Having grown up with the privilege of visiting Alberta and Montana in the late60s and 70s with my family, this song has always brought vivid memories. Took over 40 years before I was able to get back to that area and it was as awe inspiring as i remembered. Ian Tyson, Charlie Russell are the greatest artists and cheerleaders for such a beautiful area as God ever created.
Charlie Russel's art is priceless. Ian Tyson's music is priceless. This song is a gift. thank you Ian Tyson for this gift it does keep on giving. My sister and I are praying for the Lord to give you very special gifts this coming year. We love your music💕
As a native Montanan who grew up in Charlie Russell country, this song is amazing. One of our family stories is how my great grandfather used to drink beer with Charlie in Great Falls. One night Kid Russell doodled a piece of art on a bar napkin and gave it to him. My great grandfather died in 1972 and that doodle did too. It was never found and was likely thrown away...but boy what a story. Charlie Russell painted Montana and the real West before it was tamed.
you have to work very hard indeed to find a deeper love of the west than Ian has found. And I love the love of it that he channels and gives back to the rest of us that have a need for it.
Back when I first heard this on Cowboyography it made me look up Charlie Russell's art and story (not much "web" back then - my original copy of the album was on vinyl). A wonderful discovery and connection (I had seen some of his art before but really did not know the story). I have followed Ian since "Four Strong Winds" was "born" - just keeps getting better
I have a book with paintings and illustrations from Russell and Remington....unreal, the west 50 years and gone....Charlie I for one am glad you got it all down.
He left us a few weeks ago. I pray he found the peace that so often eluded him in this life. This song is a true masterpiece of melody, poetry, history and deep respect for a fellow artist and seeker.
J.R.R. Tolkien who wrote the Lord of the Rings trilogy also wrote short stories. One of my favorites was "Leaf By Nigel". At the end of the story, God gives him the job of painting one perfect leaf.
No other word for Ian but ARTIST. Still working on a literary appreciation article for the serious academics. Better geter done while we see the grass from the sunjny side.
1 The Gift Lyrics In old St. Louis over in Missouri The mighty Mississippi, well, it rolls and flows A son was born to Mary Russell And it starts the legend every cowboy knows Young kid Russell was born to wander Ever westward he was bound to roam Just a kid of sixteen in 1880 Up in wild Montana he found his home God made Montana for the wild man For the Piegan and the Sioux and Crow Saved His greatest gift for Charlie Said, "Get her all down before she goes You gotta get her all down 'cause she's bound to go." God hung the stars over Judith Basin God put the magic in young Charlie's hands And all was seen and all remembered Every shining mountain, every longhorn brand He could paint the light on horsehide shining The great passing herds of the buffalo And a cow camp cold on a rainy morning And the twisting wrist of the Houlihan throw God made Montana for the wild man For the Piegan and the Sioux and Crow Saved His greatest gift for Charlie Said, "Get her all down before she goes You gotta get her all down 'cause she's bound to go." When the Lord called Charlie to his home up yonder He said, "Kid Russell, I got a job for you son You're in charge of sunsets up in old Montana and Alberta 'Cause I can't paint them quite as good as you And when you're done, we'll go out and have us a few And Nancy Russell will make sure it's just two." God made Montana for the wild man For the Piegan and the Sioux and Crow He saved His greatest gift for Charlie Said, "Get her all down before she goes You gotta get her all down 'cause she's bound to go.
The reality is there were two Ian's. I preferred the first, whose voice was deeper and more resonant on the early Vanguard folk albums. Many others seem to gravitate towards the cowboy Ian, and Great Speckled Bird. Just a matter of taste, I suppose.
Having grown up with the privilege of visiting Alberta and Montana in the late60s and 70s with my family, this song has always brought vivid memories. Took over 40 years before I was able to get back to that area and it was as awe inspiring as i remembered. Ian Tyson, Charlie Russell are the greatest artists and cheerleaders for such a beautiful area as God ever created.
❤️
Charlie Russel's art is priceless. Ian Tyson's music is priceless. This song is a gift. thank you Ian Tyson for this gift it does keep on giving. My sister and I are praying for the Lord to give you very special gifts this coming year. We love your music💕
Do you mean Ian? Yes, and its so sad that we just lost him at the end of Dec. last year! He just barely didn't make it to 2023, unfortunately.
As a native Montanan who grew up in Charlie Russell country, this song is amazing. One of our family stories is how my great grandfather used to drink beer with Charlie in Great Falls. One night Kid Russell doodled a piece of art on a bar napkin and gave it to him. My great grandfather died in 1972 and that doodle did too. It was never found and was likely thrown away...but boy what a story. Charlie Russell painted Montana and the real West before it was tamed.
❤️
One the best Ian songs ever. Mr Tyson, thank you for all of your WESTERN music.
you have to work very hard indeed to find a deeper love of the west than Ian has found. And I love the love of it that he channels and gives back to the rest of us that have a need for it.
❤️
Every time I see a glorious sunset I think of this song
This song is about one of the very best painters of western art.......Charlie Russell.....
Not “one of the best”, but rather THE GREATEST!
@@pitstopsogmc Well I can't argue that, but Frederick Remington I put right up there with Charlie.
Ian Tyson is our adopted Nevada legend and treasure. we know he’s canadian but he defines what a true nevada cowboy is about. god bless ian tyson.
I em no cowboy, but when I hear Ian's music, for a couple of minutes I em. Great story teller, Love his music.
