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.
Kokomo
Eric Bibb Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Tho your home was Naptown
Last time I saw you was in New York City
Leavin' on a Greyhound - homeward bound
I gave you what I had in my pocket
Enough for candy bars an' beer
Didn't I wave goodbye with a low-down feelin'
I started thinkin' 'bout you up in Milwaukee
It was rainin' when we reached Chicago
But the tears didn't start rollin' down my cheeks
'Til we rolled into Kokomo - Kokomo
No one I know who ever met you
Could resist the way you sang an' played
None of us will ever forget you
We all just wish you'd've stayed
To share the music you made
Ya tol' me you was gonna stop smokin' cigarettes
An' buy a good-lookin' car
Ya used to sing about your dreams comin' true
We thought you'd go so far
I started thinkin' 'bout you up in Milwaukee
It was rainin' when we reached Chicago
But the tears didn't start rollin' down my cheeks
'Til we rolled into Kokomo - Kokomo
First time you came overseas
You was only seventeen
Playin' the blues in Yank Rachell's band
You was happy to be heard and seen -
Hungry and lean
Next time around you was on your own
Makin' a name for yourself
Now all that's left is the love in our hearts
An' some reel-to-reel tapes on my shelf
I started thinkin' 'bout you up in Milwaukee
It was rainin' when we reached Chicago
But the tears didn't start rollin' down my cheeks
'Til we rolled into Kokomo - Kokomo
The lyrics of Eric Bibb's song Kokomo express the pain of someone who is reminiscing about a musician friend who left him and went away. The song narrates the story of a person who last met his friend in New York City, leaving on a Greyhound bus to his home. The singer gave him what he had in his pocket so that he could buy some candy bars and beer for the journey. Although he had a low-down feeling while waving goodbye, he held back tears.
The singer started thinking about his friend while traveling to Milwaukee, and the sadness hit him when he reached Kokomo. He remembers how his friend's music had touched everyone who had met him and had hoped he would have stayed to share it further. The song talks about how his friend promised to stop smoking cigarettes and buy a car, singing about his dreams coming true, and how the singer thought he was going far.
The song continues to narrate how the musician started playing music when he was only seventeen in Yank Rachell's band and was happy to be heard and seen, but the next time he was on his own, trying to make a name. Although he is not there anymore, there is still love in the hearts of everyone who heard him play and some reel-to-reel tapes on the singer's shelf.
Line by Line Meaning
I tol' some friends you came from Gary
I informed my acquaintances that you hailed from Gary
'Tho your home was Naptown
Even though your dwelling was in Naptown
Last time I saw you was in New York City
The most recent time I laid eyes on you was in New York City
Leavin' on a Greyhound - homeward bound
Departing via a Greyhound bus headed in the direction of home
I gave you what I had in my pocket
I contributed the entirety of my pockets' contents to you
Enough for candy bars an' beer
Sufficient funds to obtain confectionery and alcoholic beverages
Didn't I wave goodbye with a low-down feelin'
Did I not bid farewell with a gloomy disposition?
Still, I held back the tears
Nevertheless, I kept my sorrow at bay
I started thinkin' 'bout you up in Milwaukee
I began reflecting on your existence while in Milwaukee
It was rainin' when we reached Chicago
Precipitation was occurring upon our arrival in Chicago
But the tears didn't start rollin' down my cheeks
However, tear production did not commence
'Til we rolled into Kokomo - Kokomo
Until we arrived in Kokomo
No one I know who ever met you
Every individual I have knowledge of that encountered you
Could resist the way you sang an' played
Was unable to withstand the manner in which you vocalized or performed music
None of us will ever forget you
None of us will ever neglect memories of you
We all just wish you'd've stayed
We simply desire that you prolonged your presence
To share the music you made
To participate in the production of the music you composed
Ya tol' me you was gonna stop smokin' cigarettes
You notified me that you intended to put an end to the act of consuming cigarettes
An' buy a good-lookin' car
As well as purchase an aesthetically pleasing automobile
Ya used to sing about your dreams comin' true
You used to perform music relating to the materialization of your aspirations
We thought you'd go so far
We had anticipated that you would be successful
First time you came overseas
The initial time you traveled abroad
You was only seventeen
You were merely 17 years of age
Playin' the blues in Yank Rachell's band
Performing blues music in a group led by Yank Rachell
You was happy to be heard and seen -
You were jovial to have your music heard and for people to observe you
Hungry and lean
Yearning and svelte
Next time around you was on your own
The following instance, you were unaccompanied
Makin' a name for yourself
Building recognition for one's reputation
Now all that's left is the love in our hearts
Currently, the affection in our hearts is all that remains
An' some reel-to-reel tapes on my shelf
As well as a few reel-to-reel tapes resting on my shelf
I started thinkin' 'bout you up in Milwaukee
I commenced recalling memories of you while in Milwaukee
It was rainin' when we reached Chicago
It was raining when we reached Chicago
But the tears didn't start rollin' down my cheeks
But tears did not begin streaming down my face
'Til we rolled into Kokomo - Kokomo
Until we arrived in Kokomo
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ERIC BIBB
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind