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.
Higher and Higher
Eric Bibb Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Than I've ever been lifted before.
So keep it up, quench my desire.
And I'll be at your side forevermore.
You know your love,
(Your love keeps liftin' me,)
Keep on liftin' me,
Higher, (liftin' me higher and higher),
Higher, and higher, (higher).
I said, your love,
(Your love keeps liftin' me,)
Keep on (love keeps liftin' me),
Liftin' me, (liftin' me higher and higher),
Higher and higher (higher).
Listen, now once I was downhearted.
Disappointment was my clost-a (sic) friend.
But then you came and he soon departed.
And you know he never showed his face again.
That's why your love,
(Your love keeps liftin' me,)
Keep on liftin' me,
(Love keeps liftin' me,)
Higher, (liftin' me higher and higher),
Higher, and higher, (higher).
I said, your love,
(Your love keeps liftin' me,)
Keep on (love keeps liftin' me),
Liftin' me, (liftin' me higher and higher),
Higher and higher (higher).
(Instrumental break.)
Ooo-oo-ooo,
I'm so glad I finally found you.
Yes, that one-in-a-million girl.
And a-with my lovin' arms around ya,
Honey, I can stand up and face the world.
Let me tell ya, your a-love,
(Your love keeps liftin' me,)
Keep on liftin' me,
(Love keeps liftin' me,)
Higher, (liftin' me higher and higher),
Higher, and higher, (higher).
And I said your love,
(Liftin', liftin', liftin' me,)
Keeeep on, (love keeps liftin' me),
Liftin' me, (liftin' me higher and higher),
Higher and higher (higher).
Aw-right, now, sock it to me.
(Liftin', liftin', liftin' me,)
Aw-right, definitely of a-woman.
(Love keeps liftin' me.)
Keep my love goin', now
(Liftin' me higher and higher.)
(Fade.)
Higher and a-higher.
(Higher and higher.)
I said, keep on liftin'.
(Liftin', liftin' liftin' me...)
The song "Higher and Higher" by Eric Bibb is an uplifting, soulful ballad about the power of love to transform and elevate. The chorus repeats the phrase "Your love keeps liftin' me higher and higher," with Bibb's smooth, soulful voice delivering each line with conviction and warmth. The verses tell of the singer's prior hardship and heartbreak, which he overcame thanks to the love of his partner. He describes how his disappointment "was my clost-a friend" until his beloved arrived, and "he never showed his face again." The instrumental break, with its soaring trumpet and guitar solos, further emphasizes the joyful, celebratory tone of the song.
The lyrics of "Higher and Higher" offer a simple, but profound message: love is transformative and empowering. The singer implores his partner to "keep it up" and "quench my desire," promising to stay by her side "forevermore" as her love lifts him "higher than (he's) ever been lifted before." The repetition of the chorus highlights the power and persistence of love, with each repetition building in intensity and emotional impact. Overall, the song is a stirring tribute to the transformative power of love and the joy that comes from being lifted up by someone else.
Line by Line Meaning
Your love is liftin' me higher.
Your love is making me feel better than I have ever felt before.
Than I've ever been lifted before.
I have never felt this good before, your love is making me feel amazing.
So keep it up, quench my desire.
Please, keep doing whatever it is that you're doing because it's exactly what I need.
And I'll be at your side forevermore.
If you keep on making me feel this way, I will always be by your side.
You know your love,
You are aware of how much your love means to me.
(Your love keeps liftin' me,)
Your love is responsible for my current state of happiness.
Keep on liftin' me,
Please, continue to make me feel amazing.
(Love keeps liftin' me,)
I am so grateful for the love you have given me.
Higher, (liftin' me higher and higher),
Your love is taking me to new heights of happiness and joy.
Higher, and higher, (higher).
I feel like I am ascending towards heaven when I am with you.
Listen, now once I was downhearted.
I used to feel really upset and discouraged.
Disappointment was my clost-a (sic) friend.
I was used to feeling disappointed and disillusioned.
But then you came and he soon departed.
But then you came into my life and my feelings of disappointment disappeared.
And you know he never showed his face again.
Ever since you came into my life, I have not felt any disappointment.
I'm so glad I finally found you.
I am so happy that I have found someone like you to share my life with.
Yes, that one-in-a-million girl.
You are truly one in a million, no one else compares to you.
And a-with my lovin' arms around ya,
When I hold you in my arms and show you my love, everything feels perfect.
Honey, I can stand up and face the world.
With your love and support, I feel like I can conquer anything.
Aw-right, now, sock it to me.
Alright, now it's time to really give it to me.
(Liftin', liftin' liftin' me...)
Your love keeps lifting me higher and higher, and I never want it to stop.
Aw-right, definitely of a-woman.
This is definitely what it feels like to be loved by a truly amazing woman.
Keep my love goin', now
Please keep loving me the way you do, I never want it to stop.
(Liftin' me higher and higher.)
Your love keeps lifting me to new heights of happiness and joy.
(Fade.)
The song fades out, but my love for you never will.
Higher and a-higher.
I feel like I am ascending towards heaven when I am with you.
(Higher and higher.)
With your love, I feel like I can reach any height and overcome any obstacle.
I said, keep on liftin'.
Please, keep on making me feel this amazing.
Contributed by Gabriella H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.