Phelps grew up in a blue-collar and farming town. He learned country and folk songs, as well as drums and piano, from his father. He began playing guitar at 12.
Phelps concentrated on free jazz and took his cues from musicians like Ornette Coleman, Miles Davis, and John Coltrane. He spent 10 years playing jazz, mostly as a bass player. He refers to his "conversion" to a blues musician when he began listening to acoustic blues masters like Fred McDowell and Robert Pete Williams.
Initially gaining notice for his solo lap-style slide guitar playing, which he played by laying the instrument flat and fretting it with a heavy steel bar, he has incorporated more ensemble work in his later albums. Inspired by the birth of his daughter Rachel in 1990, Phelps began writing songs. He began singing and released his critically praised debut, Lead Me On, in 1995. This album showcased Phelps' craft, and as well as his own songs, he tackled traditional numbers such as "Motherless Children" and "Fare Thee Well."
He released his second album, Roll Away the Stone (1997) and followed it up with 1999's, Shine Eyed Mister Zen.
His fourth record, Sky Like a Broken Clock, appeared in 2001. This time he was joined by a bassist and a drummer - its companion piece, "Beggar's Oil" EP, was a critic's favourite in 2002.
His sound was further added to on his fifth album in late 2002. In order to achieve a richer, orchestrated sound, he collected guitarist Bill Frisell and bassists Keith Lowe, Steve Dawson, Jesse Zubot, and Andrew Downing for the recording of Slingshot Professionals (2003).
In 2005, Phelps released a live album, Tap the Red Cane Whirlwind, which was followed a year later by the studio album Tunesmith Retrofit.
Discography
Lead Me On, 1994 (Burnside Records)
Roll Away the Stone, 1997 (Rykodisc Records)
Shine Eyed Mister Zen, 1999 (Rykodisc Records)
Sky Like a Broken Clock, 2001 (Rykodisc Records)
Beggar's Oil (EP), 2002 (Rykodisc Records)
Slingshot Professionals, 2003 (Rykodisc Records)
Tap the Red Cane Whirlwind, 2005 (Rykodisc / True North Records)
Tunesmith Retrofit, August 1, 2006 (Rounder)
Western Bell, (Black Hen, 2009)
Magnetic Skyline with Corinne West (Make, 2010)
Brother Sinner and the Whale, (Black Hen, 2012)
Crow
Kelly Joe Phelps Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I just want to hear somebody else whine
If you've got tomorrow, I've got a blade
We can dig a hole into an old book
Keep our secrets there
I know of another place beneath some overgrown vine.
I can cut them back and help you down
I'll clap when you are through
And maybe then I will kiss you
I've been waiting for a long time to get these stories out.
Tell me yours and I will tell you mine
Spin them sideways, over ground, tie a rope around my shoulder.
Tend to aching in the morning
Come along to the riverside. Lay down now
We can hold or not say all at all.
We'll jump out the crow's nest, heave ashore, wave the might skull and crossbones
Up that hill and back down
The lyrics of Kelly Joe Phelps's song "Crow's Nest" present a sense of camaraderie between two people who are connecting through sharing their personal stories. The opening line, "Come along to the riverside. Sit down now," suggests an invitation to share and connect, while the following line, "I just want to hear somebody else whine," reveals a desire to listen to someone else's struggles and to feel less alone in one's own difficulties. The line, "If you've got tomorrow, I've got a blade," has a double meaning: while on one hand, it could be interpreted as a dark suggestion of a suicide pact, it could also mean that the singer is willing to take a risk and make something happen together. The idea of "digging a hole into an old book" to keep secrets represents the desire for secrecy and the need to hide away from the rest of the world to share those intimate stories without fearing judgement.
The second verse introduces a literal and metaphorical place of hiding by describing "another place beneath some overgrown vine," where the singer can cut away the obstacles and "listen to every song you know." The line "I'll clap when you are through / And maybe then I will kiss you" suggests an intimate connection that comes from sharing something personal and genuine. In the third verse, the singer expresses their longing to share their own stories and to be vulnerable with someone else. The phrase "Spin them sideways, over ground, tie a rope around my shoulder" evokes the danger, risk, and excitement of sharing something personal. The final verse offers a sense of adventure, with the singers conjoining to move forward with bravado, regardless of what comes their way.
Line by Line Meaning
Come along to the riverside. Sit down now
Let us go to the riverside and have a seat
I just want to hear somebody else whine
I am interested in hearing someone else share their problems
If you've got tomorrow, I've got a blade
If you have hope for the future, I have a way to cope with the present
We can dig a hole into an old book
We can create a secret, personal space within literature
Keep our secrets there
We will keep our secrets hidden within this space
I know of another place beneath some overgrown vine.
I know of a secluded place covered in vegetation
I can cut them back and help you down
I can clear a path and assist you in reaching this place
There I'll listen to every song you know
I will attentively listen to everything you have to share
I'll clap when you are through
I will express appreciation for your words
And maybe then I will kiss you
If the moment is right, I may show affection towards you
I've been waiting for a long time to get these stories out.
I have been keeping my own stories to myself for a while and am eager to share them
Tell me yours and I will tell you mine
If you share your stories with me, I will be willing to reciprocate
Spin them sideways, over ground, tie a rope around my shoulder.
We can walk along and share our stories as we explore the environment
Tend to aching in the morning
We will face the emotional pain together and work towards healing in the morning
Come along to the riverside. Lay down now
Let us go to the riverside and lie down
We can hold or not say all at all.
We can either talk or simply enjoy each other's company in silence
We'll jump out the crow's nest, heave ashore, wave the might skull and crossbones
We can enthusiastically embrace life and adventure together
Up that hill and back down
We can face challenges together and emerge stronger
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: KELLY JOE PHELPS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robert Peterson
He wrote a letter to his fans that was posted on his Facebook fan page back in December 2016
Hello everyone,
I hope all is well and good for you folks, wherever this note finds you.
I’m aware that there has been much curiousity regarding my lengthy absence
from the music world. Fortunately, there is nothing to be worried or concerned
about. My health is fine, and my hand-neuropathy issues seem to have gone away as well.
Back in 2014 it became obvious to me that I needed and wanted to take a serious break from
touring, performing, writing and recording, and live within other parts of my life that had been
neglected for quite a long time. I had no idea how long that process would take when I started,
and I have no idea yet when it will end. However, it still feels like the right type of journey for now,
so I will be staying on it until some logical conclusion makes itself known.
Be good to each other, look after yourselves, and I’ll try not to wait so long to say “hello” next time!
All the best,
Kelly Joe
Christopher Levesque
Revisiting as many KJP videos on YouTube as possible and reminiscing on the times I saw him live. Life changing music. The song is over, but the melody lingers on. Rest in Peace, Kelly.
Patricia Aubin
So heartbroken by the loss of this amazing soulful man… RIP Kelly Joe and Thank you for leaving behind incredibly gorgeous music. ❤❤❤
Kevin Barry
This has to be the finest performances of one of his finest songs. It just breaks my heart to know he doesn't perform anymore. I hope he is well and happy.
Peter Murr
Oh my god, i can't believe he does not perform anymore! i had hoped to see him one day.
Damon Wack
This is just astoundingly beautiful, thanks for sharing
Daniel P Strawn
Love his music
RHofmann
Thanks for this videos, they look and sound fantastic! I wonder if I'll ever see him live, such a tremendous artist.
MackP
Amazing! Brings tears to my eyes!
Melanie Dunewald
SOOOOOO BEAUTIFUL !!! Thx!
Pharmer David
Seven months later, this sounds even better! But what happened to Kelly Joe Phelps? Does anybody know where he is, and how he's doing these days...? Last I heard, he had tendonitis (totally understandable, considering his non-stop touring back then), and was laying low for awhile, but it's been many years now, so where is that precious man now? I had been hoping he would go back to playing lap-slide style, since he got tendonitis playing regular "Spanish" style (like in this video). When he began playing around here in Portland in the early 1990's, I had recently moved here to escape from southern California. The first time I heard his guitar at the Portland Saturday Market, I heard his lap slide playing before seeing where it was coming from. It drew me to it, like a bee to honey. I had never heard a more beautiful acoustic slide guitar sound before, and when I finally got to where he was playing, and saw he was playing lap "Hawaiian" style, then I understood how he got such a solid, beautiful sound, because getting that sound playing normal "Spanish" style wouldn't happen. I stood there watching him play one great blues song after another, with my mouth hanging open in awe, and digging it to my deepest soul depths. He mentioned names like "Son House", "Charlie Patton", "Blind Blake", and "Skip James", but said it was his interpretation of their tunes playing his own style. Previously Kelly had played Jazz bass, but got into the blues. When I asked him how he ever thought of playing an acoustic like that, he said in a shy voice: "I used to play dobro". I bought his first recording "Lead Me On" from him, and then got another CD later, which had additional songs added. Terry Currier, the owner of Music Millennium", had a recording studio back then, and he recorded it so freaking well, using analog, and placing the mic just perfectly, to catch every inflection of Kelly's brilliant playing. There are so many great musicians today, but there are none who have the heart and soul and technique and brilliance of creativity, with something divine added, like Kelly Joe Phelps.
I sure hope to hear and see him playing again soon, but he will live forever in my heart regardless...!