Barbara Keith began her career at the Café Wha? in Greenwich Village, following in the footsteps of Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Bill Cosby and many others who got their start in that hallowed dive. She was soon recording for MGM/Verve, A&M, and Warner Brothers. Her songs have been covered by such diverse artists as Tanya Tucker, Barbra Streisand, The Dillards, Melanie, Hank Snow, Lowell George and others. “The Bramble and the Rose” has become a folk standard – often receiving the ultimate compliment of being mistaken for a traditional song.
Her husband Doug Tibbles had a whole other life before drumming – A native of Los Angeles, he was a TV writer for such shows as “The Munsters”, “Bewitched”, “Andy Griffith”, “My Three Sons”, “Family Affair”, and many more.
Unhappy with show business in general, Barbara gave back her major label advance, Doug quit his one-day-old job as story editor for “Happy Days”, and they went underground. Doug took up drums and son John took up bass at age eleven. Reclusive by choice, the band moved from L.A. to Western Massachusetts to write and woodshed. They began playing the occasional show while recording in their cellar.
When best selling author Elmore Leonard (“Get Shorty”, “Jackie Brown”, “Out of Sight”) walked in the Troubadour in L.A. one night looking for inspiration for his sequel to “Get Shorty”, he discovered The Stone Coyotes.
They became the model for Chili Palmer’s next adventure, “Be Cool”. Leonard said, “ It was music I could understand…straight ahead rock and roll with a twang. And there are good stories going on in the songs.” He included their lyrics in the book and dedicated it to them. He and the band made a string of appearances together around the country with a Words and Music Tour – from New York’s Mercury Lounge to L.A.’s Viper Room.
More recently with five songs on "Dog the Bounty Hunter", they gained national attention, but it is the grass roots, word-of-mouth response to their music that continues their momentum.
“The Stone Coyotes are a rare wild beast in a domesticated music industry.”
- Rolling Stone Online
“The Stone Coyotes’ hefty sound melds AC/DC’s charging power chords with a country troubadour’s literate observations.”
- New York Magazine
“The Stone Coyotes crank out unpretentious rock that has grime on its fingers and transcendence in its heart.”
- The Nashville Scene
“Poised to be the coolest husband-wife-and-son rock and roll trio ever…Those wary of a hype short on substance should rest assured – this family has the chops to back it up.”
- The L. A. Weekly
“Powerful and gritty, with just a hint of sweetness and sorrow.”
- Real Detroit Weekly
“Likely one of the festival’s best discoveries… The Stone Coyotes rocked and shocked the Horseshoe audience Saturday night with their AC/DC meets Patsy Cline sound.”
- Toronto Now
The Black Atlantic
The Stone Coyotes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Before they brought me in
Was whispering through trembling lips
"Take a message to my kin"
After that the only
Recollection I have
Is tracing with my fingertips
I was out on the Black Atlantic
Clinging to the mast
(Sails tattered on the mast)
Praying on the windswept deck
That this ship is built to last
Calling, Crying, Shouting out your name
They say that once you've been there
You are never quite the same
My nerves are shot to pieces
I've been waiting here in vain
A ghost got in the looking glass
Who is that I see?
A shock of recognition
That poor lost soul is me
Since that night out on the sea
No keepsakes do I have
Just the thought, the dream of you
And a salt-stained photograph
Now I walk these paper streets
And all the buildings sway
The tides that shift beneath my feet
Are going to carry me away
The Stone Coyotes's song, "The Black Atlantic," tells a story of a man lost at sea. The lyrics imply that the character speaker was caught in the middle of a storm while on a ship, and although the only thing he can remember is asking someone to take a message to his family, he later realizes he has been transformed by that event. The singer seems to have gone through a traumatic experience and as a result, his nerves are shot and he feels like a ghost walking the streets. The haunting lyrics convey feelings of hopelessness, loneliness, and despair. The singer's memory of experiencing the Black Atlantic is a metaphor for his life's journey. The song paints the picture of someone who has been through a traumatic experience and is struggling to come to terms with what has happened.
The phrase "Black Atlantic" has been used before as a term to describe the transatlantic slave trade. This song seems to take a broader approach and uses it as a metaphor to describe any personal journey that crosses the recurring and unpredictable storms of life. The tone of the lyrics, contrasted with the band's musical style, creates a unique experience for the listener. The use of blues-style guitar riffs, combined with the emotional delivery of the lyrics, creates an eerie and powerful effect.
Line by Line Meaning
The last thing I remember
I can only recall the final moments before I was rescued
Before they brought me in
It was before I was found and saved
Was whispering through trembling lips
I quietly spoke while my body shook with fear
"Take a message to my kin"
I asked for help to be sent to my family
After that the only
All I can recall is
Recollection I have
A memory is this
Is tracing with my fingertips
Touching a picture with my hands
A faded photograph
The picture is old and worn
I was out on the Black Atlantic
I was sailing on the ocean
Clinging to the mast
I was hanging on to the ship's tall pole
(Sails tattered on the mast)
(The ship's sails were torn and tattered)
Praying on the windswept deck
I was hoping for safety on the exposed part of the boat
That this ship is built to last
I hoped the vessel was constructed for longevity
Calling, Crying, Shouting out your name
I was repeatedly shouting for someone I cared about
They say that once you've been there
As it is told, after this kind of experience
You are never quite the same
Your life is altered permanently
My nerves are shot to pieces
My nerves are severely damaged
I've been waiting here in vain
I have been waiting with no hope for success
A ghost got in the looking glass
I caught a glimpse of a mirrored apparition
Who is that I see?
I ask myself whose reflection is it
A shock of recognition
Sudden recognition is a surprise
That poor lost soul is me
I am that unfortunate and directionless spirit
Since that night out on the sea
Because of that evening while sailing
No keepsakes do I have
I have no meaningful objects left
Just the thought, the dream of you
Only memories and aspirations of that one person remain
And a salt-stained photograph
As a keepsake, all I have is a picture marked by saltwater
Now I walk these paper streets
I wander on streets made of paper
And all the buildings sway
The structures shake and undulate
The tides that shift beneath my feet
Just beneath my feet the tides are changing
Are going to carry me away
I will be swept away when the water currents shift again
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: KEITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind