Eric Bibb (b. 1951) is an American blues singer and guitarist, based in Lon… Read Full Bio ↴Eric Bibb (b. 1951) is an American blues singer and guitarist, based in London, England, who has made his career largely in Europe.

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.

Rocking Chair
Eric Bibb Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The past is gone an’ the future’s yet to come
All we have is now –
Look in my eyes, see where I’m comin’ from
I know we can work it out, somehow

Got plenty time to talk, an’ take stock –
Don’t say a word – Baby, just rock

Rock away, rock away – all your tears an’ regrets
Rock away, rock away – forgive an’ forget

The neighbours are talkin’ – peepin’ through the blinds
Let ‘em look, I couldn’t care less –
Whatever they’re thinkin’ or runnin’ through their minds
Ain’t none of my business

Tongues will be waggin’ up an’ down the block –
Don’t say a word – Baby just rock

Listen, blues is a woman walkin’ out the door
Believin’ she’ll never return –
The blues is a teacher an’ life is a school
All we can do is live an’ learn

I knew it was your when I heard your knock –
Don’t say a word – Baby just rock

Rock away, rock away – Baby, just rock
Rock away, rock away – Baby, just rock

Overall Meaning

In Eric Bibb's song Rocking Chair, the singer invites someone to come and sit with him on his porch and admire his new rocking chair. However, it is clear that this person has left the singer previously and he has been working on the chair for a long time since they parted. The singer is happy to see the other person but becomes too emotional to speak and requests that they just sit and rock together.

The song suggests that the past cannot be changed, and there is no point in dwelling on it. The only useful thing is to focus on the present and work towards a happier future. The singer believes that they can work out their differences, and they are together now, so they should enjoy this opportunity. At the same time, he is aware of other people's gossip and disapproval of their reunion, but it does not affect him. He believes that they should forget their heartaches and move on, rock away their tears and regrets.

The final verse makes a reference to blues as a woman leaving the house, which is the embodiment of the mood of the song, reflecting how it is the product of everyday people's lives. The blues come from life experiences, that teach us about life, love, and loss, and it's the teacher itself. This specific song is a portrayal of a person trying to get their life back on track after experiencing loss, realizing that the present moment is all that one can hold onto at times.

Line by Line Meaning

Come set on the porch, cool off in the shade
Join me on the porch, let's relax in the cool shade.

Tell me what your think of my new rockin’ chair
Do you like my new rocking chair?

I been workin’ on it night an’ day – Ever since you walked away from here
I've been working hard on it since you left.

I’m so glad to see ya, I’m in shock – Don’t say a word – Baby, just rock
I'm thrilled to see you, don't say anything, let's just enjoy rocking together.

The past is gone an’ the future’s yet to come, All we have is now – Look in my eyes, see where I’m comin’ from, I know we can work it out, somehow
The past is over and we can't predict the future, so let's focus on enjoying the present. Look at me and understand me, I believe we can solve any issues.

Got plenty time to talk, an’ take stock – Don’t say a word – Baby, just rock
We have enough time to discuss everything that needs to be addressed, but for now, let's just keep it simple and rock together.

Rock away, rock away – all your tears an’ regrets Rock away, rock away – forgive an’ forget
Rock away and let it help you heal from your regrets and sorrows, forgive and forget the past.

The neighbours are talkin’ – peepin’ through the blinds Let ‘em look, I couldn’t care less – Whatever they’re thinkin’ or runnin’ through their minds Ain’t none of my business
Ignore the neighbors who may peek at us, what they think doesn't matter to me and it's none of our concern.

Tongues will be waggin’ up an’ down the block – Don’t say a word – Baby just rock
People will talk, but we shouldn't worry about it, let's just keep rocking.

Listen, blues is a woman walkin’ out the door Believin’ she’ll never return – The blues is a teacher an’ life is a school All we can do is live an’ learn
The blues expresses the sorrow of a person leaving, thinking they'll never come back. The blues teaches us a lesson and life is the classroom, so we have to learn as we live.

I knew it was your when I heard your knock – Don’t say a word – Baby just rock
I recognized your knock, don't talk, let's just rock together.

Rock away, rock away – Baby, just rock Rock away, rock away – Baby, just rock
Rock away with me, let's enjoy each other's company and forget about everything else.

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Crocunt

45w

Come set on the porch, cool off in the shade
Tell me what your think of my new rockin’ chair
I been workin’ on it night an’ day –
Ever since you walked away from here

I’m so glad to see ya, I’m in shock –
Don’t say a word – Baby, just rock

The past is gone an’ the future’s yet to come
All we have is now –
Look in my eyes, see where I’m comin’ from
I know we can work it out, somehow

Got plenty time to talk, an’ take stock –
Don’t say a word – Baby, just rock

Rock away, rock away – all your tears an’ regrets
Rock away, rock away – forgive an’ forget

The neighbours are talkin’ – peepin’ through the blinds
Let ‘em look, I couldn’t care less –
Whatever they’re thinkin’ or runnin’ through their minds
Ain’t none of my business

Tongues will be waggin’ up an’ down the block –
Don’t say a word – Baby just rock

Listen, blues is a woman walkin’ out the door
Believin’ she’ll never return –
The blues is a teacher an’ life is a school
All we can do is live an’ learn

I knew it was your when I heard your knock –
Don’t say a word – Baby just rock

Rock away, rock away – Baby, just rock
Rock away, rock away – Baby, just rock

All comments from YouTube:

Zep Best Bootlegs

3y↑2

This is like all the great Eric Bibb songs: very genuine, very simple, and very precise. The guitar is simples and beautiful, it's really a theme song for a rocking chair. Can't explain how this musician haven't got all world fame he deserves