Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Derek Trucks took up the guitar at age 9, and it was quickly apparent that he was a child prodigy. He was playing with a band and touring within two years. His early repertoire was heavily blues-based, obviously inspired by The Allman Brothers Band, of which his uncle, drummer Butch Trucks, is a founding member. Older bluesmen like Howlin' Wolf, jazz musicians Miles Davis, Sun Ra, John Coltrane, Charlie Christian and later Wayne Shorter and many others, became an influence for Trucks a few years later. Eastern Music, mainly Indian Classical, also affected Trucks's musical development, primarily his slide guitar playing, which is often compared to that of Duane Allman but is also heavily influenced by sarod players like Ali Akbar Khan. In 2003, he was the youngest guitarist on Rolling Stone magazine's list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All-Time, and has been hailed as one of the greatest slide guitarists since Duane Allman.
Trucks formed his first band at age 12, and played his first gigs with them as "Derek and the Dominators". Later, Atlanta's jazz and blues bassist Todd Smallie joined Trucks in 1994, and became the first member of what is now the current version of The Derek Trucks Band. When Trucks really set about assembling a lasting band, he was by his reckoning about 14 years old. Smallie, on bass, was the first to join him. As a result, Trucks feels that he's "kind of grown up with him." A year later in 1995, drummer Yonrico Scott completed the band's early rhythm section. The band released its self-titled debut album, The Derek Trucks Band, in 1997, and followed with Out of the Madness in 1999. Scott has been playing with Trucks for over 16 years as of 2008. According to Derek Trucks: "We've developed a kind of 'musical ESP'.. it's nice to have somebody that you don't have to look at...he's just right there with you."
Kofi Burbridge joined the band shortly thereafter, contributing to the band's sound as a multi-instrumentalist, with his versatility on keyboards, flute, and vocals. Like his brother, whom Trucks plays with in the Allman Brothers Band, bassist Oteil Burbridge, Kofi Burbridge's education was primarily rooted in classical and jazz music. In an interview upon the release of their 2002 album, Joyful Noise, Trucks laughingly commented, "Kofi Burbridge has been with us maybe 2-3 years, and he's one of the few musical geniuses that I've had the chance to work with, he's totally insane"... continuing, "I'm really anxious to see in the next few years to see where he takes this, because he's definitely a huge part of what's going on right now."
In 2002 the band's producers, Craig Street and John Snyder recommended singer Mike Mattison to the band. Mattison performed several shows with the band, and Trucks decided Mattison's soulful voice and calm stage presence completed the band's identity. Trucks said of Mattison, "He's got a huge range, so that helps us out a lot when we stretch into some of the different material we cover. It's like having three different vocalists onstage at times. It's a tough piece of the puzzle to find, you know -- a good singer who fits with what you're doing -- so we were very fortunate to hook up with Mike." Mattison had a previous band as well-- a vocal duo, called Scrapomatic, with Paul Olsen, a guitarist and vocalist, whom he still performs with at occasional gigs, including some opening sets for The Derek Trucks Band. The band's final member, Count M'Butu is the only band member that does not appear on every tour. M'Butu, the group's eldest member, plays a variety of African drums. Trucks mentions casually that he had known M'Butu for many years before he joined the Derek Trucks Band, as M'Butu was a regular musical fixture in Atlanta; one of the bastions of the Allman Brothers fan bases.
Trucks' guitar playing is unusual in a number of respects. He steadfastly avoids processing and effects, preferring to get the purest tone possible by connecting his guitar directly to his amplifier, a 1964 Fender Super Reverb. He modifies his tone with the controls on the guitar. He plays without the use of a plectrum (pick), using his fingers instead, plucking primarily with the thumb, index and middle fingers, but also using the ring finger on occasion. He developed his technique himself. His guitar is always tuned to 'Open E'. From the low to high string, (i.e., EBEG#Be) he slightly detunes his low E string (a technique he and Jimmy Herring developed while playing together). Open E is a normal tuning for slide players, as it allows them to form chords more easily, but over the years he has become a highly acclaimed straight lead player without switching to standard tuning (EADGBe).
