Today, possessing a résumé that includes stints with an impressively broad range of other musical personalities—Miles Davis, George Harrison, Little Feat, and the Yellowjackets, among many others—Ford has demonstrated an uncanny adaptability similar to that of the MG’s and the Muscle Shoals group. The guitarist has effortlessly traversed genres without compromising his exquisite, blues-based playing and singing. So it’s only natural that on his latest album, Keep On Running (CCD-2187), Ford tips his hat to Muscle Shoals and the MG’s, offering fresh takes on soul classics, in addition to serving up several glowing originals.
Keep On Running boasts a core group of heavyweight players—bassist Jimmy Earl and drummers Toss Panos and Steve Potts. Ford couldn’t be happier with his co-conspirators. Of the low-end, he raves, “Jimmy’s just about my favorite bassist in the world. He has a great feel, and he and I see eye-to-eye in terms of time; Jimmy is so comfortable to play with.” Ford is similarly praiseful of his percussionists: “Steve plays so beautifully. He can do rhythm ’n’ blues in such an authentic way, while at the same time sounding incredibly fresh. And I’ve played with Toss on the road for a couple of years now; I’ve really benefited from his unique feel.”
Among other instrumentalists, Ford expanded the core group with a battery of keyboard players. But after the recording was completed, Ford, a relentless perfectionist, found that their sounds were incongruous. He explains, “At a certain point, I thought, ‘What’s wrong with this picture?’ It turned out I just didn’t want to hear the [Hammond] B3 [organ].” So Ford, himself a diligent multi-instrumentalist, redid most of the keyboard parts, using the more appropriate-sounding Wurlitzer electric piano.
Ford’s journey throughout this CD, his second for Concord Records, covers many musical miles. Starting things off, the title track is a fresh though faithful cover of the Spencer Davis Group classic, which captured a then 17-year-old Steve Winwood on vocals. Joining the core cast here are Bob Malach on tenor sax and Edgar Winter on baritone; Ford expertly handles the guitar, vocal, and keyboard parts. “I really dug this record when I was growing up,” says Ford. “I’d been wanting to hear it again, but it only recently became available on CD. My producer [John Wooler] also had this song in mind. We worked up an arrangement at rehearsal recorded it.”
“Over My Head” showcases Ford’s organic, breezy compositional style in a song dealing with the oldest of subjects: man chases woman, followed by heavy infatuation. Here, his smooth, blues guitar screams and moans in a perfect extension of the song’s soulful vocals. “‘Over My Head’ came from a casual guitar riff that I found myself playing one day,” says Ford. “The words tumbled out quite naturally. The riff seemed to suggest something many men go through as one point, or many times—meeting a woman you know is dangerous but find completely irresistible.”
Ford was at first uncertain about “Can’t Do My Homework,” originally recorded by Otis Rush. The guitarist says, “We played the song, but it has such a camp lyric. It felt so good, though, and was so much fun to play, that we just had to use it.” And it is such an enjoyable listen, too. Showcased here are Ford’s gorgeous guitar tones and sharp, playful improvisations, which never stray too far from Rush’s original version.
On “Badge” (written by Eric Clapton and George Harrison, and recorded by Cream), Ford offers another respectful cover, his smooth vocals backed by those of Siedah Garret (the singer also appears on “Bonnie”), and his creamy guitar tone recalling that of Clapton, while retaining Ford’s own unmistakable imprint. “I’ve always loved the first Cream album, which is brilliant,” says Ford. “Recording ‘Badge’ was John Wooler’s idea. I’m glad he suggested it; the song so was nice to use as a touchstone, since I had worked with Harrison, and he had recently passed away. You can really hear his influence in there, as well as Clapton’s.”
“Peace Love & Understanding” finds Ford using R&B to smooth out a more rocking version recorded previously by Elvis Costello. On this outstanding song, Ford duets with the legendary Mavis Staples (who, incidentally, began her recording career at Stax/Volt in 1969, backed by the MG’s) commenting on the difficult times as of late. Ford explains, “I have to say that I didn’t grow up listening to Elvis Costello. But this song presented a great opportunity: I don’t like what’s going on in the world right now, and “Peace Love & Understanding” expresses a beautiful sentiment.
A smart blues instrumental, “Cannonball Shuffle” was written by Ford for Freddie King. The composition showcases Ford’s gutsy though refined playing, in addition to some fine soloing from Malach. Ford says, “While planning this album, Wooler and I were talking a lot about Freddie King. As a youngster, I’d never gotten next to him, but now that I’ve taken the time to get inside his style, I modeled ‘Cannonball Shuffle’ after tunes like ‘Hideaway’ and ‘The Stumble.’”
The album’s second half—“Me and My Woman,” “Bonnie,” “Lifetime Thing,” “For the Love of Money,” and “Hand in Hand With the Blues”—maintains a similar vibe. It’s at once old-school and, thanks to Ford’s outstandingly fresh playing, contemporary. Ford says, “This is the music I grew up with, when things were more carefree. For me, the album is full of nostalgia. I think we could all use some of that kind of feeling today.”
