Manzanar

Tom RussellTom Russell 

Follow 1 fan

Tom Russell

Thomas George "Tom" Russell (born March 5, 1947/1948[dubious – discuss]) is an American singer-songwriter. Although most strongly identified with the Texas Country music tradition, his music also incorporates elements of folk, Tex-Mex, and the cowboy music of the American West. Many of his songs have been recorded by other artists, including Johnny Cash, k.d. lang, Guy Clark, Joe Ely, Jason Boland, Nanci Griffith, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Iris Dement, Dave Alvin, and Suzy Bogguss. Tom has also done collaborative work with renowned cowboy poet Paul Zarzyski. They have worked together on a few songs which have appeared in Tom's works over the years. more »

Year:

2008

5:17

93 Views

 Struggling with Manzanar? Become a better singer in 30 days with these videos!

He said my name is Nakashima
And I'm a proud American
I came here in '27
From my homeland of Japan

And we picked your grapes and oranges
Made some money, bought a store
Until 1942
Pearl Harbor and the war

Came those relocation orders
They took our house, the store, the car
Then they drove us to the desert
To a place called Manzanar

The Spanish word for "apple orchard"
Though we saw no apple trees
Just the rows of prison barracks
And barbed wired boundaries

And we dream of apple blossoms
Waving free beneath the stars
Till we wake up in the desert
The prisoners of Manzanar
Manzanar

Fifty years, they've all but vanished
And now I am an old man
But I don't regret the day
That I came here from Japan

But on moonlit winter nights
I often wish upon a star
That I'd forget the shame and sorrow
That I felt at Manzanar

And we dream of apple blossoms
Waving free beneath the stars
Till we wake up in the desert
The prisoners of Manzanar
Manzanar

 Struggling with Manzanar? Become a better singer in 30 days with these videos!