I lived two blocks from Charle Russell's house and studio in Great Falls. His magic is truly timeless.
Just learned of Ian's music two yrs ago...hooked ever since and with Charlie Russell...special
Dang. I always wanted to see him. My mom was terminally ill at that time. She would have loved to see him in concert too.
U whatsapp
Back when I first heard this on Cowboyography it made me look up Charlie Russell's art and story (not much "web" back then - my original copy of the album was on vinyl). A wonderful discovery and connection (I had seen some of his art before but really did not know the story).
I have followed Ian since "Four Strong Winds" was "born" - just keeps getting better
What a great video!
No one's better than Ol' Ian! What a voice - what a storyteller.
Thanks for this memory
Enjoy Ian Tyson and the story of Charlie Russell more than can say. Many thanks BRod313 for posting this awesomeness.
Refreshing to see a clean, beardless face. I've been a fan of Ian Tyson since the 60's and have picked up on C.M. Russell's work decades before that.
that intro just melts my heart..love these fine men
this is the best song ever!!!!
Ian is the real GIFT!
I agree. This is my fav. Then Navajo Rug and Alberta's Child.
One of the greatest songs ever made
Love this song, my friend and I listened to it going to college rodeos in 80's heard your daughter is College Rodeo Cowgirl!!!
I have a book with paintings and illustrations from Russell and Remington....unreal, the west 50 years and gone....Charlie I for one am glad you got it all down.
amazing drop by the museum in coopertown ny for a great collection of CMR
A MASTERPIECE
SO GLAD TO SEE HIM THREE LOVELY TIMES IN THE 198O'S
Goosebumps!!!
Великолепно!!! Красивая песня, прекрасное исполнение!!!
Love him...this song and my new home in Montana
Would have loved to see Ian Tyson and Chris Ladouix sing a few!
He has a great style, all his own. Hes great!
Stunning and we’ll miss him when he is gone.
He left us a few weeks ago. I pray he found the peace that so often eluded him in this life.
This song is a true masterpiece of melody, poetry, history and deep respect for a fellow artist and seeker.
Now if I could just find Horse Thief Moon, Old Corrals,And Sage Brush, Windy Bill and a few others by Ian.
J.R.R. Tolkien who wrote the Lord of the Rings trilogy also wrote short stories. One of my favorites was "Leaf By Nigel". At the end of the story, God gives him the job of painting one perfect leaf.
Thank you so much BRod313 for this classic.
RIP Mr. Tyson
absolutely fabulous story telling, Ian... jan
No other word for Ian but ARTIST. Still working on a literary appreciation article for the serious academics. Better geter done while we see the grass from the sunjny side.
This song was re-recorded by some Montana cowboys called Kyle Shobe and the Walkem Boys, and it was nicely done. Nothing beats the original though.
great song
RIP❤️
❤️
RIP CANADIAN ICON IAN TYSON. I IMMAGINE YOU RIDING THE HAPPY HUNTING GROUNDS RANGE WITH CHARLIE RUSSELL.
Omg
1
The Gift Lyrics
In old St. Louis over in Missouri
The mighty Mississippi, well, it rolls and flows
A son was born to Mary Russell
And it starts the legend every cowboy knows
Young kid Russell was born to wander
Ever westward he was bound to roam
Just a kid of sixteen in 1880
Up in wild Montana he found his home
God made Montana for the wild man
For the Piegan and the Sioux and Crow
Saved His greatest gift for Charlie
Said, "Get her all down before she goes
You gotta get her all down
'cause she's bound to go."
God hung the stars over Judith Basin
God put the magic in young Charlie's hands
And all was seen and all remembered
Every shining mountain, every longhorn brand
He could paint the light on horsehide shining
The great passing herds of the buffalo
And a cow camp cold on a rainy morning
And the twisting wrist of the Houlihan throw
God made Montana for the wild man
For the Piegan and the Sioux and Crow
Saved His greatest gift for Charlie
Said, "Get her all down before she goes
You gotta get her all down
'cause she's bound to go."
When the Lord called Charlie to his home up yonder
He said, "Kid Russell, I got a job for you son
You're in charge of sunsets up in old Montana and Alberta
'Cause I can't paint them quite as good as you
And when you're done, we'll go out and have us a few
And Nancy Russell will make sure it's just two."
God made Montana for the wild man
For the Piegan and the Sioux and Crow
He saved His greatest gift for Charlie
Said, "Get her all down before she goes
You gotta get her all down
'cause she's bound to go.
so far nobody has taken is place
@BarrelRacingAngle Hmmmm... you wouldn't happen to have a big bay horse called "Rolling Sun" would you?
The reality is there were two Ian's. I preferred the first, whose voice was deeper and more resonant on the early Vanguard folk albums. Many others seem to gravitate towards the cowboy Ian, and Great Speckled Bird. Just a matter of taste, I suppose.
I likes em both
This song was written and originally recorded by the Mission Mountain Wood Band of MONTANA!!!!
Russell Kastner Google doesn’t agree with you.
Methinks thou art full of shite my good man!
and neither do I...
you are wrong. Was written by Ian Tyson.
chinook arch riders . Alberta is the best
🥲
A nice live version of this song... but it's called "The Gift" even though it is about Charlie Russell.
It is about the "gift" God gave Charlie Russell. I was born and lived in that country and Charlie captured it like no one else ever did.
Both Ian and Charlie were given special gifts!