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).
Criminology
Tom Russell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Something about a black man with a machine gun make you wish you said your prayers,
It was Nigeria, the year was 1969
I was teaching criminology,
playing a little guitar on the side.
In Apache Pass, Prince Rupert, Injun Jack puts a gun to my head
He said ‘how do you like it now gentlemen? How’s your blue eyed boy Mr Dead?
It was Canada this time, the year was 1971
I was performing at the club Zanzibar
In the neon world of knives and guns
Oh excuse me if I’m boring you dear listener, accept my humble apology.
You may think I’m just a folk singer, no, I’m a master in the art of criminology.
When Picasso died, the Indians cried in a Prince George motel room.
We were drunker than a thousand white men playing lumber camp saloon.
It was Canada again, the year was 1973
There were grizzly bears walking down main street
What an amazing sight to see.
well the devil rides a cubist horse, the devil he’s got angles
but God is an expressionist, he got the devil strangled down in purgatorian limbo in hell
Ahh them southern rip joints just like that
God’s waiting room is full of painters and poets
and old black jazz saints in pork pie hats
Oh excuse me if I’m boring you dear listener, accept my humble apology.
You may think I’m some jive folk singer, no, I’m a master in the art of criminology.
Break
So I got off a plane in Nigeria, it was 1969. Arrested by Ton Ton Macoute.
Taking photos was a war zone crime, they were going to hack me up with machetes
a US ambassador come home paid my bribe
So I played guitar with Victor Uwaifo
and taught a little criminology on the side
Yeah that’s my story and I’m sticking to it
No regrets, no surrender, no apology
I know a little bit about a lot of things
I’m a master in the art of criminology
Yeah that’s my story and I’m sticking to it
No regrets, no surrender, no apology
I know a little bit about a lot of things
I’m a master in the art of criminology
No regrets, no surrender, no apology
I know a little bit about a lot of things
I’m a master in the art of criminology
criminology
criminology
criminology
Tom Russell's song Criminology tells the story of his experiences traveling and performing in Nigeria and Canada, where he encountered dangerous situations and even had a gun pointed at his head. He references his academic background in criminology and his love for playing music throughout the song.
In the first verse, Russell recalls a terrifying moment in Nigeria when he had a gun pointed at his head by a black man with a machine gun. He then contrasts this with his role as a criminology teacher and guitar player. In the second verse, he references an incident in Canada where he was threatened by a man with a gun while performing at a club. He then pokes fun at himself as a folk singer, asserting that he is a "master in the art of criminology."
The final verse includes several poetic images, including drunkenly mourning Picasso's death in a motel room in Prince George, Canada, and a description of God and the devil as different art styles. The song ends with the repeated refrain of "criminology."
Overall, Russell weaves together his experiences with violence and music, emphasizing his unique perspective as both a performer and an academic in criminology.
Line by Line Meaning
I had a gun pointed at my head on several occasions, Yeah Nadine I was scared.
The singer has been in multiple situations where someone pointed a gun at them, causing fear and uncertainty.
Something about a black man with a machine gun make you wish you said your prayers,
The singer acknowledges the fear that comes with being in the presence of a black man holding a machine gun.
It was Nigeria, the year was 1969
I was teaching criminology,
playing a little guitar on the side.
The singer was teaching criminology and playing guitar in Nigeria in 1969 when they were in a dangerous situation involving a gun pointed at their head.
In Apache Pass, Prince Rupert, Injun Jack puts a gun to my head
He said ‘how do you like it now gentlemen? How’s your blue eyed boy Mr Dead?
It was Canada this time, the year was 1971
I was performing at the club Zanzibar
In the neon world of knives and guns
In Canada in 1971, the artist was performing at the club Zanzibar when they were threatened with a gun by a man named Injun Jack. This event occurred in a world of danger and violence.
Oh excuse me if I’m boring you dear listener, accept my humble apology.
You may think I’m just a folk singer, no, I’m a master in the art of criminology.
The artist acknowledges that their stories may be boring some listeners but insists that they are knowledgeable in criminology despite being perceived as just a folk singer.
When Picasso died, the Indians cried in a Prince George motel room.
We were drunker than a thousand white men playing lumber camp saloon.
It was Canada again, the year was 1973
There were grizzly bears walking down main street
What an amazing sight to see.
In Canada in 1973, after the death of Picasso, the singer and others got drunk and witnessed the unusual sight of grizzly bears walking down the main street.
well the devil rides a cubist horse, the devil he’s got angles
but God is an expressionist, he got the devil strangled down in purgatorian limbo in hell
Ahh them southern rip joints just like that
God’s waiting room is full of painters and poets
and old black jazz saints in pork pie hats
The singer reflects on the concepts of good and evil, suggesting that the devil is well-structured while God is more free-form. They also mention that God's waiting room is full of creative individuals.
So I got off a plane in Nigeria, it was 1969. Arrested by Ton Ton Macoute.
Taking photos was a war zone crime, they were going to hack me up with machetes
a US ambassador come home paid my bribe
So I played guitar with Victor Uwaifo
and taught a little criminology on the side
The artist was arrested in Nigeria in 1969 for taking photos, which was considered a crime at the time. They were saved by a US ambassador who paid their bribe. During their time in Nigeria, they played guitar with Victor Uwaifo and taught some criminology on the side.
Yeah that’s my story and I’m sticking to it
No regrets, no surrender, no apology
I know a little bit about a lot of things
I’m a master in the art of criminology
Yeah that’s my story and I’m sticking to it
No regrets, no surrender, no apology
I know a little bit about a lot of things
I’m a master in the art of criminology
No regrets, no surrender, no apology
I know a little bit about a lot of things
I’m a master in the art of criminology
criminology
criminology
criminology
The artist concludes that they know a little bit about many things and are confident in their knowledge of criminology. They have no regrets or apologies for their experiences and stick to their story.
Writer(s): Tom Russell Copyright: Frontera Music
Contributed by Nora B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.