The Kid From Spavinaw

Tom RussellTom Russell 

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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:

2003

5:27

129 Views

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I was born in Oklahoma, 1931 
Outside the town of Spavinaw 
Where the red dust clouds the sun 
And I ran beneath your diamond skies 
And I drank your waves of grain 
My name is Mickey Mantle, boys 
And baseball is my game

My father's name was "Mutt", boy 
And he worked down in the mines 
He pitched to me in the evening 
At least a thousand times 
A thousand times again, in my nightmare and my dreams 
You're going to live in the house that 
Ruth built, kid 
You're going to make that Yankee team

Sure enough, the Yankee scout comes drivin', 
Right down route 66 
He'd have never come to 
Spavinaw class D ball in the sticks, 
But I happened to be playing in an old wood ball park 
Way out on the mother road 
That Yankee scout he signed me and I went up to the the show

Strike 1, that was the drinkin' 
Strike 2, there go the knees 
Then my old man died in Denver 
Some type of lung disease 
When God starts throwing change ups 
You can't swing with fame or wealth 
If I'd known I's going to live this long 
I'd have taken care of myself.

I don't miss the lights of Times Square 
I don't miss Toots Shore's bar 
I miss my old man pitchin' baseball 
Near the shed in our backyard 
I wish that he were still alive 
To see these trophies on my shelf 
If I'd known I was going to live this long 
I'd have taken better care of myself

I was born in Oklahoma, 
1931 Outside the town of Spavinaw 
Where the red dust clouds the sun

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