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).
Manzanar
Tom Russell Lyrics
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And I'm a proud American
I came here in '27
From my homeland of Japan
And we picked your grapes and oranges
Made some money, bought a store
Until 1942
Pearl Harbor and the war
Came those relocation orders
They took our house, the store, the car
Then they drove us to the desert
To a place called Manzanar
The Spanish word for "apple orchard"
Though we saw no apple trees
Just the rows of prison barracks
And barbed wired boundaries
And we dream of apple blossoms
Waving free beneath the stars
Till we wake up in the desert
The prisoners of Manzanar
Manzanar
Fifty years, they've all but vanished
And now I am an old man
But I don't regret the day
That I came here from Japan
But on moonlit winter nights
I often wish upon a star
That I'd forget the shame and sorrow
That I felt at Manzanar
And we dream of apple blossoms
Waving free beneath the stars
Till we wake up in the desert
The prisoners of Manzanar
Manzanar
The lyrics of Tom Russell's song "Manzanar" are rich with meaning and emotion, telling the tragic story of Japanese internment during World War II. The song is told from the perspective of an elderly Japanese man named Nakashima, who came to America from Japan in 1927 and built a life farming and operating a store until the war broke out. Once Pearl Harbor was attacked, Nakashima and other Japanese Americans were stripped of their homes, businesses, and possessions, and sent to internment camps in the desert, including Manzanar. The lyrics speak to the incredible loss and trauma experienced by Japanese Americans during this time, and the haunting memory that remains even years later.
The opening lines set the stage for Nakashima's story and identity as a proud American who came to the country in search of opportunity. The mention of picking grapes and oranges shows the role that Japanese Americans played in agriculture in the US, and how they contributed to the country's economy. However, the joy of building a life in America is quickly shattered with the arrival of relocation orders in 1942, which forcefully removed Japanese Americans from their homes and incarcerated them without trial. The reference to Manzanar, which means "apple orchard" in Spanish, highlights the irony of the internment camps, which were not the idyllic-sounding places their names implied, but instead were places of great suffering and detention.
The chorus of the song speaks to the resilience of Nakashima and his fellow internees, who dream of returning to their homes and living their lives free from the fear and terror of internment. The last stanza of the song is particularly poignant, as Nakashima reflects on the ongoing impact of Manzanar on his life and his memories, even many years later. The song is a powerful testament to the experiences of Japanese Americans during World War II and the ongoing legacy of that trauma.
Line by Line Meaning
He said my name is Nakashima
A man named Nakashima introduced himself
And I'm a proud American
Nakashima identifies as an American
I came here in '27
Nakashima immigrated to the United States in 1927
From my homeland of Japan
Nakashima is originally from Japan
And we picked your grapes and oranges
Nakashima and his fellow Japanese immigrants worked in agriculture
Made some money, bought a store
They were able to save enough money to open a store
Until 1942
This changed in 1942
Pearl Harbor and the war
The United States entered World War II after the bombing of Pearl Harbor
Came those relocation orders
The US government issued orders for Japanese Americans to be relocated
They took our house, the store, the car
Nakashima and his family lost their possessions
Then they drove us to the desert
They were taken to a remote location
To a place called Manzanar
This location was called Manzanar
The Spanish word for "apple orchard"
Manzanar translates to apple orchard
Though we saw no apple trees
There were no apple trees at Manzanar
Just the rows of prison barracks
Instead, there were rows of barracks that were like prisons
And barbed wired boundaries
The area was surrounded by barbed wire
And we dream of apple blossoms
Despite the circumstances, they still held onto hope
Waving free beneath the stars
They imagined apple blossoms waving beneath the stars
Till we wake up in the desert
But then they would wake up to the reality of their situation
The prisoners of Manzanar
They were essentially prisoners at Manzanar
Fifty years, they've all but vanished
Fifty years have passed and many of the people affected have passed away
And now I am an old man
Nakashima is now elderly
But I don't regret the day
Despite the hardships, Nakashima doesn't regret coming to America
That I came here from Japan
He is glad that he immigrated to America from Japan
But on moonlit winter nights
However, there are times when he feels the weight of his experiences
I often wish upon a star
He sometimes wishes for relief from his pain
That I'd forget the shame and sorrow
Nakashima wishes he could forget the shame and sorrow he felt at Manzanar
That I felt at Manzanar
The emotions he experienced while at Manzanar still affect him
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: THOMAS GEORGE RUSSELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind