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.
Riley B. King
Robben Ford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And every night he lays his body down
In a different town
But one thing stays the same
Everybody knows his name
People may laugh or cry
As his stories are told
A man must be bold
And the people are glad
For the things he shares
Everybody knows he cares
By the light of the moon
Over the ocean
Riley B. King
Is the king of the emotions
He's royal blue
Like the deep blue sea
Riley B. King
Out of the darkness
And into the light
To fight the peaceful
Warriors fight
Such a beautiful sight
And the way you feel
Watchin' him with Lucille
The heart of a man
Is open wide
And he closes his eyes
And he looks inside
To a love of the world
And a song he might sing
A little something from B.B. King
By the light of the moon
Over the ocean
Riley B. King
Is the king of emotions
He's royal blue
Just Like the deep blue sea
Riley B. King
The stars look down to guide him
Down the miles of road ahead
A silver form of memories
Of his life sincerly
He's a king without a castle or crown
And every night he lays his body down
In a different town
But one thing stays the same
Everybody knows his name
By the light of the moon
Over the ocean
Riley B. King
Is the king of emotions
He's royal blue
Like the deep blue sea
Riley B. King
Riley B. King
Riley B. King
Riley B. King
The song "Riley B. King" by Robben Ford is a tribute to the legendary blues musician B.B. King, also known as Riley B. King. The lyrics describe King's life as a traveling musician, with no permanent home or possessions. Despite this, he is known worldwide for his music and has gained a devoted fanbase who appreciate his heartfelt storytelling through his music. Ford notes that King's honesty and willingness to share his experiences through his music is what has made him so beloved by his fans.
The song also highlights the profound emotional impact of King's music, describing him as the "king of emotions" and likening him to the deep blue sea. The lyrics suggest that King's heartfelt performances have the power to move listeners and connect them to their own deep feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
He's a king without a castle or crown
Despite not having a tangible symbol of royalty, he possesses an air of regality that sets him apart from others.
And every night he lays his body down
After a day of performing and storytelling, he retires to a new location each night.
In a different town
His itinerant lifestyle takes him across the country.
But one thing stays the same
Regardless of where he goes, people recognize and respect him.
Everybody knows his name
His reputation precedes him.
People may laugh or cry
His stories evoke strong emotions.
As his stories are told
Through his art, he shares his experiences with others.
To tell the truth like this
It takes courage to be this honest and vulnerable.
A man must be bold
Only those with great bravery can open themselves up in this way.
And the people are glad
His listeners appreciate his willingness to expose his soul.
For the things he shares
The insights he imparts are valuable.
Everybody knows he cares
His empathy permeates his work.
By the light of the moon
Illuminated by nature's nightlight
Over the ocean
Above the vast, rippling sea
Riley B. King
The man himself
Is the king of the emotions
He possesses a deep understanding of human sentiment
He's royal blue
His presence is dignified and profound
Like the deep blue sea
It's difficult to fathom the depths of his artistry
Out of the darkness
Defying ignorance and adversity
And into the light
Drawing people out of despair and into hope
To fight the peaceful
He wages an internal battle that ultimately benefits everyone
Warriors fight
In the face of hardship and strife, he perseveres
Such a beautiful sight
His resilience is inspiring and a joy to behold
And the way you feel
His music is so satisfying and moving
Watchin' him with Lucille
As he plays, his guitar becomes his partner in storytelling
The heart of a man
The core of a person's being
Is open wide
His soul is on display for all to see
And he closes his eyes
Despite the vulnerability, he remains focused and steadfast
And he looks inside
He draws inspiration from within himself
To a love of the world
His affection for humanity motivates him
And a song he might sing
His creative process produces moving, heartfelt music
A little something from B.B. King
The legendary musician's influence on his work is evident
The stars look down to guide him
He feels a connection to the universe that guides him
Down the miles of road ahead
He always has a new horizon to pursue
A silver form of memories
His experiences have shaped him into a wiser, more thoughtful individual
Of his life sincerely
He is authentic and true to himself
Riley B. King
The man himself
Riley B. King
The man himself
Riley B. King
The man himself
Riley B. King
The man himself
Contributed by Vivian B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.