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".
Rex's Blues
Ramblin' Jack Elliott Lyrics
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Ride the blue wind high and free
She'll lead you down through misery
Leave you low, come time to go
Alone and low as low can be
If I had a nickel I'd find a game
If I won a dollar I'd make it rain
And lay me down dissatisfied
Legs to walk and thoughts to fly
Eyes to laugh and lips to cry
A restless tongue to classify
All born to grow and grown to die
So tell my baby I said so long
Tell my mother I did no wrong
Tell my brother to watch his own
And tell my friends to mourn me none
I'm chained upon the face of time
Feelin' full of foolish rhyme
There ain't no dark till something shines
I'm bound to leave this dark behind
[Chorus]
Ride the blue wind high and free
She'll lead you down through misery
Leave you low, come time to go
Alone and low as low can be
Ramblin' Jack Elliott's "Rex's Blues" is a poignant and melancholic song that speaks of the transience of life and the inevitability of mortality. The song is a tribute to the late country artist Rex Griffin, whose death due to alcoholism left a deep impact on the artist.
The lyrics express a sense of restlessness and longing for fulfillment, as the singer muses on the ephemerality of time and the futility of material pursuits. He speaks of the paradox of human existence, with legs to walk and thoughts to fly, eyes to laugh and lips to cry, and a restless tongue to classify, all born to grow and grown to die. These lines capture the bittersweet nature of life and the realization that all things must come to an end.
The chorus "Ride the blue wind high and free, she'll lead you down through misery, leave you low, come time to go, alone and low as low can be" is a powerful metaphor for the ups and downs of life. The blue wind represents the soaring, uncontrollable highs that life can offer, while misery represents the pains and struggles that come with it. The final line of the chorus, "alone and low as low can be," underscores the ultimate sense of solitude that comes with death.
Overall, "Rex's Blues" is a poignant and moving tribute to a fallen artist, as well as a meditation on life and the inevitability of death.
Line by Line Meaning
Ride the blue wind high and free
Embrace the unknown and let it lead you wherever it may. Be unafraid to take risks and follow your adventurous spirit wherever it may take you.
She'll lead you down through misery
The path to true self-discovery and contentment may not always be easy or pleasant. There may be times of hardship and difficulty, but it is important to keep moving and stay on track.
Leave you low, come time to go
In the end, we must all face our own mortality and leave behind the joys and struggles of life. We must accept the highs and lows and move on when the time comes.
Alone and low as low can be
Death is a solitary experience, and we must face it alone. No matter how high or low we were in life, ultimately we are all subject to the same fate.
If I had a nickel I'd find a game
Life is about taking chances and enjoying the moment. Even if you only have a little, take advantage of opportunities when they come up and live life to the fullest.
If I won a dollar I'd make it rain
Money can bring fleeting happiness, but it is important to not be blinded by it. If you come into some wealth, share it with others and enjoy it while you can.
If it rained an ocean I'd drink it dry
Life can be insatiable. No matter how much we have or experience, it is never enough. It is important to be grateful for what we have and not chase after an unattainable ideal of happiness.
And lay me down dissatisfied
We can never truly be satisfied with what we have. There will always be something more to strive for, and ultimately we must come to terms with this internal restlessness.
Legs to walk and thoughts to fly
We are given the gift of mobility and an active mind. We are meant to explore the world around us and seek out new experiences and perspectives.
Eyes to laugh and lips to cry
We are multidimensional beings with a wide range of emotions. It is important to not shy away from expressing ourselves and feeling the full range of human experiences.
A restless tongue to classify
We are constantly trying to make sense of the world around us and fit people and experiences into neat little boxes. However, life is messy and cannot always be easily classified.
All born to grow and grown to die
We are all born into this world with the knowledge that our time is limited. Our only purpose is to grow and evolve during our time here and then move on to whatever comes next.
So tell my baby I said so long
In death, we will have to leave behind those we love. It is important to make peace with this fact and say our goodbyes before our time comes.
Tell my mother I did no wrong
It is human nature to want to be remembered in a positive light after we pass. We want those we leave behind to know that we were good people who did no harm.
Tell my brother to watch his own
We cannot control the actions of others and must ultimately be responsible for our own lives. It is important to take care of ourselves and not rely solely on the help of others.
And tell my friends to mourn me none
Death is a natural part of life, and there is nothing to be gained from excessive grief. It is important to celebrate the life that was lived and move on.
I'm chained upon the face of time
Time is a relentless force that cannot be escaped. We are all subject to its inevitability, and must learn to adapt to its changes and flow with its current.
Feelin' full of foolish rhyme
Life can sometimes feel like a nonsensical puzzle. We may never fully understand it, but we can still appreciate its beauty and absurdity.
There ain't no dark till something shines
Life is a balance between light and darkness. Without the darkness, we cannot fully appreciate the light. Every experience, positive or negative, adds to the complexity and beauty of life.
I'm bound to leave this dark behind
Regardless of how difficult or painful certain experiences in life may be, we must always keep moving forward towards the light. We are not meant to dwell in darkness forever.
Ride the blue wind high and free
Life is fleeting, and we must make the most of the time we have. Embrace the unknown and follow your instincts, without fear of what the future may bring.
She'll lead you down through misery
No matter the hardships we may face, we must stay committed to our journey and not lose sight of the greater purpose or potential that awaits us.
Leave you low, come time to go
Death is the ultimate leveler, and we must all face it alone. But we can take solace in the knowledge that our struggles and pains are temporary, and that in the end, we are all united in the final journey.
Alone and low as low can be
Even in our loneliness, we must not despair. Death is just another step in the journey, and the end is only the beginning of a new, mysterious adventure.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Townes Van Zandt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind