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).
Where the Dream Begins
Tom Russell Lyrics
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Well he's trying to get home but I 'think he lost the 'map
What happened to the kid with the 'braces on his 'teeth?
He had an autographed picture of Muhammad Ali
He's just a wise-assed, buck-toothed, near-sighted fool
Always 'staring at the girls in the 'swimming 'pool
Thirty years later and he's 'staring again
He's searching for the place where the 'dreams begin
Searching for the place where the dream begins
Then he bought a bunch of records and he 'heard a man sing
He said if I could write a song I believe I'd be a king
But it took him twenty years until he got the nerve
He's got boxes full of papers and 'papers full of words
And the words fly away like 'swallows on the 'wind
But they 'never flew back to the 'nest a'gain
Never took him to the place where the dream be(Dm)gins
Then he finally got married and he 'had two little 'girls
But he didn't see 'em much cause he 'had to see the 'world
And the lie that he told 'em is I'm 'like most 'men
It's always down the road that the 'dream begins
And the girls grew up to be 'pretty and wise
They said "you could have seen the dream by looking in our 'eyes
'You were always living in the 'world of pretend
You kept running away from 'where the dream begins
Running away from where the dream begins"
Now he's living with a woman out on 'Borderland 'Road
But her love's turned bitter, and her 'eyes turned 'cold
She said we came to the desert, let the 'sickness 'mend
But Hell ain't the place where the dreams be'gin
'Look out boys I'm gaining on you
He's old Blind Joe Death in his alligator shoes
He's got a 'pocket full of pills and a 'pint of sloe gin
He's gonna 'show you to the place where the 'dream be'gins
Follow him down where the dream begins
At the end of the road there ain't nothing but fear
Just a big old room with a 'big old 'mirror
And the man in the mirror his 'hair's turning gray
And his hands begin to shake in a funny kind of way
He's knows everything you bring for to save you soul
Everything denied will condemn you to the 'hole
With his hand on his heart he 'picks up his pen
He goes searching for the place where the dream be'gins
Looking for the place where the dream begins
What happened to the kid in the baseball cap?
He's trying to get home but I think he's lost the map.
"Where the Dream Begins" by Tom Russell is a song that tells the story of a man's journey through life in search of his dreams. The lyrics provide a vivid picture of the different stages the singer goes through and the challenges he faces along the way. The first verse introduces us to a boy who grows up to be a man who is constantly searching for where the dreams begin. He reminisces about his youth, including the autographed picture of Muhammed Ali he once had, and how he was always staring at the girls in the pool. The second verse describes how the man eventually pursues a career in songwriting after buying a bunch of records and hearing a man sing. This career, however, takes him away from his family, and he misses out on seeing his two daughters grow up. In the final verse, the man is an old Blind Joe Death living with a woman on Borderland Road. She is bitter, and as he nears the end of his life, he begins to realize that the dreams he has been chasing all his life were nothing but illusions. He comes to the realization that the only way to achieve his dreams is by looking in the mirror and finding the strength within himself to live life to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
What happened to the kid in the baseball cap?
Introducing a character and posing a question about their fate
Well he's trying to get home but I 'think he lost the 'map
The character is facing a problem and may have gotten lost along the way
What happened to the kid with the 'braces on his 'teeth?
Introducing another character and posing a question about their fate
He had an autographed picture of Muhammad Ali
Describing the character and giving insight into their interests and personality
He's just a wise-assed, buck-toothed, near-sighted fool
More characterization, painting a detailed picture of the character's physical and personality traits
Always 'staring at the girls in the 'swimming 'pool
Further characterization, highlighting the character's habits and inclinations
Thirty years later and he's 'staring again
This character trait has persisted into the present
He's searching for the place where the 'dreams begin
The character is on a quest of sorts, looking for something elusive and meaningful
Then he bought a bunch of records and he 'heard a man sing
Introducing another event in the character's life, one that could be transformative
He said if I could write a song I believe I'd be a king
The character experiences a moment of inspiration, imagining a new path in life
But it took him twenty years until he got the nerve
The character did not act immediately on their inspiration
He's got boxes full of papers and 'papers full of words
The character has been working diligently towards their goal, accumulating material
And the words fly away like 'swallows on the 'wind
The character has experienced setbacks along the way, losing some of their work
But they 'never flew back to the 'nest a'gain
What is lost cannot be regained
Never took him to the place where the dream be(Dm)gins
Despite years of work, the character still feels unfulfilled and has not achieved their dream
Then he finally got married and he 'had two little 'girls
Another major event in the character's life, suggesting a new direction
But he didn't see 'em much cause he 'had to see the 'world
A sad reality of the character's priorities at this point in life
And the lie that he told 'em is I'm 'like most 'men
The character feels guilty and knows they are not being honest with their family
It's always down the road that the 'dream begins
The journey towards the dream is ongoing and may be endless
And the girls grew up to be 'pretty and wise
Introducing another development in the story, involving the character's children
They said "you could have seen the dream by looking in our 'eyes
The children provide an insightful perspective on the character's life, suggesting that they missed something important
'You were always living in the 'world of pretend
The children's criticism is harsh, but possibly accurate
You kept running away from 'where the dream begins
The character is accused of avoiding the very thing they have been seeking
Now he's living with a woman out on 'Borderland 'Road
Introducing another change in the character's situation
But her love's turned bitter, and her 'eyes turned 'cold
The current relationship is strained and unhappy
She said we came to the desert, let the 'sickness 'mend
The woman was hoping for a fresh start, but things have not worked out
But Hell ain't the place where the dreams be'gin
The character is stuck in an unfortunate situation that is not conducive to achieving their dreams
Look out boys I'm gaining on you
Introducing a new character who seems to be set on a mission
He's old Blind Joe Death in his alligator shoes
Characterizing the new arrival, suggesting a legendary figure
He's got a 'pocket full of pills and a 'pint of sloe gin
Further characterization, painting a seedy picture of the character
He's gonna 'show you to the place where the 'dream be'gins
The new arrival seems to have knowledge of the elusive destination the original character has been seeking
Follow him down where the dream begins
The original character decides to take the new arrival up on their offer and follows them
At the end of the road there ain't nothing but fear
The journey has taken a dark turn, culminating in something unpleasant
Just a big old room with a 'big old 'mirror
Describing the environment where the climax of the story takes place
And the man in the mirror his 'hair's turning gray
Introducing the man who the original character encounters in this room
And his hands begin to shake in a funny kind of way
The man is depicted in a distressed state
He's knows everything you bring for to save you soul
The man is able to see through people and understand their motivations
Everything denied will condemn you to the 'hole
The man has a bleak view of life and death, suggesting that denying certain truths can have dire consequences
With his hand on his heart he 'picks up his pen
The man seems to be about to take action in some way
He goes searching for the place where the dream be'gins
The man echoes the original character's sentiments, implying that their quests were not so different after all
Looking for the place where the dream begins
The stories of the original character and the man in the mirror parallel each other, suggesting a certain universality to the themes explored
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: TOM RUSSELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind