Shawn Phillips (born February 3, 1943, Fort Worth, Texas, USA) is a folk-ro… Read Full Bio ↴Shawn Phillips (born February 3, 1943, Fort Worth, Texas, USA) is a folk-rock musician, primarily influential in the 1960s and 1970s. Phillips has recorded twenty albums and worked with musicians including Donovan, Paul Buckmaster, J. Peter Robinson, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Bernie Taupin, and many others. The Texas-born singer-songwriter was described as "The best kept secret in the music business"[this quote needs a citation] by the late rock impresario Bill Graham.

"...an artist of such raw talent, ambition and good will... Phillips' main attraction is still his voice. Reedy and flexible, with a remarkable falsetto, it is a potent dramatic instrument. " that's what Rolling Stone Magazine had to say about Shawn Phillips, a musician whose work literally fits into no category.

Shawn Phillips has almost twenty albums to his credit (of which millions have been sold) and a host of associations with some of the most respected names in the industry including Donovan, Paul Buckmaster, J Peter Robinson, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood and many others, yet he is virtually forgotten except by his cadre of loyal fans. The Texas-born singer/songwriter was called "The best kept secret in the music business," by the late rock impresario Bill Graham.

Beginning in the 1960s, Phillips made noteworthy contributions to popular music. He performed at the "Isle of Wight" festival and was cast to play the lead in the original production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" (he had to withdraw due to his heavy recording and touring schedule.)

Throughout the 60s Phillips worked the folk music scene in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury, New York's Greenwich Village, and London. In 1967 Phillips moved to Positano, Italy, where he remained throughout the 1970s, writing some of his most well known work. This period produced the albums 'Contribution', 'Second Contribution', 'Collaboration' and 'Faces".

Four of his albums "Faces," "Bright White," "Furthermore" and "Do You Wonder" made it into the Billboard Top 100. In addition, the singles, "Lost Horizon," "We" and "Woman" made Billboard's top 40. One of the most sought after Christmas songs is Phillips' 1970 45rpm release of "A Christmas Song" on A&M 1238. The track is now available on the re-issue of Faces.

His latest album, 'No Category' featuring his longtime collaborators Paul Buckmaster and Peter Robinson was released in 2002.

Today Shawn lives in Port Elizabeth, South Africa dividing his time between writing, touring, and his work as an emergency medical technician (EMT) and firefighter.

Official Shawn Phillips website : www.shawnphillips.com

Shawn Phillips Merchandise can be purchased here: http://www.zazzle.com/shawnphillips_emh

Keep On
Shawn Phillips Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Mama
When you coming home
Mama
When you coming home

Mama
You don't have to roam
Mama

You know you're coming home

If you look over there babe
You know you might find
Somethin' over there
Gonna blow your mind

Mama
When you coming home
Mama
You don't have to roam

Mama
It's another day
Mama
You know that you can stay

You can stay
Yes I keep on telling you
To keep on keeping on
I keep on telling you
To work it on out

Keep on telling you
To keep on keeping on
I keep on telling you
To work it on out

Mama
It's another day
Mama
You know that you can stay
You know that you can stay

If you look over there babe
You know you might find
Somethin' over there
Gonna blow your mind

If you look over there babe
You know you might find

Somethin' over there
Gonna blow your mind

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Shawn Phillips's song Keep On are about a person missing and longing for their mother to come home after being away. The repetition of "Mama, when you coming home" emphasizes the longing and desire for the mother's return. The song also assures the mother that she does not have to roam and can come back home where she belongs.

The second half of the song encourages the listener to keep pushing forward and not give up. The lines "I keep on telling you to keep on keeping on" and "I keep on telling you to work it on out" serve as inspiration and motivation to never give up or lose hope. The reference to "something over there gonna blow your mind" suggests that there is something great and exciting waiting for the listener if they keep going.

Line by Line Meaning

Mama
Addressing his mother

When you coming home
Asking her when she will return

Mama, you don't have to roam
Telling her she doesn't need to wander around anymore

Mama, you know you're coming home
Assuring her that she will return

If you look over there babe
Suggesting his mother to look towards a particular direction

You know you might find
Saying there is something to be discovered

Somethin' over there
Referring to the unknown object/thing

Gonna blow your mind
Implying that the discovery will be surprising and amazing

Mama, it's another day
Acknowledging the passage of time

Mama, you know that you can stay
Expressing that his mother is welcome to remain where she is

Yes I keep on telling you
Confirming that he has previously mentioned something