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.
Hey Brother
Robben Ford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's been too long
So I put out my hand
I was wrong
But tell me
Where to from here
You won't say a word
And you won't come near
We've got history
You deny it
And this silence that you keep
Speaks loud and clear
So we've found someone to blame
And nothing is going to change
Hey, friend
Don't turn your back
Hey, brother
We're wasting time
I hurt you, now you hurt me
It's a life of crime
The problem I think is pride
No one's willing to lose , we defend
Or run and hide
It's our destiny
To take the open road
We don't have to walk
That road alone
It's the things we have at stake
Here behind the noise we make
Oh, friend
Don't turn your back
While I watched you slip away
I know love lies sleeping
My friend
Forgive the past
Let the good things last
And brother together we can move on
Hey, brother
So far away
If our paths should cross
What would you say
I tell you
Say it now
Or we'll lose the grace,
That time has allowed
The song Hey Brother by Robben Ford is a powerful and emotional piece about a relationship that has been strained due to pride and past hurt. The song opens with the lyrics “Hey, brother, it's been too long, so I put out my hand, I was wrong. But tell me, where to from here, you won't say a word, and you won't come near.” Here, the singer acknowledges that he has made a mistake and is reaching out to his brother for forgiveness, but his brother is unwilling to communicate or even be near him.
Throughout the song, the singer reflects on their shared history and accuses his brother of denying their relationship. The theme of pride is prominent throughout the song, with the singer suggesting that it is the root cause of their conflict. He acknowledges that both of them have hurt each other, but neither is willing to back down and let go of their pride. The chorus repeats the phrase “Hey, friend, don't turn your back,” emphasizing the importance of not giving up on their relationship.
As the song progresses, the singer appeals to his brother’s emotions and begs for forgiveness. He acknowledges that their relationship is worth fighting for and that they shouldn’t let pride get in the way of repairing it. He sings, “My friend, forgive the past, let the good things last, and brother together, we can move on.” The song ends on a poignant note, with the singer asking his brother to speak up and save their relationship before it’s too late.
Overall, Hey Brother is a beautiful and moving song that explores the complex dynamics of family relationships and the power of forgiveness.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, brother
Addressing the listener with a sense of familiarity and closeness
It's been too long
We haven't talked in a while
So I put out my hand
Reaching out and trying to make amends
I was wrong
Acknowledging past mistakes and shortcomings
But tell me
Asking for clarity or direction
Where to from here
What can we do to move forward?
You won't say a word
The listener is not communicating or responding
And you won't come near
The listener is avoiding any contact or interaction
We've got history
We have a shared past, good or bad
You deny it
The listener is rejecting or ignoring the past
And this silence that you keep
The lack of communication is telling
Speaks loud and clear
The message is clear even without words
So we've found someone to blame
We are looking for someone to hold responsible
And nothing is going to change
We are not making any progress
Hey, friend
Addressing the listener with a sense of camaraderie and warmth
Don't turn your back
Don't ignore me or walk away
We're wasting time
Our lack of progress is frustrating and unproductive
I hurt you, now you hurt me
We are both hurting each other
It's a life of crime
Our behavior is hurtful and destructive
The problem I think is pride
Our unwillingness to admit fault or vulnerability is problematic
No one's willing to lose , we defend
We are both defensive and unwilling to compromise
Or run and hide
We are avoiding confrontation or resolution
It's our destiny
It is our fate or path to follow
To take the open road
To embrace new opportunities or directions
We don't have to walk
We can support each other and not go it alone
That road alone
We don't have to face the challenges ahead by ourselves
It's the things we have at stake
There are important things we could lose or risk by not moving forward
Here behind the noise we make
Behind our angry words and actions, there may be something worth saving
Oh, friend
Addressing the listener with affection and warmth
While I watched you slip away
I saw you move further away from me over time
I know love lies sleeping
I believe our love or connection is still there, even if dormant or hidden
My friend
Addressing the listener with affection and warmth
Forgive the past
Let go of past grievances or conflicts
Let the good things last
Focus on the positive aspects of our relationship
And brother together we can move on
We can support each other and make progress
Hey, brother
Addressing the listener with a sense of familiarity and closeness
So far away
Distance or time has kept us apart
If our paths should cross
If we happen to see each other again
What would you say
What is your response or reaction?
I tell you
Making a request or stating something important
Say it now
Don't wait, speak honestly
Or we'll lose the grace
We could lose the opportunity for forgiveness or reconciliation
That time has allowed
The chance we were given to make things right
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DAVID HURST BATTEAU, ROBBEN FORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind