train whistle is announcing that the train is coming south.
Said hello to the southland we're commin' to you
We're coming to the southern states.
When we're movin' on
When the train is leaving,
O' here my song
Hear my song about leaving.
You had to laugh at me so I've set you free
You didn't take me seriously, so I'm ending this relationship.
And I'm movin' on
I'm leaving for good now.
Mr. fireman, won't you please listen to me
Hey, train conductor, listen to me!
Cause I got a pretty momma in Tennessee
I have someone waiting for me in Tennessee.
Keep movin' me on
Keep the train moving so I can leave.
Keep rollin' on
Keep the train moving until I'm gone.
So shovel the coal let this rattle a rollin'
Keep the train moving by adding more coal to the engine.
Mr. engineer, take that throttle in hand
Hey, train driver, take control of the engine.
This rattle is the fastest in the southern land
This train is the fastest in the south.
Your gonna ease my mind put me there on time
Please make sure I arrive on time, it will give me peace of mind.
And keep rollin' on
Keep moving the train until it gets to my destination.
I've told you baby from time to time
I've warned you before.
But you just wouldn't listen nor pay me no mind
But you ignored everything I said.
Now I'm movin' on
Now I'm leaving for good.
I'm rollin' on
I'm leaving now and moving on.
You broken your vow and it's all over now
You didn't keep your promise, and our relationship is over.
You switched your engine
You changed your feelings, and I can't count on you anymore.
Now I ain't got time for a trifling woman on my main line
I don't have time for a woman who can't be honest with her feelings.
Because I'm movin' on
That's one of many reasons I'm leaving.
You done your daddy wrong
You didn't treat me right in this relationship.
I warned you twice now you can settle the price
I alerted you to the consequences of your actions, and now you have to deal with them.
But someday baby when you've had your play
One day when you're ready to be serious.
Your gonna want your daddy but your daddy will say
You'll want me back, but I won't take you back.
Keep movin' on
I'm leaving indefinitely.
You stayed away too long
You were gone for too long and now it's too late.
I'm through with you too bad your blue
This relationship is over, and it's unfortunate that you're feeling blue about it.
Keep movin' on
I'm leaving for good, so keep moving on.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Hank Snow
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@helendower7892
Super! Thanks for the best song to get a person moving....sung by my favorite singer ever.
@goji1958
Russell covered Snow!