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).
South Coast
Tom Russell Lyrics
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My father was a Spanish Grandee
But I won my wife in a card game
To hell with those lords o'er the sea
Well the South Coast is wild coast and lonely
You might win in a game at Cholon
But a lion still rules the Barranca
I played in a card game at Jolon
I played there with an outlaw named Juan
And after I'd taken his money
I staked all against his daughter Dawn
I picked up the ace...l had won her
My heart it was down at my feet
Jumped up to my throat in a hurry
Like a young summer's day she was sweet
He opened the door to the kitchen
And he called the girl out with a curse
Saying "Take her, Goddamn her, you've won her
She's yours now for better or worse"
Her arms had to tighten around me
As we rode down the hills to the south
Not a word did I hear from her that day
Nor a kiss from her pretty young mouth
But that was a gay happy winter
We carved on a cradle of pine
By the fire in that neat little cabin
And I sang with that gay wife of mine
Well the South Coast is wild coast and lonely
You might win in a game at Cholon
But a lion still rules the Barranca
And a man there is always alone
That night I got hurt in a landslide
Crushed hip and twice broken bone
She saddled her pony like lightning
And rode off for the doctor in Cholon
The lion screamed in the Barranca
Buck, he bolted and he fell on his side
My young wife lay dead in the moonlight
My heart died that night with my bride
Well the South Coast is wild coast and lonely
You might win in a game at Cholon
But a lion still rules the Barranca
And a man there is always alone
The lyrics to Tom Russell's song South Coast depict the story of Juanano de Castro, the son of a wealthy Spanish family, who wins his wife, Dawn, in a card game against an outlaw named Juan. The couple retires to a cozy cabin on the South Coast, where they carve a cradle of pine and pass the winter happily. However, tragedy strikes when Juanano is injured in a landslide, and Dawn sets out to fetch the doctor, only to be killed by a lion in the hills. The song ends with Juanano reminiscing about his lost love and the wild, lonely South Coast where he now lives alone.
The song portrays the rugged beauty and solitude of the South Coast, which is contrasted with the rule of the lion, a symbol of the untamed nature and danger of the place. The card game that sets the story in motion is a nod to the trope of fate and chance in Western folklore, where one's destiny can be decided by a single roll of the dice or flip of a card. It also highlights the divide between the Spanish elite and the outlaws and gamblers who populate the fringes of society.
Line by Line Meaning
My name is Juanano de Castro
Juanano de Castro introduces himself as the singer.
My father was a Spanish Grandee
Juanano de Castro is the son of a Spanish noble or aristocratic family.
But I won my wife in a card game
Juanano won his wife in a game of cards rather than winning by conventional means such as courtship or marriage.
To hell with those lords o'er the sea
Juanano disdains the lords from overseas, possibly referring to British colonialists or pirates.
Well the South Coast is wild coast and lonely
Juanano comments on how the southern coast is untamed, harsh, and desolate.
You might win in a game at Cholon
While one may win a card game in Cholon, it is not guaranteed that one will succeed there.
But a lion still rules the Barranca
Despite human attempts to tame the land or other people, the untamed nature of the wilderness persists.
And a man there is always alone
The isolation of the South Coast elicits loneliness.
I played in a card game at Jolon
Juanano recounts playing cards in the town of Jolon.
I played there with an outlaw named Juan
Juanano gambled with an outlaw named Juan in Jolon.
And after I'd taken his money
Juanano had won money from Juan in the card game.
I staked all against his daughter Dawn
Juanano challenged Juan to a bet where his biggest wager would be for Juan's daughter Dawn.
I picked up the ace...l had won her
Juanano had victorious played his last card, an ace, and thus had won Dawn as his wife.
My heart it was down at my feet
Juanano was overwhelmed with emotion and felt as though his heart had dropped to the ground.
Jumped up to my throat in a hurry
Juanano's emotions shifted immediately and suddenly, causing his heart to jump up to his throat.
Like a young summer's day she was sweet
Juanano's wife Dawn was as charming and innocent as a summertime day during youth.
He opened the door to the kitchen
Juanano refers to Juan opening the door to his own kitchen.
And he called the girl out with a curse
Juanano's father-in-law Juan cursed when calling his daughter, Dawn, out.
Saying "Take her, Goddamn her, you've won her
Juanano's father-in-law expressed his resentment regarding Juanano's victory over him in the card game.
She's yours now for better or worse"
Despite Juanano's victory, his wife now represents a responsibility or burden in his life.
Her arms had to tighten around me
Juanano described his wife, now in love with him, holding him closely.
As we rode down the hills to the south
Juanano and Dawn rode horses down the hills on the southern coast.
Not a word did I hear from her that day
Juanano experienced a moment of silence or emotional disconnection from his wife during that day's ride.
Nor a kiss from her pretty young mouth
Juanano had not received a kiss from his wife's lips during the ride.
But that was a gay happy winter
Despite the preceding turmoil, Juanano and Dawn had shared a happy time together.
We carved on a cradle of pine
Juanano and Dawn crafted a cradle together from pine wood.
By the fire in that neat little cabin
They did so beside a fire in a cozy cabin.
And I sang with that gay wife of mine
Juanano shared joy and sang song with his ecstatic wife during that time.
That night I got hurt in a landslide
Juanano faced trouble during a landslide that occured that night.
Crushed hip and twice broken bone
Juanano injured his hip and broke two of his bones during the landslide.
She saddled her pony like lightning
Dawn quickly saddled her pony when presenting the opportunity for Juanano to receive medical help.
And rode off for the doctor in Cholon
Dawn took off for Cholon to bring back a doctor.
The lion screamed in the Barranca
Amid Juanano's recovery, he was able to hear the lion's roar from the mountains.
Buck, he bolted and he fell on his side
Unlike Dawn's speedy movements, the domesticated horse, Buck, stumbled and fell.
My young wife lay dead in the moonlight
Dawn, Juanano's recently wed wife, laid lifeless during nighttime while the moon shone down.
My heart died that night with my bride
Juanano's sorrow was hefty and his heart felt as though it died along with Dawn.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FRANK MILLER, LILLIAN BOS ROSS, RICHARD DEHR, SAM ESKIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind