Robert Randolph & The Family Band is a multicultural American blues and fun… Read Full Bio ↴Robert Randolph & The Family Band is a multicultural American blues and funk band composed of Robert Randolph, Marcus Randolph (drums), Danyel Morgan (bass), and Jason Crosby (organ). Frontman Robert Randolph was trained as a pedal steel guitarist in the House of God Church, Keith Dominion, in Nashville, TN and makes prominent use of the instrument in the band's music. The group's sound is inspired by successful 1970s funk bands such as Earth, Wind & Fire and Sly & the Family Stone, another multicultural band comprised of former members of the Church of God in Christ. Randolph himself has also stated that his main influence as a guitarist is Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Although he has only put out two albums, Rolling Stone magazine named Randolph as one of the 100 greatest guitar players of all time.

Robert Randolph set the music world on fire in late 2000 and early 2001 when he began to play his first club dates in New York City. These were a result of being discovered playing his pedal steel guitar at the first Sacred Steel Convention in Florida in the spring of 2000. Randolph started playing the pedal steel as a teenager and started playing at his Orange, NJ, church just outside of Newark. The House of God Church, an African-American Pentecostal denomination, has been implementing steel guitars (or "Sacred Steel") in services since the '30s, with the pedal steel in particular being introduced during the '70s. Randolph learned to play by watching other steel players in his church. Jim Markel was the man who heard Randolph play at the Sacred Steel Convention, and he later introduced him to his friend, Gary Waldman. Waldman, who already managed several artists, invited Randolph to audition for him. Waldman and Markel began to manage Randolph; they played the audition tape over the phone to Matt Hickey, talent buyer at Manhattan's Bowery Ballroom. Hickey signed Randolph on as the opening act for the North Mississippi Allstars and it was the beginning of a very large explosion. Within a month, Randolph was playing to thousands with Medeski, Martin & Wood (MMW) at the Beacon Theater. Allstars and MMW keyboardist John Medeski liked Randolph so much that he asked him to record an all-instrumental gospel/blues album with them. The Word was released in August 2001 to great critical and popular acclaim. Randolph's own band, the Family Band, includes cousins Danyell Morgan and Marcus Randolph (bass and drums, respectively) and John Ginty (Hammond B-3 organ). Their career began with opening gigs for a variety of blues, jazz-funk, and jam bands such as the Derek Trucks Band, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, and Soulive. Headlining gigs became the norm within a few months. Robert Randolph & the Family Band released Live at the Wetlands in fall 2001. 2003's Unclassified and its single, "I Need More Love," introduced Randolph to an even wider audience. Colorblind followed in 2006

Nobody
Robert Randolph & The Family Band Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Looking out my window

I could see my time with you is running low

When I think about all that you?ve done

But there's a truth, it hits me like the morning sun

I gotta say

Can?t nobody, can't nobody

Can't nobody love me like you love me

Can?t nobody, can't nobody

Can't nobody love me like you love me

You never left me on my own

You are the reason I sing this song

You kept me warm on the coldest nights

You helped me get from the dark to the light

I?m ready to die while I know you love me

Nobody, nobody, love me like you love me

Can?t nobody, can't nobody

Can't nobody love me like you love me

Can?t nobody, can't nobody

Can't nobody love me like you love me

Sing, nobody, nobody

No, no, no, no, no, nobody

Nobody

Sing

Can't nobody love me like you love me

Nobody

Can't nobody treat me like you treat me

Nobody

Sing, no, no, no, nobody

No, no, no, nobody

Sing, no, no, no, nobody

No, no, no, nobody

Sing

Nobody, nobody

No, no, no, no no, no nobody

Nobody

Nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody

Can't nobody love me like you love me

Nobody

Can't nobody hold me like you hold me

Nobody

No, no, no, nobody

No, no, no, nobody

No, no, no, nobody

No, no, no, nobody

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, nobody

Nobody, nobody

No, no, no, no, no nobody

Nobody

Nobody

Overall Meaning

The song "Nobody" by Robert Randolph & The Family Band is a heartfelt tribute to a loved one, thanking them for their unwavering love and support. The lyrics express the singer's realization that their time with their loved one is limited and that they are grateful for their companionship. The truth of their love hits the singer like the morning sun, and they declare that nobody can love them or treat them as well as this person has. The singer acknowledges that their loved one has been with them through the darkest moments of their life, helping them find their way from darkness to light. The song ends with a repeated chorus, celebrating the one-of-a-kind love the singer has found in their partner.

Line by Line Meaning

Looking out my window
I'm reflecting on my life

I could see my time with you is running low
I know my time with my loved one is limited

When I think about all that you've done
I remember all the good things my loved one has done for me

But there's a truth, it hits me like the morning sun
But I also acknowledge that there's a harsh truth I can't avoid

I gotta say
I have to express my feelings

Can't nobody, can't nobody
No one else

Can't nobody love me like you love me
Can't find anyone who loves me as much

You never left me on my own
You always stood by my side

You are the reason I sing this song
I owe everything to you

You kept me warm on the coldest nights
You provided comfort in my hardest times

You helped me get from the dark to the light
You guided me through my struggles