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.
Something For The Pain
Robben Ford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now that I'm alone
And I need you
Lessons from the past
Say nothin' ever lasts
But I need you
They'll never be a cure
So, give me somethin' for the pain
So, give me somethin' for the pain
Taking my world apart
It's written in my heart
That I need you
You'd been runnin' through my veins
Before I knew your name
And I need you
One thing I know for sure
They'll never be a cure
After findin' her love so pure
So, give me somethin' for the pain, yeah
Give me somethin' for the pain
One day I'll be a different me
And fly out an open door
Then I will be that day set free
And dream of you no more
Dream of you no more
One thing I know for sure
They'll never be a cure
After findin' her love so pure
So, give me somethin' for the pain
Give me somethin' for the pain
Give me somethin' for the pain
Give me somethin' for the pain
The lyrics of Robben Ford's "Something For The Pain" are about the singer's search for solace after a relationship has ended. He is alone and reflecting on the lessons he has learned from the past, acknowledging that nothing ever lasts. Despite this, he still feels a deep need for his former partner and is willing to take something, anything, to ease his pain. He has become so accustomed to her that she seems to run through his veins, even before he knew her name. The singer is aware that there is no cure for his emotional pain, but he still wants something to help him get through the difficult time.
The chorus of the song, "So, give me something for the pain," is repeated throughout, emphasizing the singer's desperation for relief. The lyrics also touch on the hope of moving on and becoming a different person, someone who is free from the pain and no longer dreams of his former partner.
Overall, "Something For The Pain" is a poignant and heartfelt song that captures the pain of a failed relationship and the struggle to cope with the resulting emotions. It is a relatable theme that many people have experienced, making the song all the more powerful.
Line by Line Meaning
Time to search my soul
It is time for me to reassess and examine my innermost thoughts and emotions.
Now that I'm alone
Since I am by myself, I have the freedom to explore my feelings without any distractions.
And I need you
Despite my desire for introspection, I still long for your company and support.
Lessons from the past
The knowledge I have gained from previous experiences.
Say nothin' ever lasts
All things, whether good or bad, are fleeting and temporary.
But I need you
Despite knowing that everything is only temporary, I still rely on your presence and connection in my life.
This I know for sure
I am certain that what I am about to say is true.
They'll never be a cure
There is no solution or resolution to the pain I am feeling.
So, give me somethin' for the pain
I am pleading for something to ease the emotional and mental distress that I am experiencing.
Taking my world apart
The pain I am feeling is causing me to crumble and lose stability in all facets of my life.
It's written in my heart
The feelings and emotions I am experiencing are deeply ingrained and part of who I am.
That I need you
I am still dependent on you, even in moments of turmoil and disarray.
You'd been runnin' through my veins
I have been thinking of you consistently and intensely, almost as if you are a part of me.
Before I knew your name
My longing for you goes back further than just a desire to be with you. It is almost instinctual or innate.
One thing I know for sure
I am absolutely positive that what I am about to say is truthful and factual.
After findin' her love so pure
In the aftermath of experiencing love in such a genuine and authentic way, the pain of being separated from that love is especially intense.
So, give me somethin' for the pain, yeah
I am reiterating my plea for help in alleviating the emotional agony I am feeling and emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
One day I'll be a different me
There is hope for me to change and evolve beyond my current situation.
And fly out an open door
I will have the opportunity to break free from my current circumstances and begin anew.
Then I will be that day set free
Once I am able to move past this pain, I will truly be free from it.
And dream of you no more
I will no longer be plagued by thoughts and dreams of being with you.
Give me somethin' for the pain
Once more, I am begging for some kind of relief from the agony I am experiencing.
Give me somethin' for the pain
I am repeating my request for assistance.
Give me somethin' for the pain
For the third time, I am desperately asking for help in ending my suffering.
Contributed by Julia S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.