Bibb was born on 16th August 1951 in New York into a musical family. His father, Leon Bibb, is a trained singer who sang in musical theatre and made a name for himself as part of the 1960s New York folk scene. His uncle was the world-famous jazz pianist and composer John Lewis, of the Modern Jazz Quartet. Family friends included Pete Seeger, Odetta, and actor/singer/activist Paul Robeson, Bibb'sgodfather.
Bibb was given his first steel-string guitar when he was seven years old. Growing up surrounded by talent, he recalls a childhood conversation with Bob Dylan, who, on the subject of guitar playing advised the eleven-year-old Bibb to "Keep it simple, forget all that fancy stuff".
At sixteen years old, Bibb's father invited him to play guitar in the house band for his television talent show Someone New. Bibb's early musical heroes were from his father's band, and included Bill Lee (father of director Spike), who appeared on Bibb's album Me To You, years later.
In 1969, Bibb played guitar for the Negro Ensemble Company at St Mark's place in New York, and went on to study Psychology and Russian at Colombia University, but at the age of nineteen he left for Paris, where a meeting with guitarist Mickey Baker focused his interest in blues guitar. When he later moved to Sweden, Bibb found a creative environment which took him back to Greenwich Village during the heyday of the folk revival. Settling in Stockholm, Bibb immersed himself in pre-war blues and continued to write and perform.
The album Good Stuff was released in 1997, and led to Bibb signing to the British based Code Blue label. Eric's only release on Code Blue was Me to You, featuring appearances from some of Bibb's personal heroes in Pops and Mavis Staples, and Taj Mahal (who also worked with Bibb on the Grammy-nominated children's record, Shakin' a Tailfeather). The album furthered Bibb's international reputation and was followed by tours of the U.K., U.S.A., Canada, France, Sweden, and Germany.
In the late 1990s Bibb joined forces with his then manager, Alan Robinson, to form Manhaton Records, in Britain. The albums Home to Me (1999), Roadworks (2000), and Painting Signs (2001) followed, as did another Opus 3 release, Just Like Love.
Could Be You Could Be Me
Eric Bibb Lyrics
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Night sky for a blanket, cardboard for a bed
They are the homeless, now here′s the news
One day, it might be me, could be you
Downtrodden, Lord, how it must feel
People starin' at you, like you′re not real
They are the homeless, now here's some news
Hard rock for a pillow
Cold ground for a bed
Night sky the only blanket
Lord, they're sleepin′ on a cardboard bed
It′s up to me, it's up to you
Tell the politician what to do
Fight for the homeless, don′t be ashamed
'Cos one day soon, could be you, or me again
The song "Could Be You, Could Be Me" by Eric Bibb is a powerful portrayal of the realities of homelessness in our modern society. Bibb uses vivid imagery to paint a picture of the harsh living conditions of the homeless, such as "rock for a pillow" and "cardboard for a bed." Through this imagery, he highlights the stark contrast between the lives of those who have found success and stability and those who have fallen into poverty and destitution. The song's chorus, "One day, it might be me, could be you," serves as a cautionary message to the listener that no one is immune from the whims of fate, and that even the seemingly secure can find themselves on the streets.
The second verse of the song shifts the focus from the material conditions of homelessness to the emotional and psychological toll it can take. Bibb sings about the feeling of being "downtrodden" and the way homeless people are often treated as though they are not fully human. The use of the word "real" in the line "People starin' at you, like you're not real" highlights the way homelessness can make people feel invisible and ignored by society.
The final verse of the song is a call to action for listeners. Bibb urges us to take a stand for the homeless and not to be ashamed to fight for their rights. He emphasizes that homelessness can happen to anyone, and that it is up to us to ensure that those who fall on hard times are not forgotten or abandoned. Overall, "Could Be You, Could Be Me" is a moving and thought-provoking song that challenges us to confront the difficult realities of poverty and homelessness in our society.
Line by Line Meaning
Rock for a pillow, cold ground for a bed
Homeless people have to use rocks as pillows and sleep on the cold ground.
Night sky for a blanket, cardboard for a bed
Homeless people have no blanket, but instead they use the sky as one and their bed is made of cardboard boxes.
They are the homeless, now here′s the news
Nowadays, there are lots of homeless people everywhere.
One day, it might be me, could be you
Everyone, no matter how financially stable, may become homeless someday.
Downtrodden, Lord, how it must feel
It must be very depressing to be homeless.
People starin' at you, like you′re not real
Homeless people are often ignored or overlooked by others and it makes them feel undervalued.
They are the homeless, now here's some news
It's a fact that many people are homeless and this is a very serious issue.
Oh, one day, could be me, could be you
Anyone could become homeless at any time and it's important to acknowledge that.
Hard rock for a pillow
Homeless people have to use hard rocks as pillows.
Cold ground for a bed
Homeless people sleep on the cold ground because they have no other option.
Night sky the only blanket
Homeless people do not have blankets and they use the night sky instead.
Lord, they're sleepin′ on a cardboard bed
Homeless people sleep on top of cardboard boxes, which is their bed.
It′s up to me, it's up to you
Everyone is responsible for helping to make the change they want to see in the world.
Tell the politician what to do
Politicians are elected officials who are responsible for creating policies and laws that benefit their constituents.
Fight for the homeless, don′t be ashamed
It's important to advocate for those who are homeless and to be proud of helping them.
'Cos one day soon, could be you, or me again
Anyone could become homeless again even after being financially stable, so it's important to strive for change.
Writer(s): Harrison Kennedy
Contributed by Aiden V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.