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).
El Gallo Del Cielo
Tom Russell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No money in his pocket, just a locket of his sister framed in gold
He rode into El Sueco, stole a rooster called Gallo Del Cielo
Then he swam the Rio Grande with that fighter nestled
Deep beneath his arm.
El Gallo Del Cielo was a rooster born in heaven so the legends say
His wings they had been broken, he had one eye
And he'd fought a hundred fights, and the legends say
That one night near El Sueco
They'd fought Gallo seven times, and seven times he'd
Left brave roosters dead.
Hola, my Theresa, I am thinking of you now in San Antonio
I have 27 dollars and the good luck of your picture
Framed in gold
Tonight I'll put it all on the fighting spurs of Gallo Del Cielo
And then I'll return to buy the land Villa stole
From father long ago.
Outside of San Diego, in the onion fields of Paco Monteverde
The Pride of San Diego lay sleeping on a fancy bed of silk
And they laughed when Zaragoza pulled the one-eyed
Del Cielo from beneath his coat
But they cried when Zaragoza walked away with a
Thousand dollar bill.
Hola, my Theresa, I am thinking of you now in Santa Barbara
I have fifteen hundred dollars and the good luck of
Your picture framed in gold
Tonight I'll put it all on the fighting spurs of Gallo Del Cielo
And then I'll return to buy the land Villa stole
From father long ago.
Now the moon has gone to hiding and the lantern light
Spills shadows on a fighting sand
Where a wicked black named Zorro faces Gallo del Cielo in the night
But Carlos Zaragoza fears the tiny crack that runs across his rooster's beak
And he fears he has lost the fifty thousand dollars riding on the fight.
Hola, my Theresa, I am thinking of you now in Santa Clara
Yes, the money's on the table, I am holding to
Your good luck framed in gold
And everything we've dreamed of is riding on the spurs of Del Cielo
I pray that I'll return to buy the land Villa stole from father long ago.
Then the signal it was given, and the cocks rose
Together far above the sand
El Gallo del Cielo sunk a gaff into Zorro's shiny breast
They were separated quickly but they rose and fought
Each other thirty seven times
And the legends say that everyone agreed that del Cielo fought the best.
Then the screams of Zaragoza filled the night outside
The town of Santa Clara
As the beak of del Cielo lay broken like a shell within his hand
And they say that Zaragoza screamed a curse upon the
Bones of Pancho Villa
When Zorro rose up one last time and drove del
Cielo through the sand.
Hola, my Theresa, I am thinking of you now in
San Francisco
I have no money in my pocket, I no longer have
Your good luck framed in gold
I buried it last evening with the bones of my
Beloved Del Cielo
And I'll not return to buy the land Villa stole from
Father long ago.
Do the rivers still run muddy outside of my beloved
Casas Grandes?
Oes the scar upon my brother's face turn red when
He hears mention of my name?
Do the people of El Sueco curse the theft of Gallo del Cielo?
Well, tell my family not to worry, I will not return
To cause them shame.
The song Gallo del Cielo by Tom Russell tells the story of Carlos Zaragoza, who left his home with nothing but a locket of his sister framed in gold. He rode to El Sueco and stole a rooster called Gallo del Cielo, which he then swam across the Rio Grande with deeply nestled beneath his arm. Gallo del Cielo was a legendary rooster born with wings that had been broken and only one eye, having fought a hundred fights before Carlos Zaragoza came across him. Zaragoza put the last of his money on the line, betting on Gallo del Cielo to win a cockfight and deliver the financial means to buy back his family's stolen land. Though he experienced some doubt along the way, Gallo del Cielo managed to win the final fight, though Zaragoza's much-loved rooster met his end in the arena. In the end, Zaragoza's victory leaves him with nothing, but his family's land can rest easy knowing he won't be coming back to shame them.
Line by Line Meaning
Carlos Zaragoza left his home in Casas Grandes when the moon was full
Carlos Zaragoza left his empty-handed when the moon was full.
No money in his pocket, just a locket of his sister framed in gold
He had nothing except a locket of his sister framed in gold.
He rode into El Sueco, stole a rooster called Gallo Del Cielo
He snuck into El Sueco and took Gallo Del Cielo, the famous fighter rooster.
Then he swam the Rio Grande with that fighter nestled
Deep beneath his arm.
He crossed the Rio Grande with Gallo Del Cielo protected under his arm.
El Gallo Del Cielo was a rooster born in heaven, so the legends say
The legend says that Gallo Del Cielo was a heavenly rooster.
His wings they had been broken, he had one eye
Rollin' crazy in his head
Gallo Del Cielo had one wing and one eye that twitched.
And he'd fought a hundred fights, and the legends say
That one night near El Sueco
They'd fought Gallo seven times, and seven times he'd
Left brave roosters dead.
Gallo Del Cielo won all seven fights he had in one night and defeated 100 other roosters.
Hola, my Theresa, I am thinking of you now in San Antonio
I have 27 dollars and the good luck of your picture
Framed in gold
Zaragoza has reached San Antonio with 27 dollars and your picture for good luck.
Tonight I'll put it all on the fighting spurs of Gallo Del Cielo
And then I'll return to buy the land Villa stole
From father long ago.
He'll bet all of his money on Gallo Del Cielo, then return to buy land that Villa took from his father.
Outside of San Diego, in the onion fields of Paco Monteverde
The Pride of San Diego lay sleeping on a fancy bed of silk
And they laughed when Zaragoza pulled the one-eyed
Del Cielo from beneath his coat
But they cried when Zaragoza walked away with a
Thousand dollar bill.
They laughed when Zaragoza brought Gallo Del Cielo and bet on him, but cried when he won them a thousand dollars.
Hola, my Theresa, I am thinking of you now in Santa Barbara
I have fifteen hundred dollars and the good luck of
Your picture framed in gold
Zaragoza is now in Santa Barbara with $1500 and your picture.
Now the moon has gone to hiding and the lantern light
Spills shadows on a fighting sand
Where a wicked black named Zorro faces Gallo del Cielo in the night
But Carlos Zaragoza fears the tiny crack that runs across his rooster's beak
And he fears he has lost the fifty thousand dollars riding on the fight.
Zaragoza fears Gallo Del Cielo's injury and the $50,000 bet on his battle with Zorro.
Hola, my Theresa, I am thinking of you now in Santa Clara
Yes, the money's on the table, I am holding to
Your good luck framed in gold
And everything we've dreamed of is riding on the spurs of Del Cielo
I pray that I'll return to buy the land Villa stole from father long ago.
Zaragoza is in Santa Clara and has bet the money on Gallo Del Cielo. He still has your picture and hopes to buy back the stolen land if Gallo wins.
Then the signal it was given, and the cocks rose
Together far above the sand
El Gallo del Cielo sunk a gaff into Zorro's shiny breast
They were separated quickly, but they rose and fought
Each other thirty-seven times
And the legends say that everyone agreed that del Cielo fought the best.
The cocks fought fiercely and Gallo won the legendary fight against Zorro.
Then the screams of Zaragoza filled the night outside
The town of Santa Clara
As the beak of del Cielo lay broken like a shell within his hand
And they say that Zaragoza screamed a curse upon the
Bones of Pancho Villa
When Zorro rose up one last time and drove del
Cielo through the sand.
Zaragoza was distraught when Gallo Del Cielo's beak was broken and cursed Pancho Villa when Zorro gave the final blow to Gallo.
Hola, my Theresa, I am thinking of you now in
San Francisco
I have no money in my pocket, I no longer have
Your good luck framed in gold
I buried it last evening with the bones of my
Beloved Del Cielo
And I'll not return to buy the land Villa stole from
Father long ago.
Zaragoza is in San Francisco, broke and without the lucky picture. He chose to bury it with Gallo Del Cielo and will not return to his father's stolen land.
Do the rivers still run muddy outside of my beloved
Casas Grandes?
Does everything remain the same at my beloved Casas Grandes?
Oes the scar upon my brother's face turn red when
He hears mention of my name?
Does the mention of my name still hurt my brother's scar?
Do the people of El Sueco curse the theft of Gallo del Cielo?
Well, tell my family not to worry, I will not return
To cause them shame.
Do the people of El Sueco still resent me for taking Gallo Del Cielo? Zaragoza promises he won't return to bring shame to his family.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: TOM RUSSELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind