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.
Dancing Queen
Eric Bibb Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See that girl, watch that scene, diggin' the Dancing Queen
Friday night and the lights are low
Looking out for the place to go
Where they play the right music, getting in the swing
You come in to look for a King
Anybody could be that guy
With a bit of rock music, everything is fine
You're in the mood for a dance
And when you get the chance
You are the Dancing Queen,
young and sweet,
only seventeen
Dancing Queen,
feel the beat from the tambourine
You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene, Dancing Queen
You're a teaser, you turn 'em on
Leave them burning and then you're gone
Looking out for another, anyone will do
You're in the mood for a dance
And when you get the chance
You are the Dancing Queen,
young and sweet,
only seventeen
Dancing Queen, feel the beat from the tambourine
You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene, diggin' the Dancing Queen
The lyrics of Eric Bibb’s song Dancing Queen depict a scene of a carefree girl enjoying her life by dancing and having fun. The atmosphere that the lyrics create is one of excitement and happiness. The lyrics suggest that the girl can do anything she desires and that her world is full of possibilities. The phrase “you can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life” indicates that the girl is happy, free and uninhibited. The girl in the song is the Dancing Queen who is young, sweet, and only seventeen. She is the life of the party, and everyone is taken in by her charm.
Line by Line Meaning
You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
You are free to express and move your body as you please. It is a moment of unparalleled happiness and joy.
See that girl, watch that scene, diggin' the Dancing Queen
The sight of a girl dancing with freedom and grace is a thing of beauty. She is fully immersed in the rhythm, truly enjoying herself.
Friday night and the lights are low
It is a typical Friday night with a dimly lit atmosphere, perfectly setting the mood for dancing and enjoyment.
Looking out for the place to go
You are actively searching for a place to dance, where the music is right and the atmosphere is perfect.
Where they play the right music, getting in the swing
The music is exactly what you need to get in the mood for dancing, putting you in a state of total liberation.
You come in to look for a King
You are searching for someone to dance with, someone who can make you feel like royalty on the dance floor.
Anybody could be that guy
The person you end up dancing with could be anyone in the room. It does not matter who they are or what they do. All that matters is the connection between you and the music.
Night is young and the music's high
The night has just begun, and the music is at its peak, creating an electrifying and upbeat atmosphere that is perfect for dancing.
With a bit of rock music, everything is fine
The rhythm and beat of the music has the power to make everything okay, washing away all the worries and stresses of daily life and replacing them with pure, unadulterated joy.
You're in the mood for a dance
You are totally in the zone and ready to dance. Your body is craving movement and you are eager to let loose and enjoy yourself.
And when you get the chance
The moment you have been waiting for has arrived, and you are finally free to dance and express yourself with total abandon.
You are the Dancing Queen,
young and sweet,
only seventeen
You are the quintessential innocent young girl, filled with boundless energy and joy, and ready to dance your heart out. Although you may be young, you have the power to capture the spirit of the moment and share your joy with everyone around you.
Dancing Queen, feel the beat from the tambourine
The joyful rhythm of the tambourine is one that you are able to feel deep in your soul, inspiring you to dance with wild abandon and total freedom.
You're a teaser, you turn 'em on
Your sensual and magnetic energy has the power to attract and draw others towards you, inspiring them to join in your dance and experience the same sense of euphoria and pleasure that you are feeling.
Leave them burning and then you're gone
Although you may draw others to you with your captivating energy, your focus is ultimately on losing yourself in the music and dance. Once the moment has passed, you are free to move on and continue to dance the night away.
Looking out for another, anyone will do
Your focus is always on finding the next person to dance with, regardless of who they are or what they look like. All that matters is the fusion of energy and movement between you, inspired by the music.
diggin' the Dancing Queen
This line serves as a reinforcement of the idea that the people around you are drawn to your joy and energy, inspired by your dynamic movements and total surrender to the music.
Contributed by Bentley B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.