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).
The Old Rugged Cross
Tom Russell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The emblem of suffering and shame
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain
And I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown
The lyrics of Tom Russell's song, The Old Rugged Cross, are deeply steeped in Christian and religious symbolism. The song speaks of a hill far away where an old rugged cross stood, serving as a symbol of suffering and sacrifice. The chorus of the song speaks of how the singer loves the old cross, as it represents the sacrifice made for the redemption of the world's lost sinners. The lyrics evoke a strong sense of reverence and devotion towards the cross, which is seen as a holy object of faith.
Furthermore, the second verse of the song speaks of how the singer will cherish the cross till the end of their life, holding onto it till they lay down their trophies. This implies a desire to stay true to one's faith and not be sidetracked or swayed by worldly possessions or desires. The final lines of the chorus hold an enigmatic promise, as the singer speaks of exchanging the old rugged cross for a crown someday. The crown is a symbol of victory and achievement, so it can be interpreted as a reward for holding onto faith and devotion from the start till the end.
Overall, The Old Rugged Cross is a song that evokes a powerful sense of reverence, devotion and faith towards what the cross represents. It is the symbol of sacrifice and redemption, and the song's lyrics convey a desire to hold onto these values firmly.
Line by Line Meaning
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
In a distant location, up on a steep hill, was a cross that was rough and unsophisticated.
The emblem of suffering and shame
It served as a symbol of pain and humiliation.
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best,
I have deep affection for that crude cross where my beloved and the most valuable one to me gave his life.
For a world of lost sinners was slain
It was on this cross that the savior of the world died to save those who were lost as a result of sin.
And I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
I will hold the plain cross with great value and significance.
Till my trophies at last I lay down
Until I can finally put an end to my achievements and accomplishments.
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
I will grasp onto the unadorned cross tightly.
And exchange it some day for a crown
And in the future, I will replace the cross with a symbol of royalty and authority.
Contributed by Olivia G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.