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.
Five Miles Above
Eric Bibb Lyrics
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Heavens above me, mountains below
I'm so far away now from all that I fear
Waters that drown me won't reach me up here
The life that I'm leading can seem so small
It all gets too heavy
I'm just a man, that's all
I'm flyin' away now, flyin' like a dove
Nothin' can touch me five miles above
The life that I'm leadin' can seem so small
Sometimes it all gets too heavy
I'm just a man, that's all
I'm flyin' away now, flyin' like a dove
Nothin' can touch me five miles above
Nothin' can touch me five miles above
There's nothin' can touch me five miles above
Five miles above
Eric Bibb's song "Five Miles Above" is about escaping from the stresses and burdens of life by soaring above them. The first verse describes the beauty of the view from above - a stunning panorama of heaven and earth. Bibb sings that he is far away from everything he fears, and the troubles he left on the ground can't reach him where he is. The second verse is more introspective, as Bibb contemplates how small his life can seem and how burdensome it can be. He acknowledges that he is "just a man," and that life can get too heavy for him. But in the chorus, he takes flight like a bird and finds freedom and release from all of his troubles. He declares triumphantly that nothing can touch him where he is, five miles above.
Line by Line Meaning
The view from this window never grows old
The sight that is presented before me through this window always fills me with awe and wonder, never becoming dull or uninteresting.
Heavens above me, mountains below
The sky stretches infinitely far above my head while majestic mountains tower beneath my feet, reminding me of the beauty and grandeur of the world.
I'm so far away now from all that I fear
Being in this tranquil and serene environment has distanced me from all the anxieties and worries of my life, allowing me to find peace and calmness within myself.
Waters that drown me won't reach me up here
Any troubles or problems in my life that have caused me to feel overwhelmed and helpless will not affect me here, where I am secure and removed from worldly chaos.
The life that I'm leading can seem so small
Despite all my experiences and struggles, I sometimes feel insignificant in the vastness of the universe and the grand scheme of things.
It all gets too heavy
The weight of my existence and the struggles that come with it can sometimes become too much for me to bear and can leave me feeling burdened and lost.
I'm just a man, that's all
Although I am limited in my abilities and knowledge as a human being, I am still trying to make the most of the life that I have been given.
I'm flyin' away now, flyin' like a dove
I am soaring away from my current reality and the worries that come with it, just like a dove soaring above the clouds.
Nothin' can touch me five miles above
The safety and distance from the world that I feel at this moment is unparalleled, and nothing can affect me in this state of serene calmness and joy.
There's nothin' can touch me five miles above
The safety and distance from the world that I feel at this moment is unparalleled, and nothing can affect me in this state of serene calmness and joy.
Five miles above
At this altitude, I am as close to the sky and the heavens as I can ever be, exploring the vast wonders of the world with a newfound sense of freedom and tranquility.
Contributed by Connor S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.