Shoot Out On The Plantation

Album: Leon Russell (1970)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • According to the liner notes of the album, "'Shoot out' is said to be a thinly-veiled true story dealing with an altercation among some of Russell's friends."
  • This song was included on Leon Russell's self-titled debut solo album. Bobby "Whiplash" Whitlock, who played on the album, says the Plantation was a house in the San Fernando Valley area in California: "I used to live at the Plantation - remember the song, 'Shoot-out at the Plantation' that Leon Russell wrote? There was 13 of us: 'Indian Ed' Davis, Jimmy Karstein; there was a bunch of us living in this house in California." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    EJ Runyon - Phoenix, AZ, for above 2

Comments: 3

  • Bill from Sunshine State FloridaI've been digging this song for 50 years, never could understand half the words. Now that I've read the lyrics (thanks!) I still don't know what I am hearing!
  • Darren Dunn from Oklahoma City, OkThe Colonel is Gary Sanders another musician.
  • Robert from Tulsa, OkThe song is about a jealous boyfriend, a 'Jimmy Markham’ who showed up at a party at the Plantation loud & drunk. Taj Mahal’s drummer Chuck Blackwell who was in bed with Jimmy’s girl. Jimmy began to carry on, waking up the ‘Colonel’ (probably the home owner). From the top of the stairs, the Colonel basically told Jimmy to shut up saying girls are not for fightin. When Jimmy wouldn’t stop the Colonel left and re-appeared naked wearing a 38 and proceeded to start shooting down at Jimmy, who had hidden behind some bongo drums. Jimmy took off uninjured - although the drums had holes. Note also: Davis was in the concert for Bangldesh.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

George Clinton

George ClintonSongwriter Interviews

When you free your mind, your ass may follow, but you have to make sure someone else doesn't program it while it's wide open.

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Colin Hay

Colin HaySongwriter Interviews

Established as a redoubtable singer-songwriter, the Men At Work frontman explains how religion, sobriety and Jack Nicholson play into his songwriting.

Michael Sweet of Stryper

Michael Sweet of StryperSongwriter Interviews

Find out how God and glam metal go together from the Stryper frontman.

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"They're Playing My Song

Gramm co-wrote this gorgeous ballad and delivered an inspired vocal, but the song was the beginning of the end of his time with Foreigner.

Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds

Jim McCarty of The YardbirdsSongwriter Interviews

The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.