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.
Rose Of Sharon
Robben Ford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You lead with your right
The dust finally settles
You're clean out of sight
Rose of Sharon
Why don't you come on
Why don't you come on home
Your world is on fire
I'm met when the smoke clears
With the screech of your tires
Rose of Sharon
Why don't you come on
Why don't you come on home
Your mother's light
Your father's pride
Provide you a place
Where you can hide
Rose of Sharon
Why don't you come on
Why don't you come on home
The lyrics of Robben Ford's song "Rose of Sharon" talk about a character named Rose of Sharon who seems to be living a dangerous and self-destructive lifestyle. The singer, who is addressing Rose of Sharon, describes himself as someone who comes with water while her world is on fire. This could be interpreted as him trying to save her from harm, but she is not responsive. She appears to be someone who runs away from her problems quickly, as evidenced by the sound of her screeching tires. The singer uses the metaphor of Rose of Sharon being like a flower that needs to bloom where it is planted, to make her understand that she needs to return home or find a place to settle.
The song lyrics also suggest that Rose of Sharon's parents provide her with a safe haven where she can hide. This line can be interpreted in different ways. It could be taken at face value, and the singer is encouraging her to return to her family. Alternatively, it could be metaphorical, and the singer is urging her to find a stable and secure environment to live in. The song's overall message seems to be that the singer is trying to rescue Rose of Sharon from a dangerous existence and encourage her to seek refuge either with her family or a positive place.
Line by Line Meaning
I lead with my left
I am taking an unconventional approach
You lead with your right
You are taking a more traditional or expected approach
The dust finally settles
The chaos has quieted down
You're clean out of sight
You have distanced yourself from the situation
Rose of Sharon
A symbolic reference to a beautiful and resilient flower that thrives in difficult conditions
Why don't you come on
Encouraging the subject to join in or return to a welcoming place
Why don't you come on home
Inviting the subject to return to a place where they feel safe and accepted
I come here with water
Offering a healing or calming presence
Your world is on fire
You are experiencing intense emotional turmoil or stress
I'm met when the smoke clears
I show up after the worst of the situation has passed
With the screech of your tires
You are leaving quickly and without warning
Your mother's light
The positive and nurturing influence that comes from a motherly figure
Your father's pride
The sense of confidence or self-worth that comes from a fatherly figure
Provide you a place
Offering a secure and comfortable environment
Where you can hide
Where you can take refuge from the stress or chaos of the outside world
Contributed by Lily M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Michael Easter
Rick Beato's interview with Robben brought me here... RF's favourite of his solos
Mark Somers
Haha, me too!
Carbon Crank
@Chuck Driver what's laughable is you criticizing me without criticizing anything I said.
Yannick204
@Paul Hambleton I agree that this solo is not „flashy“, but actually rather downplayed. I also wouldn’t have guessed that it is his favorite.
However, here is one funny thing: from hearing it one or two times, I can already remember and sing this solo. It’s quite catchy, which in the end
is probably the sign of a good composition, although it is slow.
Paul Hambleton
Likewise. I didn't think this would have been his personal favourite although the tone and phrasing are amazing (but I've come to expect that from Robben always lol)
zepapires
+1
gervason
I think RF indicates this as his favourite solo due to the mature playing he has reached. Great tone, right choice of notes, rhytmically is almost complete. There is a natural breath between the phrases
James Emerson
Totally. He is one of those players who is just always trying to get better even now after playing for so many years I think he is honestly at his best. Very mature phrasing, doesn't care about being flashy. All about serving the song, great tone and perfect note choices.
Jai Dillon
Great tune, great playing, and great lyrics! Beato interview lead me here.
koho
I see other Rick Beato listeners here. I'm glad I gave this another listen. The solo is deceptively simple. It's not just the notes (It's mostly simple minor pentatonic), but the subtle and unexpected bridge chords he plays them over. That harmonic interplay is sublime, way beyond any usual blues composition. Trying to learn this now (there are some good chord breakdowns on YT).