def merge_rdf_list(rdf_list):
    """ takes an rdf list and merges it into a python list

    args:
        rdf_list: the RdfDataset object with the list values

    returns:
        list of values
    """
    # pdb.set_trace()
    if isinstance(rdf_list, list):
        rdf_list = rdf_list[0]
    rtn_list = []
    # for item in rdf_list:
    item = rdf_list
    if item.get('rdf_rest') and item.get('rdf_rest',[1])[0] != 'rdf_nil':
        rtn_list += merge_rdf_list(item['rdf_rest'][0])
    if item.get('rdf_first'):
        rtn_list += item['rdf_first']
    rtn_list.reverse()
    return rtn_list