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).
Mississippi River Runnin' Backwards
Tom Russell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mississippi river runnin' backwards, earthquake shook the land, it happened down here in 1912 it's happening here again.
Feast and famine ya'all fire and flood, abominations you understand, don't need no old testament profit to tell me we ain't living in the promise land.
"Everybody sing blow Gabriel blow, yeah blow that ragtime jazz, judgment day coming down here y'all in the land of the razzmatazz."
Empty t.v. Evangelist cats with their hair all slicked up with brill cream.
Now the gospel news truly real bad news no need to invent all the doom and gloom, it's a one legged race to the liquor store, it's a hop skip and jump into the doom.
"Everybody sing blow Gabriel blow, yeah blow that ragtime jazz, judgment day coming down here y'all in the land of the razzmatazz."
Steamboat whistle blowing under water, everything is backwards and upside down, baby Moses in the bulrushes paddling sidways to higher ground.
Old ladies gambling inside river boat casinos, whirlpools swallowing em down insurance executives and fuller brush salesmen bushwhacked trying to leave town.
But their lifeboats went backwards up the mississippi river to the ancient Missouri side up thru Iowa, Minnesota into the hands of a righteous God.
"Everybody sing blow Gabriel blow, yeah blow that ragtime jazz, judgment day coming down here y'all in the land of the razzmatazz."
Tom Russell's "Mississippi River Runnin' Backwards" is a song about the natural disasters and societal decay that have plagued Mississippi and the surrounding regions for generations. Russell sings about the Mississippi River, personified as Old Man River, which has been flowing backwards due to an earthquake that shook the land in 1912, a disharmonic event that is repeating again. The song juxtaposes the promise of the American dream and the subsequent fall of society into abominations and despair, highlighting the cyclical nature of such events. Russell highlights the difficulty of living in this area - it is a place of feast and famine, fire and flood. He suggests that the prophets of old have been replaced by modern-day evangelists who are nothing but empty vessels, preaching empty dogma to the populace.
Russell's portrayal of the historical and societal decline of Mississippi is evocative and poignant. The lyrics describe a land of half-burned homes, old kitchen sinks, and 'empty t.v. Evangelist cats.' This setting of the land following a disaster is reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy's post-apocalyptic tales. The vast majority of people are struggling to survive, trying to find their way in a world that has been turned upside down. The song's title and chorus refer to the natural disaster and the religious implications associated with the Mississippi River - this sense of judgment and damnation for the sins of the people runs throughout the song.
Tom Russell's song is a social commentary on the tragedies and challenges faced by people living in the Mississippi region. The song evokes a sense of longing for the past, and a desire to return to a simpler, more honest time.
Line by Line Meaning
Old man river, that old man river he just keeps rolling along.
The Mississippi River keeps flowing despite the changes and tragedies that may occur around it.
Mississippi river runnin' backwards, earthquake shook the land, it happened down here in 1912 it's happening here again.
The Mississippi River is running backwards due to an earthquake, a phenomenon that happened before in 1912 and is happening again.
Feast and famine ya'all fire and flood, abominations you understand, don't need no old testament profit to tell me we ain't living in the promise land.
Life is full of ups and downs, disasters, and evil deeds, and there is no need for a religious prophecy to see that we are not living in an ideal world.
"Everybody sing blow Gabriel blow, yeah blow that ragtime jazz, judgment day coming down here y'all in the land of the razzmatazz."
Despite the chaos and disasters happening around, people try to find joy and comfort in music and entertainment knowing that the end of the world is near.
I saw carpet sweepers, microwave ovens, I saw busted down television screens. Empty t.v. Evangelist cats with their hair all slicked up with brill cream.
The artist sees various materialistic goods and fake religious teachers with false promises.
Now the gospel news truly real bad news no need to invent all the doom and gloom, it's a one legged race to the liquor store, it's a hop skip and jump into the doom.
The news that is supposed to bring hope and salvation has turned into a source of despair, and people have resorted to consuming alcohol to cope with the situation.
"Everybody sing blow Gabriel blow, yeah blow that ragtime jazz, judgment day coming down here y'all in the land of the razzmatazz."
Despite the bleakness of the situation, people still find solace in music and the belief that the end is near.
Steamboat whistle blowing under water, everything is backwards and upside down, baby Moses in the bulrushes paddling sidways to higher ground.
The normal course of events has been disrupted, and even the sound of a steamboat whistle can be heard underwater. It is as if the biblical story of Moses in the bulrushes is happening in reverse.
Old ladies gambling inside river boat casinos, whirlpools swallowing em down insurance executives and fuller brush salesmen bushwhacked trying to leave town.
The disaster has affected everyone, including innocent old ladies, and even those trying to escape are met with danger and chaos.
But their lifeboats went backwards up the mississippi river to the ancient Missouri side up thru Iowa, Minnesota into the hands of a righteous God.
Despite their efforts, they end up going backwards up the Mississippi River, from Missouri to Iowa and Minnesota, suggesting that they must face the consequences of their actions in the eyes of a higher power.
"Everybody sing blow Gabriel blow, yeah blow that ragtime jazz, judgment day coming down here y'all in the land of the razzmatazz."
Even in the face of disaster and the end of the world, people continue to find comfort in music and the belief that the end is near.
Contributed by Lila B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.