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.
Sunrise Blues
Eric Bibb Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Blues in my bones, holes in my pride
Dust in my shoes, dust in my eyes
Nothin’ in my pocket but the next sunrise
Hattie’s back in Vicksburg, Ella’s in my dreams
Could be heaven’s up in Harlem – nothin’ what it seams
Dollar in my hatband, guitar in a cotton sack
Early Sunday mornin’
Ninety-nine degrees in the shade
Junior’s settin’ behind the bar
Countin’ all the money he made
Blind Lemon’s on the phonograph
‘Shine’s in the Mason jar
Without a good woman an’a fast train
You can’t go but so far
Deacons in the church house, prayin’ for a sinner like me
But they’ll crucify a deacon down here
Like they did Jesus from Galilee
Blues in my bones; thorns in my side
Fever in my soul, holes in my pride
Dust in my shoes, dust in my eyes
Nothin’ in my pocket but the next sunrise
The song "Sunrise Blues" by Eric Bibb is a melancholic reflection of a traveler's life. The lyrics reflect the hardships that the traveler faces as he wanders through life. The phrases like "fever in my soul," "thorns in my side," "blues in my bones," and "holes in my pride" contribute to the theme of the song, which seems to be about the struggles of survival. The traveler seems to have nothing left but the will to survive till the next sunrise.
The song also includes references to places like Vicksburg, Harlem, and Galilee, which represent the different stages in the traveler's life. It is evident that the traveler has had meaningful relationships, as he recalls the names of Hattie and Ella. However, it appears that he has left them behind and lives a transient life, moving from one place to another. The lyrics, "clean shirt in my suitcase – ‘Ain’t comin’ back," suggest that the traveler has no intention of returning to his past life.
The final lines of the song, "Deacons in the church house, prayin’ for a sinner like me, But they’ll crucify a deacon down here, Like they did Jesus from Galilee," depict the irony of life. The traveler acknowledges his sinful ways and prays for redemption, but he knows that he is surrounded by people who might not forgive him for his past. Overall, the song is a poignant portrayal of a traveler's life, filled with hardship and loneliness.
Line by Line Meaning
Fever in my soul, thorns in my side
I'm feeling restless and uneasy, plagued by problems and obstacles
Blues in my bones, holes in my pride
I'm experiencing a deep sadness that seems to come from within, and my self-esteem has taken a beating
Dust in my shoes, dust in my eyes
I've been traveling a lot and am physically and emotionally drained
Nothin’ in my pocket but the next sunrise
I'm living day to day and hoping for a better tomorrow
Hattie’s back in Vicksburg, Ella’s in my dreams
I miss the people and places from my past and find myself longing for them
Could be heaven’s up in Harlem – nothin’ what it seams
I'm not sure what to believe in anymore, even the things that seem promising may not be what they appear
Dollar in my hatband, guitar in a cotton sack
I'm a traveling musician who relies on tips and gigs to get by
Clean shirt in my suitcase – ‘Ain’t comin’ back
I'm constantly on the move and rarely settle down in one place for long
Early Sunday mornin’
It's the start of a new day and I'm awake early
Ninety-nine degrees in the shade
It's hot outside
Junior’s settin’ behind the bar
Someone named Junior is working as a bartender
Countin’ all the money he made
Junior is tallying up his earnings from the previous night
Blind Lemon’s on the phonograph
The music playing in the bar is by the artist Blind Lemon
‘Shine’s in the Mason jar
There is moonshine (homemade alcohol) in a glass jar
Without a good woman an’a fast train
I need a loving partner and the ability to travel quickly if I want to succeed as a musician
You can’t go but so far
There are limitations to what one can achieve without certain resources or support
Deacons in the church house, prayin’ for a sinner like me
There are people in the community who are concerned about my well-being and are hoping for me to change my ways
But they’ll crucify a deacon down here
Even respected and moral people can fall from grace and be punished
Like they did Jesus from Galilee
This is a reference to the Biblical story of Jesus being crucified by the Romans
Blues in my bones; thorns in my side
I'm still feeling restless and down, with problems that won't go away
Fever in my soul, holes in my pride
My dissatisfaction and self-doubt continue to plague me
Dust in my shoes, dust in my eyes
I'm still tired and drained from my travels
Nothin’ in my pocket but the next sunrise
I still don't have much, but I'm hoping that things will get better with a new day
Contributed by Kennedy F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.