Tom Russell (born in Los Angeles in either 1947 or 1948) is an American sin… Read Full Bio ↴Tom Russell (born in Los Angeles in either 1947 or 1948) is an American singer-songwriter from California, currently living in El Paso, Texas. His music incorporates elements of folk, traditional country & western, border and cowboy music of the American West. Russell's songs have been recorded by artists such as Johnny Cash, Ian Tyson, Nanci Griffith, Dave Alvin and others. In addition to his music, he is also an artist and published author.

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).

Rose of San Joaquin
Tom Russell Lyrics

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Farewell to the lights of Madera, I'm leaving with the wind at my back
Tell all of my friends in Dos Palos, I'm gone but I'll be circling back
Now I'm crossing the Chowchilia River
By the light of a ragged moonbeam
Lord I'll miss the Rose of San Joaquin

I'll miss the sun on the Sierra Nevadas, adobe moon on the rise
Shining down on my love in Madera, shining into her dark Spanish eyes

Oh she taught me those Mexican love songs
"Volver, Volver" in my dreams
And I miss the Rose of San Joaquin
Caught somewhere between
The road and the Rose of San Joaquin

Oh her black hair fell on the blanket in the tall grass we with the dew
Making love through the night by the river
Oh Magdalene how my heart cries for you
Alone on this highway of darkness
You are the light of my dreams
And I miss the Rose of San Joaquin

Caught somewhere between
The road and the Rose of San Joaquin

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Tom Russell's "The Rose of the San Joaquin" tell the story of a man who must leave his lover and travel on the road, but longs to return back to her. As he says farewell to the lights of Madera, where his friend's reside in Dos Palos, he describes his journey, crossing the Chowchilia River, and missing "the Rose of San Joaquin".

The setting is in California's Central Valley, encompassing a region of agriculture, small towns, cowboy culture, and the San Joaquin River. In this song, the Rose of San Joaquin represents the man's lover, as he reminisces about the moments they shared together, and how she taught him to sing traditional Mexican love songs, like "Volver, Volver." With lines like "Alone on this highway of darkness, you are the light of my dreams," the song expresses the man's yearning to return to her, despite being between the road and the Rose of San Joaquin.

Overall, "The Rose of the San Joaquin" is a nostalgic and romantic song that paints a picture of a lost love, and the power it can hold over someone's heart.

Line by Line Meaning

Farewell to the lights of Madera, I'm leaving with the wind at my back
I am bidding adieu to the city lights of Madera and embarking on a journey with the wind pushing me from behind.

Tell all of my friends in Dos Palos, I'm gone but I'll be circling back
Please inform my pals in Dos Palos that I'm leaving but I will definitely return.

Now I'm crossing the Chowchilia River by the light of a ragged moonbeam
Currently, I am crossing the Chowchilia River with only a flickering moonbeam to light my way through the darkness.

Lord I'll miss the Rose of San Joaquin
The Rose of San Joaquin will be sorely missed by me.

I'll miss the sun on the Sierra Nevadas, adobe moon on the rise
I'll yearn for the Sierra Nevada mountains basking in the sunlight and the adobe moon ascending into the sky.

Shining down on my love in Madera, shining into her dark Spanish eyes
The sunlight and moonlight would beautifully illuminate my lover in Madera with her gorgeous, dark Spanish eyes.

Oh she taught me those Mexican love songs, "Volver, Volver" in my dreams
She showed me how to sing charming Mexican love songs, especially "Volver, Volver" which I now sing in my dreams.

And I miss the Rose of San Joaquin, caught somewhere between the road and the Rose of San Joaquin
I deeply yearn for the Rose of San Joaquin, but I seem to be stuck somewhere between my journey and my love for her.

Oh her black hair fell on the blanket in the tall grass we with the dew
Her beautiful black hair cascaded on the blanket when we made love on the moist tall grass.

Making love through the night by the river, oh Magdalene how my heart cries for you
We passionately made love by the river all night long, and my heart now aches for my beloved Magdalene.

Alone on this highway of darkness, you are the light of my dreams
I am currently traveling on this lonely, dark highway, and you, my love, are the only spark of light illuminating my dreams.

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: IAN TYSON, TOM RUSSELL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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