He was born in Woodlake, California and raised in Ukiah. He taught himself guitar when he was 13 and considered his first influence to be Mike Bloomfield. At 18 he moved to San Francisco to form the Charles Ford Blues Band (named after his father, who was also a guitarist) featuring his brothers Mark (mouth harp) and Patrick (drums).
Robben was soon hired to play with Charles Musselwhite for nine months. Robben Ford played with Jimmy Witherspoon (1972-1973), the L.A. Express with Tom Scott (1974), George Harrison and Joni Mitchell. In 1977 he was a founding member of the Yellowjackets, which he stayed with until 1983, simultaneously having a solo career and working as a session guitarist.
In 1986, Ford toured with Miles Davis and he had two separate periods (1985 and 1987) with Sadao Watanabe, but he seemed to really find himself in 1992 when he returned to his roots: the blues. Ford formed a new group, the Blue Line, and subsequently recorded a couple of blues-rock dates for Stretch that are among the finest of his career. In 1999, he released Sunrise on Rhino and Supernatural on Blue Thumb. Ford signed to the Concord Jazz label in 2002 and released Blue Moon that same year, followed by Keep on Running in 2003 and Truth in 2007. Robben Ford whilst continuing to record solo albums has been touring in 2007 with guitar legend Larry Carlton.
Ain't Got Nothin' but the Blues
Robben Ford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ain't got no bounce in my shoes
Ain't got no fancy to tickle
I ain't got nothing but the blues
Ain't got no coffee that's perking
Ain't got no winnings to lose
I ain't got nothing but the blues
When trumpets flare up
I keep my hair up
I just can't make it come down
Believe me, peppie
I can't get happy
Since my ever-loving baby left town
Ain't got no rest in my slumbers
Ain't got no feelings to bruise
Ain't got no telephone numbers
I ain't got nothing but the blues
The lyrics to Robben Ford's song, Ain't Got Nothin' but the Blues, describe a deep sense of loss and emptiness. The singer lists all the things he doesn't have: no money, no energy, no desire for anything luxurious or exciting. In a way, he is expressing his resignation to his current state, and how he feels like he is lacking in everything that matters. The only thing he has left is the blues, a feeling of sadness that encompasses everything else. He can't find solace in anything, not even in the music that he hears around him. He cannot find joy in anything since his baby left town.
Despite the depressing nature of the lyrics, there is a certain beauty in the simplicity of the words. The singer's raw emotions remind us of the importance of acknowledging and embracing our feelings, no matter how painful they may be. It is a reminder that sometimes we need to sit with our sadness and allow it to be felt, rather than ignoring it or trying to pretend it doesn't exist.
Line by Line Meaning
Ain't got the change of a nickel
I don't have any money at all
Ain't got no bounce in my shoes
I am not feeling energetic or excited
Ain't got no fancy to tickle
I don't have any curiosity or interest in anything
I ain't got nothing but the blues
All I have is a feeling of sadness and depression
Ain't got no coffee that's perking
I don't have anything to give me energy or wake me up
Ain't got no winnings to lose
I don't have anything to risk or gain
Ain't got a dream that is working
I don't have any aspirations or goals
When trumpets flare up
When there is excitement or energy around me
I keep my hair up
I try to maintain my composure
I just can't make it come down
I can't relax or calm down
Believe me, peppie
Trust me, friend
I can't get happy
I am unable to feel joy or contentment
Since my ever-loving baby left town
I have been feeling this way since my partner left me
Ain't got no rest in my slumbers
I can't even find peace in my sleep
Ain't got no feelings to bruise
I am numb and unable to be hurt emotionally
Ain't got no telephone numbers
I don't have anyone to call or talk to
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Spirit Music Group
Written by: DUKE ELLINGTON, DON GEORGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
King Dave
Ain't got the change of a nickel
Ain't got no bounce in my shoes
Ain't got no fancy to tickle
I ain't got nothin' but the blues
Ain't got no coffee that's perkin'
Ain't got no feelings to bruise
Ain't got a dream that's workin'
I ain't got nothin' but the blues
The band is swingin'
The folks are singin'
And I just can't seem to get off the ground
Believe me, Bridget
I can't get with it
Since my little baby left town
Ain't got no rest in my slumber
Ain't got no winnings to lose
Lost all my telephone numbers
I ain't got nothin' but the blues
(SOLO)
The band is rompin'
The folks are stompin'
And I just can't seem to get with it
Ain't nothin' to it
I just can't do it
Since my little baby left town
Ain't got no house in Westchester
Ain't got no Chris Craft to cruise
So with all my money in Chester
I ain't got nothin' but the blues.
Mark Kubiak
This is the pure and natural blues. So beautifully sung! The guitar playing is inspired.
tad holtz
What an awesome player and a great tune!
Juan Andrés Ramirez Usero
El maravilloso guitarrista de rock que no puede evitar esos genuinos
toques de jazz , creativo , novedoso y espléndido vocalista , evocador y agradable.
Alejandro Burghi
Maravilloso. Uno de los mas talentosos e imaginativos guitarristas. Genial Robben.
King Dave
Ain't got the change of a nickel
Ain't got no bounce in my shoes
Ain't got no fancy to tickle
I ain't got nothin' but the blues
Ain't got no coffee that's perkin'
Ain't got no feelings to bruise
Ain't got a dream that's workin'
I ain't got nothin' but the blues
The band is swingin'
The folks are singin'
And I just can't seem to get off the ground
Believe me, Bridget
I can't get with it
Since my little baby left town
Ain't got no rest in my slumber
Ain't got no winnings to lose
Lost all my telephone numbers
I ain't got nothin' but the blues
(SOLO)
The band is rompin'
The folks are stompin'
And I just can't seem to get with it
Ain't nothin' to it
I just can't do it
Since my little baby left town
Ain't got no house in Westchester
Ain't got no Chris Craft to cruise
So with all my money in Chester
I ain't got nothin' but the blues.
luca mattioli
He's so perfect that he makes me notice that he should give the chance to sing the song to someone else.
TheSleazySmith
Hey guy nice stuff. Youre a real good guitar player and singer
Freddy Mclain
He quoted 'Willow Weep for Me' - love that!
Lionello Vanoni
Just amazing
dji zzah
nice version mate :)