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.

Walkin' Blues Again
Eric Bibb Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You can’t stop it – it’s like a runaway train
Pumpin’ through your heart, runnin’ ‘round your brain
Talkin’ ‘bout the walkin’ blues, my friend
Play it when I’m sad, play it when I’m happy again

John Henry had a hammer, I been told
Would ring like silver, shine like gold
Talkin’ ‘bout a steel-drivin’ man

Just like John, I’m doin’ just the best that I can

Livin’ in the country, livin’ in town
No matter where you go, blues walkin’ ‘round
People, you know what I’m talkin’ about
Can’t keep it in, gotta get it out

Soon this mornin’ I remembered a dream
I was standin’ by the water, so mad I could scream
With the walkin’ blues again
I’m headed op the river but I can’t say when

Naw, you can’t stop it – it’s like a runaway train
Pumpin’ through your heart, runnin’ ‘round your brain

Talkin’ ‘bout the walkin’ blues, my friend
Play it when you’re said, play it when you’re happy again

Overall Meaning

In "Walkin' Blues Again" by Eric Bibb, he sings about the feelings of the blues that can't be stopped - it's like a runaway train that is pumping through your heart and running around your brain. It's a feeling that can't be ignored, and it affects us all, whether we're living in the country or in town. The blues is always walking around, and it's something that we can't keep in - we have to get it out. Bibb reminisces about John Henry, a steel-drivin' man who worked hard and did his best. Similarly, Bibb recognizes that he's doing his best too, and he's trying to cope with the walkin' blues by playing the music when he's sad, and even when he's happy again.

One interesting interpretation of this song is that the "walkin' blues" could represent depression or a feeling of sadness that is always walking around us. No matter where we go, it's there, and we can't escape it. Another interpretation is that the "walkin' blues" could represent the music genre itself, and how it can be played when we feel all kinds of emotions, whether sad or happy. This song is a reminder of how music can be therapeutic and help us cope with our emotions.

Line by Line Meaning

You can’t stop it – it’s like a runaway train
The blues is uncontrollable and overwhelming, much like a train that cannot be stopped.

Pumpin’ through your heart, runnin’ ‘round your brain
The blues is a powerful emotion that affects the heart and the mind.

Talkin’ ‘bout the walkin’ blues, my friend
The artist is referring to the blues, which is a genre of music that expresses the hardships of life.

Play it when I’m sad, play it when I’m happy again
The artist listens to the blues regardless of his mood, and finds comfort in it both when he's feeling down and when he's happy.

John Henry had a hammer, I been told
The artist references John Henry, a legendary worker known for his strength and determination in the face of adversity.

Would ring like silver, shine like gold
John Henry's hammer was said to be very powerful and impressive.

Talkin’ ‘bout a steel-drivin’ man
The artist is describing John Henry, who was famous for his ability to drive steel.

Just like John, I’m doin’ just the best that I can
The artist is inspired by John Henry's perseverance, and strives to do his best in life as well.

Livin’ in the country, livin’ in town
The blues can be found no matter where you are, whether you live in the city or the country.

No matter where you go, blues walkin’ ‘round
The blues is a universal emotion that can be found everywhere.

People, you know what I’m talkin’ about
The artist addresses his audience, assuming they are familiar with the feeling of the blues.

Can’t keep it in, gotta get it out
The artist feels the need to express the blues through his music, and cannot keep it bottled up inside.

Soon this mornin’ I remembered a dream
The artist had a dream that left an impression on him.

I was standin’ by the water, so mad I could scream
In the dream, the artist was very upset and angry, stood by the water.

With the walkin’ blues again
The artist awakened from the dream feeling the blues yet again.

I’m headed up the river but I can’t say when
The artist uses a metaphor of heading up the river, meaning he is moving forward in life, but doesn't know what the future holds.

Naw, you can’t stop it – it’s like a runaway train
The blues is overwhelming and cannot be controlled or stopped.

Pumpin’ through your heart, runnin’ ‘round your brain
The blues is a powerful emotion that affects the heart and the mind.

Talkin’ ‘bout the walkin’ blues, my friend
The artist refers to the blues, which is a genre of music that expresses the hardships of life.

Play it when you’re said, play it when you’re happy again
The artist recommends listening to the blues, both when experiencing sadness and when in a better mood, as it can be comforting in a range of emotions.

Contributed by Aiden B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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