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).
Tonight We Ride
Tom Russell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The people of Columbus still hear him riding through their dreams
He killed seventeen civilians you could hear the women scream
Blackjack Pershing on a dancing horse was waiting in the wings
Tonight we ride, tonight we ride
We'll skin ole Pancho Villa, make chaps out of his hide
Shoot his horse, Siete Leguas, and his twenty-seven bride
We rode for three long years till Blackjack Pershing called it quits
When Jackie wasn't lookin' I stole his fine spade bit
It was tied upon his stallion, so I rode away on it
To the wild Chihuahuan desert, so dry you couldn't spit
Tonight we ride, you bastards dare
We'll kill the wild Apache for the bounty on his hair
Then we'll ride into Durango, climb up the whorehouse stairs
Tonight we ride, Tonight we ride
When I'm too damn old to sit a horse, I'll steal the warden's car
Break my ass out of this prison, leave my teeth there in a jar
You don't need no teeth for kissin' gals or smokin' cheap cigars
I'll sleep with one eye open, 'neath God's celestial stars
Tonight we rock, Tonight we roll
We'll rob the Juarez liquor store for the Reposado Gold
And if we drink ourselves to death, ain't that the cowboy way to go?
Tonight we ride, tonight we ride
Tonight we fly, we're headin' west
Toward the mountains and the ocean where the eagle makes his nest
If our bones bleach on the desert, we'll consider we are blessed
Tonight we ride, Tonight we ride
Tonight we ride, tonight we ride.
The song "Tonight We Ride" by Tom Russell tells a story of a group of cowboys on a mission for revenge against Pancho Villa. The first verse describes how Pancho Villa crossed the border and killed seventeen civilians, causing chaos and fear in the town of Columbus. The mention of Blackjack Pershing waiting in the wings suggests that the US military was involved in seeking justice for Villa's actions. The chorus, "Tonight we ride," serves as a rallying cry for the cowboys and foreshadows the vengeance that will be sought.
The second verse recounts the cowboys' three-year search for Villa, seemingly aided by Pershing. The mention of stealing Pershing's "fine spade bit" suggests that the cowboys may not have been entirely in line with the military's objectives. The description of the Chihuahuan desert adds to the Western frontier atmosphere of the song.
The final verse speaks of the singer's desire for freedom and adventure, even when old age sets in. "Tonight we rock, Tonight we roll" could be interpreted as a declaration of living life to its fullest, with the knowledge that death is always lurking. The final line, "Tonight we ride, Tonight we ride," brings the song full circle and serves as a reminder of the cowboys' mission and their irrepressible spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
Pancho Villa crossed the border in the year of ought sixteen
Pancho Villa illegally crossed the border in 1916
The people of Columbus still hear him riding through their dreams
Pancho Villa's attack still haunts the people of Columbus in nightmares
He killed seventeen civilians you could hear the women scream
Villa killed 17 civilians, making the women's screams echo in their minds
Blackjack Pershing on a dancing horse was waiting in the wings
General Pershing was prepared to retaliate against Villa on horseback when the opportunity arose
We'll skin ole Pancho Villa, make chaps out of his hide
They plan to skin Villa and create chaps (leg coverings) with his hide as a trophy
Shoot his horse, Siete Leguas, and his twenty-seven bride
They intend to murder Villa's prized horse, Siete Leguas, and his 27 followers
We rode for three long years till Blackjack Pershing called it quits
They rode for 3 years until the lead general, Pershing, stopped the pursuit
When Jackie wasn't lookin' I stole his fine spade bit
Tom stole a valuable piece of equipment from Pershing when he was not looking
It was tied upon his stallion, so I rode away on it
Tom stole the equipment from Pershing's horse and fled with it
Tonight we ride, you bastards dare
They ride tonight with a daring attitude and challenge anyone to stop them
We'll kill the wild Apache for the bounty on his hair
They plan to kill an Apache for a bounty on their hair
Then we'll ride into Durango, climb up the whorehouse stairs
They will go to Durango, go upstairs of a brothel, and party there
When I'm too damn old to sit a horse, I'll steal the warden's car
When Tom is too old to ride horses, he will steal a car to escape prison
Break my ass out of this prison, leave my teeth there in a jar
Tom plans to escape prison, leaving his teeth in a jar to abandon his past
You don't need no teeth for kissin' gals or smokin' cheap cigars
Tom doesn't need teeth to kiss or smoke
We'll rob the Juarez liquor store for the Reposado Gold
Tom plans to rob a liquor store in Juarez for the Reposado Gold (a type of tequila)
And if we drink ourselves to death, ain't that the cowboy way to go?
If they die from alcohol poisoning, it's a fitting end for cowboys
Tonight we fly, we're headin' west
They fly or ride westwards
Toward the mountains and the ocean where the eagle makes his nest
They journey towards the mountains and ocean, the eagle's habitat
If our bones bleach on the desert, we'll consider we are blessed
If they die and their bones bleach on the desert, they will consider themselves fortunate
Tonight we ride, Tonight we ride
They are riding tonight
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: TOM RUSSELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
tmlafrance
Panco Villa crossed the border in the year of ought sixteen
The people of Columbus still hear him riding through their dreams
He killed seventeen civilians you could hear the women scream
Blackjack Pershing on a dancing horse was waiting in the wings
Tonight we ride, tonight we ride
We'll skin ole Pancho Villa, make chaps out of his hide
Shoot his horse, Siete Leguas, and his twenty-seven bride
Tonight we ride, tonight we ride
We rode for three long years till Blackjack Pershing called it quits
When Jackie wasn't lookin' I stole his fine spade bit
It was tied upon his stallion, so I rode away on it
To the wild Chihuahuan desert, so dry you couldn't spit
Tonight we ride, you bastards dare
We'll kill the wild Apache for the bounty on his hair
Then we'll ride into Durango, climb up the whorehouse stairs
Tonight we ride, Tonight we ride
When I'm too damn old to sit a horse, I'll steal the warden's car
Break my ass out of this prison, leave my teeth there in a jar
You don't need no teeth for kissin' gals or smokin' cheap cigars
I'll sleep with one eye open, 'neath God's celestial stars
Tonight we rock, Tonight we roll
We'll rob the Juarez liquor store for the Reposado Gold
And if we drink ourselves to death, ain't that the cowboy way to go?
Tonight we ride, tonight we ride
Tonight we fly, we're headin' west
Toward the mountains and the ocean where the eagle makes his nest
If our bones bleach on the desert, we'll consider we are blessed
Tonight we ride, Tonight we ride
Tonight we ride, tonight we ride.
John Harrington
This is one of those songs that seems to have written itself, around for a hundred years. A great piece of song writing, classic.
Ian smith
one of the best moments of my life- lying in a hotel in salamanca after a day at the bull fighting school hearing tom playing his guitar in the room next door.
Jeremy Novak
Literally one of the best Western songs ever recorded. It captures just a little bit of what it must have been to live back on those "Will James" days of the American West. Really well written and performed.
CometTamer
jgnmoose Indeed. Its rare to find songs so real anymore. Also, what do you mean "Will James?"
Joe Stephan
Thank you for noting this is Western, not country, music. They are not the same.
TyrionLannister83
@CometTamer Will James (June 6, 1892 - September 3, 1942)[1] was a French Canadian artist and writer of the American West. He is known for writing Smoky the Cowhorse, for which he won the 1927 Newbery Medal,[2] and numerous "cowboy" stories for adults and children. His artwork, which predominantly involved cowboy and rodeo scenes, followed "in the tradition of Charles Russell",[3] and much of it was used to illustrate his books. In 1992, he was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.[4]
Creecrew
I disagree 💯😡😡
Drew Townson
An absolutely magnificent songwriter. True balladeer.
William Henshaw
Damn! It doesn't get much better than a Tom Russell song.
Visual Eclipse
lol ikr