In 2001, Trucks married singer/guitarist Susan Tedeschi. The couple have two children: Charles Kahlil Trucks (born March 8, 2002), and Sophia Naima Trucks (born August 9, 2004). Charles is named for saxophonist Charlie Parker and guitarist Charlie Christian; his middle name is taken from author Khalil Gibran. The name Sophia has mystic overtones (meaning "Wisdom" in Greek), and the unusual middle name comes from the John Coltrane ballad, which Coltrane named after his first wife, Naima.
In 1999, Derek Trucks joined his uncle, drummer Butch Trucks, as a member of The Allman Brothers Band, while continuing to lead his own band. With the Allman Brothers Band he has performed on 2000's Peakin' at the Beacon, 2003's Hittin' the Note, 2003's live DVD At the Beacon Theatre, and 2004's One Way Out.
As of early 2006, Trucks is an accompanying guitarist in Eric Clapton's 2006-2007 touring band. In early 2006, Trucks lost equipment, as an equipment trailer was stolen. Some of the gear was recovered on May 18, 2006, as reported in the Columbia Records Derek Trucks Forum. Gear that was reported as recovered from a field outside Atlanta, GA includes Derek's "1965 BFSR, the amp he's been playing since he was a young boy; Derek's 1968 SFSR (one of the backup amps),the DTB's Hammond B-3, two Leslies, a Hohner E-7 Clavinet, and a few other minor items."
Sailing On
The Derek Trucks Band Lyrics
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I can hear sweet voices singin', hear sweet music playin'
Sailin' on, sailin' on
Oh, I wish you were here with me when I'm sailin' on
Well, the spring, summer, autumn, and winter
All I know, you're gonna lay your head on my pillow
Ooh, on a normal night, spring, summer, autumn, winter
Sailin' on, sailin' on
Oh, I wish you were here with me when I'm sailin' on
Everybody clap your hands
Sailin' on, sailin' on
Oh, I wish you could be with me when I'm
Oh, I wish you could be with me when I'm
Oh, I wish you could be with me when I'm
Oh, I wish you could be with me when I'm
Sailin' on
Everybody clap your hands
The Derek Trucks Band's song "Sailing On" has a carefree and joyful tone to it, with lyrics that reflect the singer's desire to share their happiness and joy with someone special. The song begins with the repetition of "Sailing on, sailing on," which creates a sense of movement and momentum. This is further emphasized by the references to sweet voices singing and music playing, as if the singer is on a boat journey with companions.
The second verse speaks of the passing of the seasons, and the certainty that the person the singer loves will always be with them. The line "All I know, you're gonna lay your head on my pillow" implies a deep intimacy, and the following line "you're gonna tell me which you prefer" suggests an ongoing dialogue and shared experience.
The chorus repeats the desire for the person the singer loves to be with them, and the final repetition of "Everybody clap your hands" encourages audience participation and emphasizes the celebratory nature of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Sailin' on, sailin' on
I'm persevering despite hardship, moving forward in life.
I can hear sweet voices singin', hear sweet music playin'
Through my struggle, I find comfort in the beauty of the world around me.
Oh, I wish you were here with me when I'm sailin' on
I miss the person who was once by my side through thick and thin, supporting me all the way.
Well, the spring, summer, autumn, and winter
No matter the season, time will march on as it always does.
All I know, you're gonna lay your head on my pillow
I'm certain that love and comfort will always have a place in my life, even as things change.
Ooh, on a normal night, spring, summer, autumn, winter
As the world keeps turning, I am reminded of how things used to be and what I now long for.
All I know, you're gonna tell me which you prefer
I trust that of all the changes life brings, the love and connection I share with you never will.
Everybody clap your hands
Let's celebrate and be thankful for the joys in our lives.
Oh, I wish you could be with me when I'm sailin' on
Even in my moments of happiness and triumph, my thoughts still turn to you.
Sailin' on
No matter what happens, this journey through life goes on.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: FREDERICK HIBBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind