Originally from New York, Elliott grew up in a Jewish family and had always wanted to be a cowboy. Pressured by his parents to follow in his father's footsteps and become a doctor, Elliott resisted and inspired by the rodeos he attended at Madison Square Garden, he ran away from home at the age of 15 and joined the J.E. Ranch Rodeo. Although he was only with the rodeo for three months (before his parents tracked him down and he was sent home), Elliott was exposed to his first singing cowboy, a rodeo clown who played guitar and banjo and sang songs.
Returning home, Elliott taught himself to play guitar and started busking for a living. Eventually he hooked up with Woody Guthrie and lived with him as a kind of student.
With banjo player Derroll Adams, he later toured Great Britain and Europe and had a lasting effect on the music scene there. By 1960, he had made three folk albums for the British label, Topic. Playing in the small clubs and pubs of London by day, he would then take his act to the smart, west end night clubs. Upon arriving back in the U.S., Elliott discovered he had become well-known within the folk scene.
Elliott's greatest influence was Woody Guthrie. Guthrie's son, Arlo, has said that because of his dad's illness and early death, he never really got to know him. Arlo acknowledged that he learned his dad's songs and musical style through Elliott.
Elliott's musical style influenced Bob Dylan so heavily that Dylan's first gig in New York City was billed as "Son of Jack Elliott." While Dylan rose to prominence through his compositions, Elliott continued as an interpretive troubadour, bringing old songs to new audiences in an idiosyncratic manner.
Elliott appeared on Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue and played Longheno de Castro in Dylan's Renaldo and Clara.
Jack Elliott's style is distinctive in its use of excellent guitar technique matched with laconic, humorous storytelling and an emotional intensity in the singing.
Elliott's nickname is due not to his travel habits, but rather to the countless stories he would relate before answering the simplest of questions. Folk singer Odetta claims that it was her mother who gave him the name by remarking, "Oh Jack Elliott, yeah, he can sure ramble on!"
He was famously parodied in on the BBC in the 1960s by Kenneth Williams as Rambling Syd Rumpo who was a recurring character on Round the Horne. His claims of authenticity as a folk artist (despite being a Jewish doctor's son from New York City) and disparagement of other folk artists were also parodied by the Folksmen (Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer) in A Mighty Wind both in the name of their "hit" Ramblin' and in their claims that their version was more authentic than the New Main Street Singers's version.
Jack Elliott's first recording in 20 years, "South Coast", earned him his first Grammy in 1995. He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1998. Ramblin' Jack's long career and strained relationship with his daughter Aiyana were chronicled in her 2000 documentary, "The Ballad of Ramblin' Jack".
At 75, he has recently changed labels and released "I Stand Alone" on the Anti- label, with an assortment of guest backup players including members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers; again, an idiosyncratic collection of little-known music delivered with humor and intensity. He is on record as saying his intention was to title the album "Not For The Tourists" because it was recorded in response to his daughter's request for songs he loved but never played in concert. When she asked why he did not play them in public, he replied "These songs are not for the tourists".
Rambling Blues
Ramblin' Jack Elliott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I ain't seen the sunshine since...I don't know when.
I'm stuck in Folsom Prison and time keeps dragging on,
But that train keeps a-rollin', on down to San Anton.
When I was just a baby my mama told me, "Son,
"always be a good boy, don't ever play with guns."
But I shoot a man in Reno, just to watch him die.
I bet there's rich folk eatin' in a fancy dining car.
They're probably drinkin' coffee and smoking big cigars.
Well I know I had it comin', I know I can't be free,
But those people keep a-movin', and that's what tortures me.
Well if they freed me from this prison, if railroad train was mine,
I bet I'd move it on a little farther down the line.
Far from Folson Prison, that's where I want to stay,
And I'd let that lonesome whistle blow my blues away.
The lyrics to Ramblin' Jack Elliott's song Rambling Blues tell the story of a man who is stuck in Folsom Prison and has not seen the sunshine for a long time. He hears a train coming and realizes that it is taking him away from his problems. He recounts the story of how he ended up in prison, admitting that he shot a man in Reno just to watch him die. Now he hangs his head and cries every time he hears the whistle blow.
The man is envious of the rich folks who are probably eating well and smoking cigars on the train, while he is stuck in prison. He knows he is not free, and his only hope is the train that is taking him away. He dreams of being freed from prison and owning his own train so that he can move far away from Folsom Prison and let the lonesome whistle blow his blues away.
The song is a powerful commentary on the prison system and the cycle of punishment and regret that can trap someone inside. The lyrics are a reminder that our actions have consequences, and that we need to take responsibility for our mistakes. The train represents hope and escape, but ultimately, the man knows that he cannot run away from his past.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear the train a-comin', it's rollin round the bend,
The sound of the train approaching can be heard as it curves around the bend.
And I ain't seen the sunshine since...I don't know when.
The singer has not seen sunlight for an extended period of time and is uncertain of when the last time was.
I'm stuck in Folsom Prison and time keeps dragging on,
The singer is currently imprisoned in Folsom and time feels slow and monotonous.
But that train keeps a-rollin', on down to San Anton.
Although the artist is stuck in prison, the train continues on its intended journey towards San Anton.
When I was just a baby my mama told me, "Son,
The artist recalls their mother giving them advice when they were a child.
"always be a good boy, don't ever play with guns."
The singer's mother advised them to behave well and avoid playing with dangerous weapons.
But I shoot a man in Reno, just to watch him die.
Despite their mother's advice, the singer killed someone in Reno out of curiosity or enjoyment and now regrets it.
When I hear that whistle blowin', I hang my head and cry.
The sound of the train's whistle reminds the artist of their past actions and they feel remorseful and sorrowful.
I bet there's rich folk eatin' in a fancy dining car.
The artist imagines wealthy individuals enjoying luxuries in a fancy train car.
They're probably drinkin' coffee and smoking big cigars.
The artist envisions those wealthy individuals likely drinking coffee and smoking cigars.
Well I know I had it comin', I know I can't be free,
The singer acknowledges that they are imprisoned for a reason and unable to be released.
But those people keep a-movin', and that's what tortures me.
The fact that others are moving forward in life while the artist remains in prison causes them emotional pain and suffering.
Well if they freed me from this prison, if railroad train was mine,
The singer fantasizes about being released from prison and owning their own train.
I bet I'd move it on a little farther down the line.
If the singer owned their own train, they would travel further than the current route to escape their past mistakes.
Far from Folson Prison, that's where I want to stay,
The singer desires to remain far away from Folsom Prison, where they are currently imprisoned.
And I'd let that lonesome whistle blow my blues away.
If they were free and on their own train, the sound of the whistle would have a positive effect on the artist, bringing them comfort and relief from their troubles.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Brian May, Freddie Mercury
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind