Rush is considered a gifted musician and performer whose shows offer a musical celebration. His distinctive guitar style, wry humor and warm, expressive voice have made him both a legend and a lure to audiences around the world. His shows are filled with the rib-aching laughter of terrific story-telling, the sweet melancholy of ballads and the passion of gritty blues.
Rush's impact on the American music scene has been profound. He helped shape the folk revival in the '60s and the renaissance of the '80s and '90s, his music having left its stamp on generations of artists. James Taylor told Rolling Stone, "Tom was not only one of my early heroes, but also one of my main influences." Country music star Garth Brooks has credited Rush with being one of his top five musical influences. Rush has long championed emerging artists. His early recordings introduced the world to the work of Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne and James Taylor, and in more recent years his Club 47 concerts have brought artists such as Nanci Griffith and Shawn Colvin to wider audiences when they were just beginning to build their own reputations.
Rush began his musical career in the early '60s playing the Boston-area clubs while a Harvard student. The Club 47 was the flagship of the coffee house fleet, and he was soon holding down a weekly spot there, learning from the legendary artists who came to play, honing his skills and growing into his talent. He had released two albums by the time he graduated.
Rush displayed then, as he does today, an uncanny knack for finding wonderful songs, and writing his own - many of which have become classics re-interpreted by new generations. (It is testimony to the universality of his appeal that his songs have been folk hits, country hits, heavy metal and rap hits.) Signed by Elektra in 1965, Rush made three albums for them, culminating in The Circle Game, which, according to Rolling Stone, ushered in the singer/songwriter era.
In the early '70s, folk turned to folk-rock, and Rush, ever adaptable, saw more room to stretch out. Recording now for Columbia, he toured tirelessly with a five man band, playing concerts across the country. Endless promotional tours, interviews, television appearances, and recording sessions added up to five very successful but exhausting years, after which Tom decided to take a break and "recharge" his creative side at his New Hampshire farm.
Rush returned with a splash in 1981, selling out Boston's prestigious Symphony Hall in advance. Time off had not only rekindled Rush's love of music, it had re-ignited music audiences' love of Rush's music.
He instinctively knew that his listeners were interested in both the old and the new, and set out to create a musical forum - like the Club 47 of the early '60s - to allow established artists and newcomers to share the same stage. In 1982, he tried it out at Symphony Hall. The show was such a hit it became an annual event, growing to fill two, then three nights, and the Club 47 series was born. Crafting concerts that combined well known artists such as Bonnie Raitt or Emmylou Harris with (then) unknowns like Alison Krauss or Mark O' Connor, Rush took the show on the road. From the '80s to the present day, Club 47 events have filled the nation's finest halls to rave reviews, and have been broadcast as national specials on PBS and NPR.
In 1999, Columbia/Legacy released a Tom Rush retrospective album that covered his recorded musical history from 1962 to the present, including tracks recorded for Columbia, Elektra, Prestige and his independent years. Entitled "The Very Best of Tom Rush: No Regrets", the 17-track compilation includes as a bonus a brand new Tom Rush composition, "River Song," which features vocal contributions from Grammy winners Shawn Colvin and Marc Cohn.
A live CD, "Trolling for Owls" released in 2003 and published by Tom's NIGHTLIGHT RECORDINGS, captures a complete performance and includes, for the first time, some of the spoken stories that have endeared him to audiences.
In 2018, at age 79, he released the album "Voices".
Mother Earth
Tom Rush Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mother Earth lives on the ocean
Mother Earth sails on the sea
I am blessed with her devotion
Mother Earth provides for me
Now I am going on a journey
While Mother Earth looks after me
I will follow faithfully
Green trees grow on mountain top
Birds still sing while morning come
Though I treat her carelessly
Mother Earth provides for me
When the grasslands crave for water
And the harvest needs sunlight
These are times when I am helpless
Mother Earth makes all things right
Mother Earth lives on the ocean
Mother Earth sails on the sea
I am blessed with her devotion
Mother Earth provides for me
The song "Mother Earth" by Tom Rush is a tribute to the beauty and importance of nature in our lives. The opening lines of the song proclaim the vastness of nature, the expansive ocean and the maritime experiences it offers to those who explore it. The singer expresses a sense of gratitude and reliance on Mother Earth, recognizing that all of his necessities and pleasures come from nature. He is confident in his journey, believing that Mother Earth will protect him, and he declares his commitment to follow her faithfully.
The song goes on to describe the harmony of nature, the chirping of birds and the growth of green trees, and how it is all maintained with care from Mother Earth. The singer recognizes that sometimes he cannot control the natural calamities such as drought or insufficient sunlight, but he is reassured that Mother Earth will take care of everything. The song concludes with the reminder that we are all a part of this world, and we should always honor and treat Mother Earth with kindness and care.
Line by Line Meaning
Mother Earth lives on the ocean
The Earth is like a living being, residing and thriving in the ever-changing waters of the ocean.
Mother Earth sails on the sea
Just like a ship on the ocean, the Earth navigates through life, relying on the currents and tides to move forward.
I am blessed with her devotion
As a human being, I am fortunate to have the Earth provide and care for me, just like a mother would for her child.
Mother Earth provides for me
The Earth supplies everything I need to live and survive, from food and water to the air I breathe.
Now I am going on a journey
At times, I must go on a path of my own, but I trust that the Earth will guide me and protect me along the way.
And I pray all things end well
Although I cannot fully control the outcome of my journey, I hope and pray that everything will turn out for the best.
While Mother Earth looks after me
Even when I am on my journey, I have faith that the Earth will watch over me and keep me safe from harm.
I will follow faithfully
Through my trust in the Earth, I will stay committed and dedicated to completing my journey with perseverance and resilience.
Green trees grow on mountain top
Amidst the towering mountains, there are lush forests that continue to grow and flourish, providing life and shelter for all creatures.
Birds still sing while morning come
Despite the challenges of life, birds continue to sing their songs of hope and peace, greeting each new day with joy and optimism.
Though I treat her carelessly
Even when I fail to appreciate or show kindness to the Earth, it still continues to provide and care for me, selflessly and unconditionally.
When the grasslands crave for water
During times of drought and thirst, the Earth still answers the call for water, sustaining the grasslands and all its inhabitants.
And the harvest needs sunlight
For crops to grow, they need the warmth and light of the sun, and the Earth never fails to provide them with this essential resource.
These are times when I am helpless
As a human being, I may feel powerless when facing life's challenges, but I find comfort and strength in the fact that the Earth will never abandon or forsake me.
Mother Earth makes all things right
Despite the chaos and unpredictability of life, the Earth has a way of restoring balance and order, making everything right in the end.
Contributed by Xavier K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.