Think Twice
Robben Ford & The Blue Line Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You need love, real love. Ain’t no better man.
I tried to work it out, but anything I could do.
My words are falling after years, there is no getting through to you.
I’m speaking from the heart now, hear what I say.
You find a way to good things
Maybe the best thing to come your way.
Before you close that door, take another long last look at the one who loves you
Consider everything, cause what we had was good.
But you did what you wanted, well I did all I could.
To please you baby, now there’s heartache in every turn
And you stand holding matches, while we watch these bridges burn
And I can see from miles ahead, the highway never ends.
And the one you turn away from, you never will come across again
You better think twice, before you make you’re move, think twice yeah.
Before you turn away, take another long last look at the one who loves you
I didn’t see it coming, you took me by surprise
I’m turning all the loving trust, in the colour of your eyes
A change of direction, a certain change of heart
All those words and promises, they are all cast aside and torn apart
It’s such a long time baby, you ment so much to me.
Now each side of passes, becomes my enemy
I gotta see it out, now I’m gonna make it through.
I’m gonna make a change here and I guess it’s not for you.
Well somewhere down the road baby, you come to understand.
You had it all before you and I was the lonely man.
You better think twice, before you slam that door, think twice yeah.
Before you walk away, take another long last look at the one who loves you
The lyrics to Robben Ford & The Blue Line's song Think Twice convey a message of heartbreak and regret. The singer is reaching out to his lover, telling her that he has tried everything to work out their problems, but nothing seems to be getting through to her. He then implores her to consider everything they shared because it was good and urges her to take a long last look before she walks away.
The lyrics are filled with sorrow and a sense of finality, exemplified in lines such as "And you stand holding matches, while we watch these bridges burn" and "Now each side of passes, becomes my enemy." The singer has accepted the fact that their relationship has come to an end, but he is urging his lover to think twice before she makes that final decision.
Overall, the song is a poignant reminder of the importance of communication in relationships and the regret that comes with not being able to make things work.
Line by Line Meaning
Here I stand baby, holding out my hand
I am offering my love to you with open arms
You need love, real love. Ain’t no better man.
You deserve genuine, pure love, and there is no one who can love you better than I can.
I tried to work it out, but anything I could do.
I have tried to solve our problems, but I am limited in what I can do alone.
My words are falling after years, there is no getting through to you.
Despite my efforts to communicate with you, you still do not understand my perspective after all this time.
I’m speaking from the heart now, hear what I say.
I am speaking honestly and passionately, so please listen to what I have to say.
You find a way to good things, maybe the best thing to come your way.
If you make an effort to improve the situation, good things could come out of it, perhaps the best things in your life.
You better think twice, before you walk away, think twice yeah.
Please take a moment to consider the consequences before you leave me.
Before you close that door, take another long last look at the one who loves you
Before you make a final decision, please take another look at the one who truly loves you.
Consider everything, cause what we had was good.
Take into account all aspects of our relationship, because what we had was valuable.
But you did what you wanted, well I did all I could.
You acted according to your own will, but I did everything I could to please you.
To please you baby, now there’s heartache in every turn
I went out of my way to make you happy, but now it hurts at every turn.
And you stand holding matches, while we watch these bridges burn
You are standing by idly, watching our relationship go up in flames.
And I can see from miles ahead, the highway never ends.
I can see the long road ahead of us, and our problems will never come to an end.
And the one you turn away from, you never will come across again
If you turn away from me, you may never find someone like me again.
You better think twice, before you make you’re move, think twice yeah.
Please reconsider your actions before making a final decision.
Before you turn away, take another long last look at the one who loves you
Take one final look at the one who truly loves you before you leave.
I didn’t see it coming, you took me by surprise
I was caught off guard, I did not expect this from you.
I’m turning all the loving trust, in the colour of your eyes
My trust and affection for you are slowly disappearing, just like the color of your eyes.
A change of direction, a certain change of heart
You have undergone a change in perspective and feelings.
All those words and promises, they are all cast aside and torn apart
All the words and promises you made to me have been disregarded and destroyed.
It’s such a long time baby, you ment so much to me.
It's been a long time, and you meant a lot to me.
Now each side of passes, becomes my enemy
Now that we are apart, we seem to be conflicting with each other.
I gotta see it out, now I’m gonna make it through.
I need to endure this situation and persevere.
I’m gonna make a change here and I guess it’s not for you.
I am going to make a change in my life, but it is not for your benefit.
Well somewhere down the road baby, you come to understand.
Hopefully, in the future, you will come to understand my perspective and feelings.
You had it all before you and I was the lonely man.
You had everything you needed before, and I was the one who was left alone.
You better think twice, before you slam that door, think twice yeah.
Please reconsider before you completely shut me out of your life.
Before you walk away, take another long last look at the one who loves you
Take one final look at the one who truly loves you before you go.
Contributed by Eliana I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.