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).
Seven Curses
Tom Russell Lyrics
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Old Reilly stole a stallion
But they caught him and they brought him back
And they laid him down on the jailhouse ground
With an iron chain around his neck.
Old Reilly's daughter got a message
That her father was goin' to hang.
She rode by night and came by morning
With gold and silver in her hand.
When the judge he saw Reilly's daughter
His old eyes deepened in his head,
Sayin', "Gold will never free your father,
The price, my dear, is you instead."
"Oh I'm as good as dead," cried Reilly,
"It's only you that he does crave
And my skin will surely crawl if he touches you at all.
Get on your horse and ride away."
"Oh father you will surely die
If I don't take the chance to try
And pay the price and not take your advice.
For that reason I will have to stay."
The gallows shadows shook the evening,
In the night a hound dog bayed,
In the night the grounds were groanin',
In the night the price was paid.
The next mornin' she had awoken
To know that the judge had never spoken.
She saw that hangin' branch a-bendin',
She saw her father's body broken.
These be seven curses on a judge so cruel:
That one doctor will not save him,
That two healers will not heal him,
That three eyes will not see him.
That four ears will not hear him,
That five walls will not hide him,
That six diggers will not bury him
And that seven deaths shall never kill him.
The song "Seven Curses" tells the story of Old Reilly, who was caught stealing a stallion and sentenced to hang. Old Reilly's daughter hears of her father's impending execution and decides to try and save him by offering up all the gold and silver she has. However, when the judge sees the gold, he informs her that the only way to free her father is for her to take his place on the gallows. Old Reilly implores his daughter to run away, fearing for her safety, but she decides to stay and face her fate. The song ends with her father being executed and her body being discovered the next morning, still on the gallows.
The song is not actually written by Tom Russell, but rather by Bob Dylan. It was written during Dylan's early years as a songwriter, but he never recorded the song himself. It was later recorded by a number of other artists, including Tom Russell.
Line by Line Meaning
Old Reilly stole a stallion
Reilly stole a horse and got caught.
But they caught him and they brought him back
Reilly was arrested for stealing the horse.
And they laid him down on the jailhouse ground
Reilly was put in jail and held captive.
With an iron chain around his neck.
Reilly was imprisoned with an iron chain around his neck.
Old Reilly's daughter got a message
Reilly's daughter received news of her father's imprisonment.
That her father was goin' to hang.
Reilly was sentenced to death by hanging.
She rode by night and came by morning
Reilly's daughter rode during the night to arrive in time.
With gold and silver in her hand.
Reilly's daughter brought gold and silver to try and save her father.
When the judge he saw Reilly's daughter
The judge saw Reilly's daughter coming to plead for her father's life.
His old eyes deepened in his head,
The judge's eyes showed deep emotion or contemplation on seeing Reilly's daughter.
Sayin', "Gold will never free your father,
The judge told Reilly's daughter that money will not save her father.
The price, my dear, is you instead."
The judge demanded Reilly's daughter to offer herself instead of the money to save her father.
"Oh I'm as good as dead," cried Reilly,
Reilly realized his daughter's fate and felt hopeless.
"It's only you that he does crave
The judge was only interested in Reilly's daughter as payment for her father's life.
And my skin will surely crawl if he touches you at all
Reilly's daughter feared and rejected the judge for desiring her.
Get on your horse and ride away."
Reilly's daughter was advised by her father to leave and escape.
"Oh father you will surely die
Reilly's daughter knew that her father would be executed if no one offered to take his place.
If I don't take the chance to try
Reilly's daughter saw an opportunity to save her father.
And pay the price and not take your advice.
Reilly's daughter decided to pay the cost instead of following her father's advice to escape.
For that reason I will have to stay."
Reilly's daughter chose to stay and pay the price for her father.
The gallows shadows shook the evening,
The night before the execution felt eerie and tense.
In the night a hound dog bayed,
A dog howled during the night before the execution.
In the night the grounds were groanin',
The earth seemed to moan and creak in the night.
In the night the price was paid.
The price for Reilly's release was paid with the sacrifice of his daughter.
The next mornin' she had awoken
Reilly's daughter woke up the day after paying the price for her father's release.
To know that the judge had never spoken.
The judge did not change his mind and allowed the execution of Reilly's daughter.
She saw that hangin' branch a-bendin',
Reilly's daughter saw the tree branch that took her father's life.
She saw her father's body broken.
Reilly was executed despite his daughter's sacrifice.
These be seven curses on a judge so cruel:
The following lines are curses on the cruel judge.
That one doctor will not save him,
No doctor can save the judge.
That two healers will not heal him,
Even two healers can't help the judge.
That three eyes will not see him.
He will always have enemies, so he cannot hide from their view.
That four ears will not hear him,
He will not be heard in a time of need.
That five walls will not hide him,
Even many obstacles cannot keep him hidden and secure.
That six diggers will not bury him,
No one will want to lay him to rest after his death.
And that seven deaths shall never kill him.
He will not be punished by death for his actions.
Lyrics © BOB DYLAN MUSIC CO, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind