In the 1980s Russell made four albums credited to the Tom Russell Band. These featured Andrew Hardin and accordionist Fats Kaplin.
In the 1990s Russell made a number of solo albums, collaborated with blues singer Barrence Whitfield on two albums, and also recorded an acoustic album mixing original material with his favorite cowboy-themed songs. His albums include several guest appearances from other folk, country, and Americana artists, such as Chris Gaffney and Dave Alvin. His song "Outbound Plane", co-written with Nanci Griffith, became a Top Ten country hit for Suzy Bogguss. His most significant album from this period is the 1999 folk opera, The Man From God Knows Where.
His more recent albums include "Blood and Candle Smoke" (2009) and "Mesabi" (2011).
Chickasaw County Jail
Tom Russell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Born in Chickasaw County Jail
My father, Albert, he was the sheriff
He shot horse thieves, deer and quail
I came west to make my fortune
I ain't gonna work in your factory
I married me an L.A. angel
While I was pumping gasoline
She was smart and she was pretty
She may have been too smart for me
She graduated with high honours
In her class down at USC
And she wrote poetry and painted
She impressed this loud farm boy
Her father, George, he owned the drugstore
Her name it was Margery Malloy
George Malloy was a pioneer boy
And he was Irish to the bone
He smoked a pipe and he took me fishing
Taught me the words to 'Casey Jones'
I sold his daughter on dreams of glory
Cocktail parties and high-toned cars
In the war I worked in movies
Handing Oscars to the stars
I built homes and baseball diamonds
We had two daughters, we had two boys
A swimming pool and four racehorses
And I loved Margery Malloy
I also loved the gaming tables
Poker, craps, it's the same to me
Investing other people's money
Indicted on grand larceny
So here I sit, I'm back in jail, boys
Because I would not cop a plea
Friends and relatives they vanished
But she never turned on me
I had pockets full of silver
I spread around my wealth and joy
I had it all, then I had nothing
I finally lost Margery Malloy
Hey, but I dealt cards to Hopalong Cassidy
I played football and I ran track
Forty-eight six in the quarter mile, boys
Old Charlie Russell, he don't look back
I could run and I could fight, boys
I knocked out a peeping-tom
I drank with stars and baseball heroes
I ended up in an older folks home
Howdy boys, my name is Charlie
The lyrics of Tom Russell's song Chickasaw County Jail tell the story of the singer, Charlie, who was born in the county jail in Chickasaw. His father was the sheriff who was known for shooting horse thieves, deers, and quails. Charlie moves to the west to make his fortune and marries an L.A. angel, Margery Malloy, whom he meets while working at a gas station. The couple has four children, and Charlie builds himself a successful life, owning homes, racehorses, and indulging in gambling. He even works as a movie extra, handing Oscars to the stars.
However, his success takes a terrible turn when he is indicted for grand larceny, and he refuses to plead guilty. Despite losing all of his friends and relatives, Margery never turns on him. He speaks of his love for her and how she impressed him with her intelligence and artistic talents. Despite pockets full of silver and spreading wealth and joy around, he ends up with nothing but memories of his past.
This song is a thoughtful reflection of the singer's life, filled with successes and failures. It showcases how he rose to highs and how even at his lows, Margery stood by him, displaying an empowered female character. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of his memories and accomplishments, leaving the listener with a bittersweet feeling.
Line by Line Meaning
Howdy boys, my name is Charlie
The singer introduces himself as Charlie
Born in Chickasaw County Jail
Charlie was born in the county jail as his father was the sheriff
My father, Albert, he was the sheriff
Charlie's father was the sheriff who was responsible for maintaining law and order in the county
He shot horse thieves, deer and quail
Charlie's father was known to shoot horse thieves as well as deer and quail for sport
I came west to make my fortune
Charlie came to the west to make his fortune
I ain't gonna work in your factory
Charlie did not want to work in a factory
I married me an L.A. angel
So he got married to a woman from Los Angeles who was beautiful and smart
While I was pumping gasoline
Charlie's job was to pump gasoline
She was smart and she was pretty
Charlie's wife was intelligent and attractive
She may have been too smart for me
Charlie felt his wife could have been more intelligent than he was
She graduated with high honors
Charlie's wife graduated with high honors from USC
In her class down at USC
Charlie's wife attended USC
And she wrote poetry and painted
Charlie's wife had several creative talents
She impressed this loud farm boy
Charlie was impressed by his wife's talents despite coming from a farming background
Her father, George, he owned the drugstore
Charlie's father-in-law was the owner of the local drugstore
Her name it was Margery Malloy
Charlie's wife's name was Margery Malloy
George Malloy was a pioneer boy
Charlie's father-in-law was a pioneer
And he was Irish to the bone
Charlie's father-in-law was proud of his Irish heritage
He smoked a pipe and he took me fishing
Charlie's father-in-law enjoyed smoking a pipe and fishing with him
Taught me the words to 'Casey Jones'
Charlie's father-in-law taught him the words to the song 'Casey Jones'
I sold his daughter on dreams of glory
Charlie convinced his wife that they could achieve great things together
Cocktail parties and high-toned cars
Charlie dreamt of having fancy cars and throwing extravagant parties
In the war I worked in movies
During the war, Charlie worked in the film industry
Handing Oscars to the stars
Charlie's job was to present Oscars to the stars
I built homes and baseball diamonds
Charlie built homes and baseball diamonds for his family
We had two daughters, we had two boys
Charlie and his wife had two daughters and two sons
A swimming pool and four racehorses
Charlie's family had a swimming pool and four racehorses
And I loved Margery Malloy
Charlie deeply loved his wife Margery
I also loved the gaming tables
Charlie enjoyed gambling at the tables
Poker, craps, it's the same to me
Charlie didn't distinguish between playing poker and craps
Investing other people's money
Charlie took risks by investing other people's money
Indicted on grand larceny
Charlie was charged with grand larceny
So here I sit, I'm back in jail, boys
Charlie is currently in jail for not pleading guilty
Because I would not cop a plea
Charlie refused to plead guilty
Friends and relatives they vanished
Charlie's friends and relatives abandoned him
But she never turned on me
Despite his mistakes, Margery never deserted Charlie
I had pockets full of silver
Charlie was once affluent
I spread around my wealth and joy
Charlie enjoyed sharing his wealth with others
I had it all, then I had nothing
Charlie was once wealthy, but lost everything
I finally lost Margery Malloy
Charlie also lost his wife Margery
Hey, but I dealt cards to Hopalong Cassidy
Charlie dealt cards to the famous film character Hopalong Cassidy
I played football and I ran track
Charlie was also good at sports
Forty-eight six in the quarter mile, boys
Charlie ran 48.6 seconds in the quarter mile race
Old Charlie Russell, he don't look back
Charlie has moved on from his past mistakes and doesn't look back
I could run and I could fight, boys
Charlie was a proficient runner and fighter
I knocked out a peeping-tom
Charlie once fought and knocked out a peeping-tom
I drank with stars and baseball heroes
Charlie socialized with celebrities and baseball stars
I ended up in an older folks home
Charlie now resides in an older folks home
Contributed by Eva G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.