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.
The Cape
Eric Bibb Lyrics
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Tied all around his neck
He climbed up on the garage
Figurin' what the heck
He screwed his courage up so tight
The whole thing came unwound
He got a runnin' start and bless his heart
He headed for the ground
He's one of those who knows that life
Is just a leap of faith
Spread your arms and hold your breath
Always trust your cape
All grown up with a floursack cape
Tied around his dreams
He was full of spit and vinegar
He was bustin' at the seams
He licked his finger and he checked the wind
It was gonna be do or die
He wasn't scared of nothin' boys
And he was pretty sure he could fly
He's one of those who knows that life
Is just a leap of faith
Spread your arms and hold your breath
Always trust your cape
Old and grey with a floursack cape
Tied all around his head
He's still jumpin' off the garage
Will be till he's dead
All these years the people said
He's actin' like a kid
He did not know he could not fly
So he did
He's one of those who knows that life
Is just a leap of faith
Spread your arms and hold your breath
Always trust your cape
The song "The Cape" by Eric Bibb tells a story of a man who believes in himself and takes risks despite the doubts of others. The lyrics describe the journey of a young boy who ties a floursack around his neck, climbs on a garage, and jumps off thinking he can fly. The boy falls to the ground, but he continues to believe in himself and trusts in his floursack cape. As the man grows up, he does not abandon his trust in his cape, instead, he uses it as a symbol for his dreams and ambitions. He checks the wind before taking a leap of faith, knowing that he might fail but believing that he has to try.
The last verse in the song emphasizes the importance of believing in oneself no matter what others say or think. The man is old, and he has lived his whole life jumping off the garage and pursuing his dreams. People may call him childish, but he doesn't let their opinions bring him down. His floursack cape is still tied around his head, reminding him of his belief in himself, and he continues to jump off the garage because he still trusts his cape. The song encourages listeners to trust in themselves and take risks, no matter how silly or impossible the dream may seem.
Line by Line Meaning
Eight years old with a floursack cape
As an eight-year-old boy, he created his own superhero cape using a floursack.
Tied all around his neck
He tied the cape he made loosely around his neck.
He climbed up on the garage
He climbed up onto the roof of a garage.
Figurin' what the heck
He wondered about what he was doing, but decided to continue.
He screwed his courage up so tight
He gathered all of his courage and motivation.
The whole thing came unwound
His courage faltered, making him lose sight of his goal.
He got a runnin' start and bless his heart
He took a running start, bless his heart.
He headed for the ground
He jumped off the garage roof, heading straight for the ground.
He's one of those who knows that life
The boy is someone who knows that life entails taking risks and making leaps of faith.
Is just a leap of faith
Life is ultimately about having faith in oneself and taking risks.
Spread your arms and hold your breath
When taking risks, spread your arms and don't forget to hold your breath.
Always trust your cape
Have confidence in yourself, trust in your abilities, and don't be afraid to take risks.
All grown up with a floursack cape
As an adult, he still had his childhood superhero cape using a floursack.
Tied around his dreams
In life, he wraps his dreams around his cape, by taking risks and chasing his aspirations.
He was full of spit and vinegar
He was lively, enthusiastic and daring.
He was bustin' at the seams
He was overflowing with energy, ideas and creativity.
He licked his finger and he checked the wind
He assessed the situation to know when it is the right moment to take action.
It was gonna be do or die
It was an instance of now or never, risk and reap the reward, or not and lose it all.
He wasn't scared of nothin' boys
He was fearless and adventurous, unafraid of trying new things.
And he was pretty sure he could fly
He had a positive and optimistic outlook towards his desires and aspirations.
Old and grey with a floursack cape
As an elderly person, the superhero cape he created and held onto from his childhood was still with him.
Tied all around his head
He placed the cape around his head, a sort of bandana, signifying his commitment and loyalty to his deep desires in life.
He's still jumpin' off the garage
He is still actively putting himself in challenging scenarios, taking risks and striving to achieve his goals.
Will be till he's dead
He plans never to give up his dreams and will be pursuing them until his last breath.
All these years the people said
Through all the years, people around him judged and criticized him.
He's actin' like a kid
They kept telling him that he was acting like a kid, having unrealistic expectations.
He did not know he could not fly
He had no idea that he could not succeed and achieve his dreams.
So he did
He believed that he could fly, and he indeed did through his unwavering confidence and persistence.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GUY CLARK, JIM JANOSKY, SUSANNA WALLIS CLARK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind