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.
Goin' Down Slow
Robben Ford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Man, you know I've enjoyed things that kings and queens will never have
In fact, things kings and queens can't never get.
And they don't even know about it.
And good times? mmm....
(sings)
if I never get well no more
I have had my fun
if I never get well no more
Whoa, my health is fadin'
Oh yeah, I'm goin' down slow.
(speaking)
Now looky here.
I did not say I was a millionare.
But I said I have spent more money than a millionare.
Cause if I had kept all of the money I had already spent,
I'd woulda been a millionare a long time ago.
And women? Well, great googly moogly.
(sings)
Please write my mama
Tell her the shape I'm in
Please write my mama
Tell her the shape I'm in
Tell her pray for me
Forgive me for my sins
The song "Goin' Down Slow" by Robben Ford is a blues number in which the singer reflects on his life and claims to have had a lot of fun, but his health is failing now. He acknowledges that he has enjoyed things the kings and queens couldn't even think of, and he has spent more money than a millionaire. The singer implies that he hasn't yet achieved millionaire status because of extravagant spending on women. The lyrics reveal the singer's growing sense of mortality and a desire to make amends with his mother and seek forgiveness for his sins.
The singer in the song expresses a sense of melancholy and regret that comes with nearing the end of a life filled with excess and indulgence. The song is poignant in its message that wealth and power can't provide lasting happiness or satisfaction, and that true value lies in relationships with loved ones and seeking forgiveness for past wrongs. The powerful imagery of the song, with lines like 'Oh yeah, I'm goin' down slow' and 'Tell her pray for me, forgive me for my sins' evokes a sense of the inevitability of death and the importance of self-reflection.
Line by Line Meaning
Man, you know I've enjoyed things that kings and queens will never have
I have experienced things that people with great wealth and power cannot buy.
In fact, things kings and queens can't never get.
Even rulers with wealth and power cannot obtain the things I have enjoyed.
And they don't even know about it.
These rulers are not aware of the experiences I have had.
I have had my fun
I have enjoyed myself thoroughly.
if I never get well no more
Even if I never fully recover from my physical decline.
Whoa, my health is fadin'
My physical condition is deteriorating rapidly and significantly.
Oh yeah, I'm goin' down slow.
Even though my decline is slow, it is still significant and noticeable.
I did not say I was a millionare.
I am not claiming to be wealthy.
But I said I have spent more money than a millionare.
I have spent a significant amount of money, possibly more than a millionaire would.
Cause if I had kept all of the money I had already spent,
If I had saved all the money I previously spent,
I'd woulda been a millionare a long time ago.
I would have accumulated a million dollars of savings a long time ago.
And women? Well, great googly moogly.
I have had many women in my life, to an extent that surprises even me.
Please write my mama
I request that someone write to my mother.
Tell her the shape I'm in
Inform her about my physical condition and decline.
Tell her pray for me
Ask her to pray for me and my well-being.
Forgive me for my sins
Ask her to forgive me for any wrongdoings or immoral acts I may have committed.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHNNY WINTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nanasassenhausen2461
I listen to this song now for approximately 35 years and it is still one my very favourite ones😍
@garyguitar
This is a master class...Robben was probably in his early 20’s.
@user-fp4mi8ou3s
40年以上前にこのレコードを初めて聴いたときのショックは今もよく覚えています😱
若き日のロベン·フォードに現在もヤラれ続けています😭‼️
@murph5438
can it -- is it possible --- is it viable to get any better than this!! --- love the ax work--- and love the great blues vocal work of the great Spoon--- he simply was one of the greatest blues shouters that ever lived --- thank you spoon -- we still listen
@karmayogibear
I first heard this years ago ... it's brilliant ... and Robben's guitar playing, just on this is exceptional, souldful, lyrical, dynamic - and this solo has been a big influence on my own lead playing - thanks Robben!
@robertbarrett6267
EC's upbeat version was great but you can't beat some of the old originals.......even if this wasn't the original....young RF is so GOOD.
@gillan5
Absolute guitar masterclass! 03:17-03:28 is the blues lick everbody whishes he had come up with, unbelievably good.
@morgan2009a
esto es lo que yo llamo una gran mancuerna diabólica, la mejor música que he escuchado por mucho tiempo, tengo una cinta de hace mas de 30 años de este concierto pero no sabia quien era el cantante, ahora ya gracias a la tecnología,
Thank you very much Mr. Kotili by music information.
@JamesLaisGlass
Wow! this is sweet!
@kohhelkohhel521
ロベン・フォードの少し太い音が好きだ。