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.
Silver spoon
Eric Bibb Lyrics
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Still a boy, truth be told
Took my guitar, my troubled heart
An′ hit the road
I made my way 'cross an ocean
In search of somewhere to belong
Just a young buck... an′ travelin' on
I made my home in the North Country Far
At a time when very few people there
Looked like me
I made good friends who were kind to a stranger
An' his family
Some say I was born with a silver spoon
In my mouth
People, you know I′ve paid some dues
Born to play the guitar all around the world
Born to sing these blues...
I settled down, got a straight job
Played my music on the side
Put food on the table, paid the rent
But I was not satisfied
Pawned my guitar so many times
So many times it′s a shame
But I kept on playin' - singin′ my songs
'Til the people knew my name
Knew my name
Born with a silver spoon in my mouth...
People, you know I′ve paid some dues
Born to play the guitar all around the world
Born to sing these blues...
Born to sing these blues...
The lyrics to Eric Bibb's song "Silver Spoon" tell the story of a young man who leaves his home with nothing but his guitar and his troubled heart. He embarks on a journey, crossing an ocean in search of a place where he can truly belong. He settles in the North Country, where he finds few people who look like him, but he makes good friends who show kindness to a stranger and his family.
The lyrics suggest that some people believe the singer was born into privilege, represented by a "silver spoon in [his] mouth." However, the singer asserts that he has paid his dues and worked hard to achieve his success. His true calling is playing the guitar and singing the blues, and he was destined to share his music with the world.
The song also touches on the internal struggle of balancing a regular job with pursuing one's passion. The singer settles down, gets a straight job to support himself and his family, but deep down, he yearns for more. He pawned his guitar multiple times, indicating the sacrifices he made to continue playing and singing his songs. Despite the challenges and setbacks, he perseveres, and eventually, people recognize his talent and know his name.
Overall, "Silver Spoon" is a tale of resilience, determination, and the pursuit of one's true calling. It speaks to the universal desire to find a place to belong and the sacrifices often made to pursue one's passion.
Line by Line Meaning
I left my home as a young man
I departed from my family and childhood as a youth
Still a boy, truth be told
Honestly, I was still inexperienced and naive
Took my guitar, my troubled heart
Carrying my guitar and heart filled with turmoil
An' hit the road
Embarked on a journey with determination and hope
I made my way 'cross an ocean
I traversed over a vast sea
In search of somewhere to belong
Seeking a place where I could truly fit in
Just a young buck... an′ travelin' on
Just a young man, continuing to travel and explore
I made my home in the North Country Far
Settled down in a distant Northern land
At a time when very few people there
During a period when hardly anyone residing there
Looked like me
Shared my appearance or background
I made good friends who were kind to a stranger
I formed genuine friendships with individuals who showed compassion to an outsider
An' his family
As well as my loved ones
Some say I was born with a silver spoon
Some claim I was fortunate from birth
In my mouth
Having privileged circumstances and advantages
People, you know I′ve paid some dues
Folks, understand that I have faced challenges and made sacrifices
Born to play the guitar all around the world
Destined to perform the guitar on a global scale
Born to sing these blues...
Inherently meant to express and share these sorrowful blues
I settled down, got a straight job
I established stability, obtained a conventional occupation
Played my music on the side
Pursued my musical passion as a secondary endeavor
Put food on the table, paid the rent
Managed to provide sustenance and meet housing expenses
But I was not satisfied
Nonetheless, I still felt unsatisfied
Pawned my guitar so many times
I had to repeatedly pawn my guitar for financial support
So many times it′s a shame
To the extent that it is regrettable
But I kept on playin' - singin′ my songs
Nevertheless, I persisted in playing and singing my songs
'Til the people knew my name
Until I gained recognition and my name became known
Born with a silver spoon in my mouth...
Having an affluent upbringing from the start...
People, you know I′ve paid some dues
Folks, you should acknowledge the obstacles I have overcome
Born to play the guitar all around the world
Meant to perform the guitar across different countries
Born to sing these blues...
Destined to convey and perform these melancholic blues
Writer(s): Eric Charles Bibb
Contributed by Landon R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.