For the past 3… Read Full Bio ↴Taken from their web-pages (www.fabulousthunderbirds.com)
For the past 30 years, The Fabulous Thunderbirds have been the quintessential American band. The group's distinctive and powerful sound, influenced by a diversity of musical styles, manifested itself into a unique musical hybrid via such barnburners as "Tuff Enuff" and "Wrap It Up". Co-founder Kim Wilson, the sole original member, still spearheads the group as it evolves into its newest incarnation.
"We started as a straight blues band", vocalist and harmonica player Wilson says. "We now incorporate a mixture of a lot of different styles. We're an American music band and we're much higher energy than we were before."
In addition to Wilson, the current Thunderbirds line-up features Kirk Fletcher and Nick Curran on guitar, Jimi Bott on drums, Ronnie James Weber on bass and Gene Taylor on keyboards.
"To be in the T-Birds, you need to understand the different styles of music and different ways of playing," Wilson comments. "You have to be willing to adopt a more contemporary style. The guys we have now are able to do that."
The band will tour extensively. The plan is to record a new studio album followed by a live CD. Wilson is currently writing songs on his own, with band members and other writers.
"I've primarily been a solo songwriter, but I'm looking forward to experimenting with the guys in the band," Wilson says.
The thread throughout the T-Birds career has been the respect the group commanded for its peerless musicianship and devotion to the sounds of blues, R & B and rock 'n roll. In fact, Muddy Waters called Wilson his favorite harmonica player and vocalist. "Muddy Waters was very good to me," Wilson says. "He almost adopted me. I'll never forget him."
For Kim Wilson, the musical journey started in Goleta, California. At 17 he began playing the harmonica. His influences included Little Walter, George "Harmonica" Smith, Lazy Lester and James Cotton. At the same time, Wilson began singing and was deeply impacted by Bobby "Blue" Bland, B.B. King, Otis Rush, Jimmy Rodgers and Muddy Waters. In search of other musicians who shared his love of the blues, Wilson headed to Minneapolis. He stayed there for a year and a half, playing locally, before moving to the burgeoning music scene of Austin, Texas. It was there that he met Jimmie Vaughan and they founded the T-Birds in 1974. The band developed a reputation as a compelling live act and subsequently signed a record deal with CBS/Epic Records.
In 1979, The Fabulous Thunderbirds released their first self-titled album. Primarily blues influenced, it became a cult classic. "Things were wide open back then," Wilson recalls. "There were hundreds of stages where bands could show what they had."
In subsequent releases, the band started to incorporate more Cajun, rock 'n roll and soul influences. The album "T-Bird Rhythm" marked a creative turning point for the group as it collaborated with noted producer Nick Lowe. In 1986, The Fabulous Thunderbirds reached a commercial peak with the album, "Tuff Enuff". The single of the same title as well as the singles "Wrap It Up" and "Look At That", all went top 40. The song, "Tuff Enuff" was featured in the film "Gung Ho" starring Michael Keaton.
For the remainder of the '80s, the band continued to record and tour, and released the album, "Powerful Stuff". Jimmie Vaughn left in 1989 but Wilson kept the group going, incorporating keyboards into the guitar-driven sound. Kim moved back to California in 1996, continuing to cultivate the T-Birds music.
"The thing about the T-Birds is that we can play both blues festival and rock venues," Wilson comments. "We're a diversified band now and everybody's on the same page."
As a side project Wilson formed Kim Wilson's Blues Revue, a traditional blues band. He also owns a blues label, Blue Collar Music, that has released three albums - one by Kim, one by "Big Al" Blake and one by Fred Kaplan. Wilson has also recorded and written with noted session guitarist Danny Kortchmar and drummer Steve Jordan and may tour with them at some point. However his current focus remains The Fabulous Thunderbirds. "This is a great time for this band," he says. "We're looking forward to the future."
My Babe
Fabulous Thunderbirds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's comin' back home, yeah my babe
She's comin' back home to me, you'll see
My baby's comin' back, she's comin' back home to me
My babe
She's got big blue eyes and long black hair
My babe, my babe
My babe, my babe
She got a short fat fanny, anythi-ing you need
My babe
Oh, when she walks down the street
All the birdies go tweet-tweet-tweet, my babe
Oh, when she walks down the street
All the birdies go tweet-tweet-tweet, my babe
She got a short fat fanny, anythi-ing you need
My babe
My babe, my babe, my babe, my babe
She's comin' back home, yeah my babe
She's comin' back home to me, you'll see
She got a short fat fanny, anythi-ing you need
My babe, my babe
My babe, my babe, my babe
The Fabulous Thunderbirds' song "My Babe" is a classic blues rock tune that celebrates the singer's lover, who is returning home to him. The lyrics highlight the physical attributes of his babe - big blue eyes, long black hair, and a short fat fanny. The repetition of the phrase "my babe" throughout the song emphasizes the singer's deep affection and attachment to his lover. He eagerly awaits her return, and when she walks down the street, he boasts proudly of her beauty, declaring that even the birds are attracted to her. The upbeat tempo and catchy melody of the song reflect the singer's joy and anticipation of having his beloved by his side once again.
Overall, "My Babe" celebrates the love and admiration between two people. The lyrics focus on the physical attributes of the singer's lover, but it is clear that his love for her goes beyond her appearance. The repeated use of the phrase "my babe" suggests a possessiveness and devotion that transcends mere infatuation. The song is a classic example of the blues rock genre, with its driving rhythm and soulful vocals.
Line by Line Meaning
My babe, my babe, my babe, my babe
The singer is repeatedly calling out to his beloved.
She's comin' back home, yeah my babe
The singer is excited that his girlfriend is returning home.
She's comin' back home to me, you'll see
The singer is certain that his girlfriend is returning to him.
My baby's comin' back, she's comin' back home to me
The singer reiterates that his girlfriend is coming back to him.
She's got big blue eyes and long black hair
The singer is describing his girlfriend's physical features.
She got a short fat fanny, anythi-ing you need
The singer highlights his girlfriend's curvy figure, suggesting she has everything he wants.
Oh, when she walks down the street
The singer is admiring his girlfriend's beauty when she walks.
All the birdies go tweet-tweet-tweet, my babe
The singer is exaggerating the effect his girlfriend has on nature, implying she is lovely to look at.
My babe, my babe, my babe, my babe
The singer reiterates his affection for his girlfriend.
Contributed by Alexander O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@JohnPanto
I never tire of listening to this great song. Made even better by the fantastic piano work
@cliffe02
Now that's what you call rock n roll, what a great sound and performance. Rock n Roll my friends.
@stanurban4018
@D Doeser pp
@jonrowen6021
Absolutely sensational. Proper musicians. kids, watch and learn
@donhanlon7121
The most rocking(est) song of all time and that piano wow!!!!!!!🎹🎹🎹🎶🎹🎹🎵🎶🥁🥁🥁💎☘️
@markknopflerisnot
Fabulous band, they have still got what it takes.....just brilliant to hear and see them play, it has been quite a while...loving it
@pauljoseph8691
Take no prisoners. Fantastic piano. Great guitar work. No blues harp on this one. Man this rocks. Fabulous performance. So much talent. The more I listen the more I like. Reminds me of the Blasters.
@tommahaffey9041
well there's a good reason for that....Gene Taylor on piano
@napoleonwilson6499
They toured with the blasters back in the day
@billmavin1998
@Jonathan Pratt Gene Taylor played with both bands