He first started recording in the early 1970s with Jefferson Airplane violinist Papa John Creach. Creach hired him when Moore was just twenty-one years old; Moore appeared on four of Creach's albums.
He was further immersed in the blues with his long stint in the Whodunit Band, headed by Bobby "Blue" Bland producer Monk Higgins. Moore jammed with Albert Collins and Big Joe Turner.
In 1996 he released Just Like You, which featured guest appearances from Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt.
In 2004, he appeared on Amy Grant: Greatest Hits 1986-2004 in a duet entitled "Come Be with Me", which became a modest success on pop radio.
In 2005 he appeared on Buddy Guy's version of "Ain't No Sunshine", along with Tracy Chapman. That same year, he appeared on Eric Clapton's album Back Home. In 2006, he co-wrote the song, "I Hope", with the Dixie Chicks for their album, Taking the Long Way.
Moore also provided vocals to Marcus Miller's 2007 album, Free on the track entitled "Milky Way" and again on Miller's 2008 album entitled, Marcus.
According to Songfacts, in 2010 I See Love was used as the opening theme tune for American sitcom Mike & Molly.
Keb' Mo's website is at http://www.kebmo.com/
-----
Keb' Mo' is one of the foremost contemporary blues artists. With an endearing sense of faith in humanity evident on most of his tracks and a very interestingly textured voice, this man has successfully merged traditional Delta blues and modern acoustic singer-songwritership. While it's a stretch to call him a traditionalist, Keb' Mo' plays a mean guitar, and the meticulously played guitar on each one of his songs is awe-inspiring.
After spending his early career backing blues artists up, he released his debut album in 1994. He also appeared in Scorsese's film about the blues. As the only man to my knowlege that has incorporated the word "internet" into a blues song, it is clear that Keb' Mo' is unique and has, in an unprecedented manner, carved out his own genre that never fails to make the listener smile.
Henry
Keb' Mo' Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When cotton was picked by hand
Down in Dixy under southern sky
Working from sun to sun
Remember if you will
Lightenin' from a whiskey still
The blues and the breeze
A little church house up on the hill
And I can hear the Delta callin'
From the light of a distant star
I can see my future and I can feel my past
When Henry plays his steel guitar, oh yeah
Won't you take be back in time
And free me from this crime
Well, I have no shame and I have no blame
It's time for us to be movin' on
And I can hear the Delta callin'
From the light of a distant star
And I can see my future and I can feel my past
When Henry plays his steel guitar
When Henry plays his steel guitar
And I can hear the Delta callin'
From the light of a distant star
I can see my future and I can feel my past
When Henry plays his steel guitar
When Henry plays his steel guitar, play on
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Sounds sweet to me
The lyrics to Keb' Mo's song "Henry" are a nostalgic reflection on the past, specifically the rural South and the blues music that came from that region. The first verse calls to mind the days when cotton was harvested by hand under the hot sun, and the second verse references the production of moonshine whiskey, the blues, and the famous magnolia trees that are so emblematic of the South. The final verse speaks to the power of music to transport the listener back in time, and the steel guitar, in particular, is held up as a symbol of the Delta blues that originated in the Mississippi Delta.
The chorus repeats the sentiment that the Delta is "callin'" through the light of a distant star, and that the music of the region holds the power to connect listeners to their past and future. The singer calls on Henry, presumably a musician, to take them back in time and "free" them from their present circumstances. The song has a wistful quality to it, as if the singer is homesick for a place and time that no longer exists.
Overall, "Henry" is a tribute to the power of music to evoke strong emotions and memories, and the importance of remembering our roots and where we come from. It is a celebration of the deep connections between people, places, and art, and a reminder that we are all shaped by the past and present.
Line by Line Meaning
Remember if you can
Reflecting back on the past, if you are able to recall it
When cotton was picked by hand
Recalling a time when cotton was hand-picked
Down in Dixy under southern sky
In the southern region of the United States
Working from sun to sun
Working from sunrise to sunset
Remember if you will
If you are able to remember
Lightenin' from a whiskey still
The sight of lightning from a still used to make whiskey
The blues and the breeze
The sound of blues music alongside the gentle wind
The sweet magnolia trees
The presence of fragrant magnolia trees
A little church house up on the hill
A small church located on a hill
And I can hear the Delta callin'
Feeling pulled towards the Mississippi Delta region
From the light of a distant star
Guided towards the Delta by a far-off light
I can see my future and I can feel my past
Seeing what is to come while feeling connected to the past
When Henry plays his steel guitar, oh yeah
Feeling a deep connection when Henry plays his steel guitar
Won't you take be back in time
Asking to be transported back in time
And free me from this crime
Liberate me from the wrongdoing I have committed
Well, I have no shame and I have no blame
Not feeling guilty or responsible for past actions
It's time for us to be movin' on
It's time to leave the past behind and move forward
When Henry plays his steel guitar
Feeling a deep connection when Henry plays his steel guitar
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Expressing affirmation and positivity
Sounds sweet to me
A way of expressing enjoyment and approval
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: John Lewis Parker, Kevin R. Moore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Angel Flores
on The Whole Enchilada (Bonus Acoustic)
You gon die if u put yo hands on me nigga