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).
Sitting Bull In Venice
Tom Russell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bill Cody brings us smoke and meat, so what are we to do?
I came across the water, in a boat no man could row
To play war in front of strangers, in Cody's Wild West Show
Whoopa ti, whoopa ti-I-Yo
I have seen their Eiffel Tower and the wonders of their world
Saloons where drunken white men stared at naked dancing girls
And I close my eyes, see the Big Horn Valley, harvest moons ago
The bloody hair of Custer, hanging from our victory pole
Whoopa ti, whoopa ti-I-Yo
Whoopa ti, whoopa ti-I-Yo
See me staring calmly from your magic photograph
In this gondola canoe, am I about to cry or laugh?
My spirit rides with Red Cloud, Black Bear and Buffalo
My dreams fly with the heron, the grey crane and the crow
Whoopa ti, whoopa ti-I-Yo
Whoopa ti, whoopa ti-I-Yo
The song "Sitting Bull In Venice" by Tom Russell is a representation of the struggle between American Indians and the American government. The song is about Sitting Bull, a famous American Indian leader who fought against the United States government. "Look at me, brave Sitting Bull, in this gondola canoe," the lyrics say, indicating that Sitting Bull is in Venice, Italy, where he is part of the Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show.
The lyrics refer to Sitting Bull's past and what he has seen during his life, such as the wonders of the world in Paris and the saloons where drunken white men watch naked dancing girls. Sitting Bull is portrayed as a man who is caught between two worlds, one of which he has lost and the other that he is a part of because of his Wild West Show. The song also highlights the cultural differences between American Indians and Americans.
The song represents the struggle that American Indians had to face during colonization. It is important to understand the struggles that Indigenous people had to face so that we can appreciate the sacrifices they made for our country. Ultimately, Sitting Bull's story is about courage, endurance, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
Look at me, brave Sitting Bull, in this gondola canoe
See me, Sitting Bull, in this strange canoe, trying to stay brave despite my unfamiliar surroundings
Bill Cody brings us smoke and meat, so what are we to do?
We must take what we can get from Bill Cody, even if it means participating in his Wild West Show
I came across the water, in a boat no man could row
I made a difficult journey across the water in a boat that required extraordinary effort to navigate
To play war in front of strangers, in Cody's Wild West Show
I'm expected to perform in mock battles for an audience of strangers in Cody's controversial entertainment spectacle
Whoopa ti, whoopa ti-I-Yo
A traditional Native American shout of enthusiasm
I have seen their Eiffel Tower and the wonders of their world
I have witnessed marvels like the Eiffel Tower and other modern marvels of the European world
Saloons where drunken white men stared at naked dancing girls
I have visited establishments where inebriated white men gawked at women with little clothing on
And I close my eyes, see the Big Horn Valley, harvest moons ago
I reminisce about my home, picturing the Big Horn Valley and memories of past harvests
The bloody hair of Custer, hanging from our victory pole
I recall our triumph over Custer's soldiers, and the grisly display of their leader's hair on a pole as a symbol of our victory
See me staring calmly from your magic photograph
Notice how calm and stoic I appear in this photograph, developed using modern technology that I am unfamiliar with
In this gondola canoe, am I about to cry or laugh?
Despite my composure, I am filled with conflicting emotions about my current situation
My spirit rides with Red Cloud, Black Bear and Buffalo
I feel connected to my fellow Native Americans, including Red Cloud, Black Bear, and the Buffalo that once roamed our lands
My dreams fly with the heron, the grey crane and the crow
My thoughts drift toward the natural world, and I imagine flying with birds like the heron, grey crane, and crow
Whoopa ti, whoopa ti-I-Yo
A traditional Native American shout of enthusiasm
Whoopa ti, whoopa ti-I-Yo
A traditional Native American shout of enthusiasm
Writer(s): TOM RUSSELL
Contributed by Daniel Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.