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).
Jai Alai
Tom Russell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Made his bones along the border in the Jai Alai frontons
With a cesta on his hand he threw his heart against the wall
He was the master of the dance in the fastest game of all
He had blood inside his eye, he threw his heart, he let it fly
He was the master of the dance, the king of Jai Alai
What does it mean to you and I? Swing your heart and let it fly
Love is a deadly dance just like Jai Alai
He met a woman deeper than the songs in the Cante Hondo bars
They made love outside the racetrack in his long black touring car
But love took all his passion, how the fire still twists and burns
Throw your heart against the wall, it might not return
He wrote a postcard from Bilbao, said the games were mostly gone
Just a memory to the old men who live in bars and gypsy songs
But oh, that crack of thunder when the pelota hit the wall
Love and Jai Alai were the fastest games of all
His passion never died but these nights he sleeps alone
Seeing her face reflected on the walls of border town frontons
The games have mostly died but old men too proud to cry
Live on memories of love and Jai Alai
Tom Russell's song "Jai Alai" tells the story of a Basque man who came to the United States in 1951 and became a master of the game Jai Alai, which is a type of handball played in a court with a curved wicker basket called a cesta. The song compares the fast-paced game of Jai Alai to the deadly dance of love. The singer of the song falls in love with a woman, but his passion for the game and his love take a toll on him. He sends a postcard from Bilbao announcing that the game of Jai Alai is mostly gone and only old men live on memories of love and Jai Alai.
The lyrics of this song are evocative and poetic, using imagery of dance, music, and passion. The song captures the essence of Jai Alai, a traditional Basque game that has been played for centuries. The sport combines elements of handball, tennis, and squash and is known for its speed and power. Jai Alai has a strong following in Spain and Latin America, and was once a popular spectator sport in the United States.
Line by Line Meaning
He was a Basque from San Sebastian, he came here in '51
The singer was of Basque origin, who migrated to a new place in 1951
Made his bones along the border in the Jai Alai frontons
He earned his livelihood at the Jai Alai border frontons
With a cesta on his hand he threw his heart against the wall
He played the game Jai Alai with a cesta and poured his heart into it
He was the master of the dance in the fastest game of all
He was proficient in playing Jai Alai, known for its speed
He had blood inside his eye, he threw his heart, he let it fly
He was passionate about Jai Alai and played with intensity
He was the master of the dance, the king of Jai Alai
He was skilled and held a prominent position in the game of Jai Alai
What does it mean to you and I? Swing your heart and let it fly
The song inspires us to play any game with passion and dedication
Love is a deadly dance just like Jai Alai
Love and Jai Alai, both are intense and dangerous like a dance
He met a woman deeper than the songs in the Cante Hondo bars
He discovered a lady with the deepest emotions that could match the songs in the Cante Hondo bars
They made love outside the racetrack in his long black touring car
They consummated their love outside the racecourse in his lengthy, black touring car
But love took all his passion, how the fire still twists and burns
His affection for the lady consumed all his passion, even now the fire still wrecks and burns him internally
He wrote a postcard from Bilbao, said the games were mostly gone
He sent a postcard from Bilbao, lamenting how most of the Jai Alai games have ceased to exist
Just a memory to the old men who live in bars and gypsy songs
For the elderly men who frequent bars reminiscing their old days, Jai Alai is just a memory, shared through gypsy songs
But oh, that crack of thunder when the pelota hit the wall
However, the sound of the pelota hitting the wall still echoes like thunder and remains unforgettable
His passion never died but these nights he sleeps alone
Despite his passion for Jai Alai and his lover, he still sleeps alone now
Seeing her face reflected on the walls of border town frontons
He reminisces about his lover and often envisions her on the walls of the border town frontons
The games have mostly died but old men too proud to cry
Although the games have faded, the elderly men who take pride in Jai Alai bear the pain silently
Live on memories of love and Jai Alai
They continue to reminisce the game of Jai Alai and the love they lost through memories
Contributed by Jasmine O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.