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.
Need Somebody
Robben Ford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I need somebody to love
The night's grown long
When you need somebody to love
Sometimes you cry
When you need somebody to love
Not even [???]
But tell her from me
That I need somebody to love
Baby can't you see, can't you see
That I need somebody to love
Say good-bye, so long
And now you're gone
Somebody to love
Tell her from me
Can't you see
I'm all alone
Somebody...
Tell her from me
That I need somebody to love
Baby can't you see, can't you see
That I need somebody to love
Yes I do
Say good-bye, so long
And now you're gone
Somebody...
Somebody to love
Tell her from me
Can't you see
I'm all alone
Somebody...
Say good-bye, so long
And now you're gone
Someone to love
Tell her from me
Can't you see
I'm all alone
Somebody...
The lyrics of Robben Ford's song "Need Somebody" convey the loneliness and desperation one feels when they are longing for someone to love. The singer expresses his need for someone to fill the void in his life, stating that the night has grown long and he feels all alone. This feeling of isolation is further heightened when he mentions that sometimes you cry when you need somebody to love. The lyrics suggest that this need for love is not something that can be filled by material possessions or anything else, as there is nothing that can substitute the experience of being loved and loving someone else.
The repeated line "Tell her from me" indicates that the singer is not speaking directly to the person he needs, but rather he is asking someone else to relate his feelings to her. The lyrics show that the singer may have lost the person he loves and is reaching out for reconciliation. The simple and straightforward lyrics create a sense of yearning and vulnerability that is enhanced by the soulful melody and slow tempo of the song.
Overall, "Need Somebody" is a song about the universal human need for love and companionship, and how difficult it can be to find someone who can fill that role. The song reminds us that sometimes we need to take risks and put ourselves out there to find love, and that it's okay to feel vulnerable and needy at times.
Line by Line Meaning
All alone
The singer is alone and feeling lonely.
And I need somebody to love
The singer is longing for someone to love and be loved by.
The night's grown long
The night feels never-ending, adding to the loneliness.
When you need somebody to love
The need for love is all-consuming and affects one's thoughts and actions.
Sometimes you cry
The artist feels emotional and may cry due to the loneliness and lack of love.
When you need somebody to love
The need for love is emphasized once again.
Not even [???]
The singer doesn't have anyone to turn to or confide in for support and love.
But tell her from me
The artist wants someone to relay the message to the person they love.
That I need somebody to love
The artist is emphasizing the importance of needing someone to love.
Baby can't you see, can't you see
The artist is begging their loved one to see and understand their need for love.
Say good-bye, so long
The singer feels abandoned as their loved one has said goodbye and left.
And now you're gone
The loved one is no longer present in the artist's life, adding to their loneliness and need for love.
Somebody to love
The singer repeats the phrase to emphasize their need for love.
Can't you see
The singer emphasizes that their loved one should be aware of their need for love.
I'm all alone
The singer restates their isolation and loneliness.
Tell her from me
The artist repeats their request for someone to pass along their message about needing love.
Yes I do
The artist firmly asserts their need for love.
Someone to love
The singer once again emphasizes their need for love and a romantic partner.
Contributed by Christopher C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.