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".
The Last Letter
Ramblin' Jack Elliott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, it filled her old heart full of joy
But she didn't know 'til she read the inside
It was the last one from her darling boy
"Dear Mom," was the way that it started
"I miss you so much," it went on
"And, Mom, I didn't know that I loved you so
"I'm writing this down in a trench, Mom
So don't scold if it isn't so neat
For you know as you did, when I was a kid
And would come home with mud on my feet"
"Well, the captain just gave us our orders
And mom we will carry them through
I'll finish this letter the first chance I get
But for now I'll just say I love you"
Then the mother's old hands began to tremble
As she fought against tears in her eyes
For they came unashamed, there was no name
And she knew that her darlin' had died
That night as she knelt down by her bedside
She prayed, "Lord above, hear my plea
Protect all the sons who are fighting tonight
And dear God keep America free"
The song Soldier's Last Letter by Ramblin' Jack Elliott narrates the story of a mother who receives a letter from her son who is fighting in a war. Initially, the mother is filled with joy upon receiving the letter, but her happiness is short-lived as she discovers that it is the last letter from her son. The letter tells of how the soldier misses his mother greatly and did not realize how much he loved her until he went to war. He assures his mother that he will prove his love for her by winning the war. The letter was written in a trench and not very neat, but the mother would understand, just as she did when her son was a kid and brought mud on his feet.
The soldier then informs his mother that he has received his orders from the captain, and he and his fellow soldiers will carry them through. The letter ends with the soldier telling his mother that he will finish the letter as soon as he can and that he loves her. The mother's hands tremble as she reads the letter, and tears fill her eyes as she realizes that her son has died. She prays to God to protect all the sons who are fighting and to keep America free.
The song showcases the reality of war and the impact it has not only on the soldiers but also on their loved ones. It highlights the emotions that a family goes through when they receive news of a loved one's death. The song has a somber tone and is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by soldiers and their families.
Line by Line Meaning
When the postman delivered the letter
Upon receiving a letter from the postman, the old lady was filled with happiness.
Well, it filled her old heart full of joy
The letter received made her very happy and content.
But she didn't know 'til she read the inside
She wasn't aware of the contents of the letter until she read it.
It was the last one from her darling boy
Sadly, this letter turned out to be the last she would ever receive from her son who had passed away.
"Dear Mom," was the way that it started
The letter was addressed to his mother and began with the words "Dear Mom".
"I miss you so much," it went on
Her son expressed how much he missed her and how much he longed to be with her in the letter.
"And, Mom, I didn't know that I loved you so
The soldier stated that he never realized how much he loved his mother until he went away to war.
But I'll prove it when this war is won"
He insists that he will show her how much he loves her when the war is won.
"I'm writing this down in a trench, Mom
He informs his mother that he is writing this letter from the trench, so it may not appear neat.
So don't scold if it isn't so neat
He requests that his mother not scold him for the untidiness or messiness of the letter.
"For you know as you did, when I was a kid
He reminds his mother of how she never scolded him when he was younger and would come home with mud on his feet.
And would come home with mud on my feet"
As a young child, he would return home with dirty, muddy feet, but his mother never scolded him for it.
"Well, the captain just gave us our orders
He informs his mother that they have just received their orders from the captain.
And mom we will carry them through
He promises his mother that they will carry out their orders, no matter what they are.
"I'll finish this letter the first chance I get
He will complete the letter as soon as he gets the opportunity to do so.
But for now I'll just say I love you"
For the time being, he informs his mother that he loves her very much.
Then the mother's old hands began to tremble
The mother became emotional and her hands began to tremble as she read the letter.
As she fought against tears in her eyes
She tried to hold back her tears and emotions as she read the letter.
For they came unashamed, there was no name
She cried unashamedly and uncontrollably, knowing very well her son had given his life for his country and would never be returning.
And she knew that her darlin' had died
She realized that her son was no more.
That night as she knelt down by her bedside
That very night, she went down on her knees by her bedside in prayer.
She prayed, "Lord above, hear my plea
In her prayer, she appealed to the Almighty to hear her prayer.
Protect all the sons who are fighting tonight
She prayed for the safety of all the sons and soldiers who were fighting that night.
And dear God keep America free"
She concluded her prayer by appealing to God to ensure that America remained a free country.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ERNEST TUBB, ERNEST, EST. OF TUBB, HENRY REDD STEWART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind