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.
Delia's Gone
Eric Bibb Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
First time he shot her
She hung her head an' died
One more round, Delia's gone
One more round, Delia's gone
sent for the doctor, doctor come too late
One more round, Delia's gone
One more round, Delia's gone
Delia, oh Delia, where ya been so long?
Everybody's talkin' 'bout ya
Now you're dead an' gone
One more round, Delia's gone
One more round, Delia's gone
In Eric Bibb's song Delia's Gone, the lyrics depict a story of a man named Tony who fatally shoots his lover, Delia, on Christmas night. The song begins with this tragic event and the description of Delia hanging her head and dying from the gunshot wound. This is followed by the repeated chorus "One more round, Delia's gone", which adds to the melancholic tone of the song.
The second verse of the song adds more details to the aftermath of the shooting. We learn that a doctor was sent for, but arrived too late. We also hear that the minister was called to "lay out Delia straight", which can be interpreted as preparing her body for a funeral service. The fact that both a doctor and a minister were called for highlights the finality of the situation and the sense of loss everyone must feel.
The last verse of the song features the mournful drawl of Delia's name as if it were a prayer, and the question "Delia, oh Delia, where ya been so long?" suggests that Delia had been absent from the scene for some time prior to her death. The repetition of "everybody's talkin' 'bout ya, now you're dead an' gone" emphasizes the impact Delia's death has on those around her and how she is now the topic of conversation, but in the past tense.
Overall, the song Delia's Gone is a haunting and poignant tribute to a woman whose life was tragically cut short by domestic violence or an abusive partner. The repeated chorus of "One more round, Delia's gone" becomes a refrain that echoes the finality and sadness of Delia's death.
Line by Line Meaning
Tony shot his Delia one Christmas night
Tony killed Delia on a Christmas night
First time he shot her
This was the first time Tony shot Delia
She hung her head an' died
Delia died after being shot by Tony and couldn't hold her head up anymore
One more round, Delia's gone
The chorus signifies the repetition of Tony's actions and the loss of Delia
Sent for the doctor, doctor come too late
Someone called a doctor to help Delia, but it was too late to save her
Sent for the minister to lay out Delia straight
The family called the minister to make funeral arrangements for Delia
Delia, oh Delia, where ya been so long?
The singer wonders where Delia has been since everyone is talking about her after the tragic incident
Everybody's talkin' 'bout ya
Delia is now the center of attention and everyone is discussing her death
Now you're dead an' gone
Delia is no longer alive and has passed away
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ERIC BIBB
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind