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.
Hard To Please
Robben Ford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You didn't sleep so well last night
Won't waist your time with idle chatter
Just want to see if you're all right
You're so hard to please
So hard to please
Can't make you happy
I don't mind whilin' away the hours
Just takin' walks and whistlin' tunes
But over your head I see clouds and showers
On this sunny Sunday afternoon
You're so hard to please
So hard to please
Baby tell me what's the matter
So hard to please
I try so hard to make you happy
I'm willin' to go the extra mile
Now I couldn't you drop it all for a minute
And it wouldn't hurt to see you smile
You're so hard to please
So hard to please
Can't make you happy
So hard to please
The lyrics to Robben Ford's song "Hard To Please" describe the frustration and difficulty of trying to please a significant other. The song begins with a good morning greeting and concern for the other person's well-being. However, as the song progresses, it becomes evident that the relationship is strained and that the other person is difficult to please. Despite the singer's efforts to make the other person happy, they are constantly met with dissatisfaction and discontent. The lines "You're so hard to please, Can't make you happy" emphasize the singer's frustration and helplessness in the situation.
The singer's attempts to please the other person are further described in the lyrics "I don't mind whilin' away the hours, Just takin' walks and whistlin' tunes". These actions demonstrate the singer's willingness to do anything to please the other person, yet their efforts seem to be in vain. The reference to "clouds and showers on this sunny Sunday afternoon" suggests that the other person's mood is affecting the singer's enjoyment of the day.
In conclusion, "Hard To Please" is a relatable song that expresses the frustration of being in a relationship with someone who is difficult to please. The lyrics convey the feeling of helplessness and the struggle to make the other person happy.
Line by Line Meaning
Good mornin' baby what's the matter
Robben greets his partner and enquires about her situation
You didn't sleep so well last night
He notes her inability to get proper sleep and seems concerned
Won't waist your time with idle chatter
He assures her of his intention to get straight to the point
Just want to see if you're all right
His concern is to ensure that she's doing okay
You're so hard to please
Her satisfaction is a challenge for him, he finds it difficult to meet her needs
Can't make you happy
He feels inadequate and incapable of putting a smile on her face
I don't mind whilin' away the hours
Robben doesn't have a problem with spending time with his partner
Just takin' walks and whistlin' tunes
He describes some of the things they do together
But over your head I see clouds and showers
Despite their activities, her mood seems negatively affected and Robben takes notice
On this sunny Sunday afternoon
He highlights the contrast between the weather and her demeanor
Baby tell me what's the matter
Robben prompts her to open up and communicate her feelings
I try so hard to make you happy
He suggests that he puts in effort to fulfil her needs
I'm willin' to go the extra mile
Robben is willing to put in more effort to satisfy her and make her happy
Now I couldn't you drop it all for a minute
He hopes she can take a break from her depression and enjoy the moment
And it wouldn't hurt to see you smile
Robben longs to bring joy to her face and improve her mood
Contributed by Kennedy D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.