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).
Spanish Burgundy
Tom Russell Lyrics
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Barcelona is a woman's eyes, raven gypsy hair
I got drunk in Barcelona and then she walked away from me
My tears ran down a bottle of Spanish burgundy
And I drank until I slept and I slept until I dream
In every dream her lips did taste of Spanish burgundy
There was once a gypsy saying, it may come from Catalan
It may lead you to destruction or a love that's meant to be
But beware of Barcelona girls and the Spanish Burgundy
And we drink until we sleep and we sleep until we dream
We dream of Barcelona girls and Spanish burgundy
So I will join the old men down in the sad cafe
The sun goes up the sun goes down, shadows cross our face
As we sing of how it might of been oh and how it used to be
And the moon shines through the bottles of Spanish burgundy
And we drink until we sleep and we sleep until we dream
We dream of Barcelona girls and Spanish burgundy
And we drink until we sleep and we sleep until we dream
In every dream her lips did taste of Spanish burgundy
The song "Spanish Burgundy" tells the story of the singer's experience in Barcelona, particularly with the women he meets and the drink he consumes. The lyrics describe Barcelona as a "woman's town" with "women everywhere" and it is through the singer's encounter with one of these women that he finds himself losing his grip on reality. The first verse describes his drunken encounter with a woman in Barcelona and how she leaves him feeling lost and alone. He copes with his heartbreak by drinking Spanish Burgundy until he falls asleep, where he dreams of the woman and the drink that brought them together.
The chorus repeats the idea of drinking and dreaming of Barcelona girls and Spanish burgundy, a drink that perhaps represents more than just an alcoholic beverage but the intense passion and allure of the city and its women. The gypsy saying adds to the theme, warning of the dangers of indulging in Barcelona and the romantic pitfalls of falling for the women there.
In the final verse, the lyrics speak of the singer joining old men in a sad café, singing about how it "might have been" and "how it used to be." The nostalgia in the final verse alludes to the fact that the singer's experience in Barcelona is not uncommon and that many before him have indulged in the city's pleasures, looking back on them with the same sense of longing.
Overall, the lyrics of "Spanish Burgundy" paint a picture of a city filled with passion and allure, a place where one can easily lose themselves in the endless nights of drinking and loving.
Line by Line Meaning
Barcelona is a woman's town, women everywhere
Barcelona is a vibrant city with women exerting their presence in every aspect
Barcelona is a woman's eyes, raven gypsy hair
The city has a mysterious and enchanting beauty that is embodied by women
I got drunk in Barcelona and then she walked away from me
The singer had a romantic encounter in Barcelona that ended abruptly
My tears ran down a bottle of Spanish burgundy
The artist drowned his sorrows in copious amounts of wine
And I drank until I slept and I slept until I dream
The artist used alcohol as a way to cope with his emotions and escape reality
In every dream her lips did taste of Spanish burgundy
The singer cannot escape the memories of his past love, symbolized by the wine he consumed
There was once a gypsy saying, it may come from Catalan
The lyrics reference a cultural belief that may be specific to the region
First the man he takes the drink and then the drink it takes the man
Alcohol can be a dangerous substance, potentially leading to addiction and negative consequences
It may lead you to destruction or a love that's meant to be
Alcohol can have unpredictable outcomes, sometimes leading to negative results but other times facilitating positive experiences
But beware of Barcelona girls and the Spanish Burgundy
There is a warning about the seductive nature of both the women and the wine in the city
So I will join the old men down in the sad cafe
The singer has resigned himself to a particular lifestyle and social scene
The sun goes up the sun goes down, shadows cross our face
Life continues to go on, with its ebbs and flows of light and darkness
As we sing of how it might of been oh and how it used to be
The singer reminisces about past experiences and imagines what could have been
And the moon shines through the bottles of Spanish burgundy
The wine bottles act as a symbol of the romantic imagery and memories conjured up by the singer
And we drink until we sleep and we sleep until we dream
The cycle of using wine as a coping mechanism and escaping into dreams continues
We dream of Barcelona girls and Spanish burgundy
The artist cannot shake off the memories of his past love and continues to romanticize both the women and the wine of Barcelona
In every dream her lips did taste of Spanish burgundy
The woman and the wine have become intertwined in the artist's subconscious
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: TOM RUSSELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind