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Eric Clapton - Golden Ring

Eric Clapton - Golden Ring Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Backless
Released: 1978

Golden Ring Lyrics

Golden Ring

When asked to name his favorite song out of his own catalogue during an October 1999 interview for the VH1 show, Flix, Eric Clapton chose this song. The episode was dedicated to the Rob Reiner film, The Story Of Us, for which Eric composed the soundtrack. He said he picked the song as his all-time personal favorite because it's obscure and people don't know it and it's about marriage (the theme of the movie).

Eric wrote this song during the 1978 sessions for Backless. In the tour program for his 1979 North American Tour, he had this to say about it: "The best thing that happened on Backless were the things that happened at the time. I got away with one song on there, 'Golden Ring,' which I think is the strongest song on the album, because I wrote it because I was fed up with the general sort of apathy of everyone involved, and I just thought, 'Well, I'll take a song in there and whether they like it or not, we'll do it, they'll learn it and record it, and we'll put it on the record and that's that!' And that kind of conviction carried the thing through. I spoke with Don Williams [an American Country & Western Cult Artist] just before Christmas and I told him I liked his album, and he said 'Golden Ring' was his favorite track, too, because it was the only one that came through with any kind of feeling, with strength. And if you listen to it, there's virtually nothing to it. Songs like that are caused by situations, but situations of that extremity don't happen every day, thank God." (thanks, DeeTheWriter - Saint Petersburg, Russia Federation, for above 2)

Although they share the same title, this song should not be confused with the hit 1976 duet, "Golden Ring," by George Jones and Tammy Wynette.

Eric fell in love with Pattie Boyd while she was still married to his friend George Harrison. When the pair finally got together in the mid-'70s, things were not as rosy as he imagined they would be. The complicated Eric-Pattie (whom he nicknamed "Nell")-George triangle inspired this song. He explained in his 2007 autobiography: "[The song] was written about the situation between me, Nell, and George. It referred in part to her response to the news that George was getting married again. She took it quite hard, and I, in my arrogance, found that hard to understand. So I wrote this song about the peculiarity of our triangle, which finishes with the words

If I gave to you a golden ring,
Would I make you happy, would I make you sing?"

Eric Clapton - Believe In Life

Eric Clapton - Believe In Life Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: Reptile
Released: 2001

Believe In Life Lyrics

When the world has seen the light
At the beginning of the day,
You will let me call your name,
'Cause I love you more than light,
And it will always be this way
As long as I Believe In Life.

When the morning comes too soon
And I am still without your love,
You will let me call your name,
'Cause I love you more than light,
And it will always be this way
As long as I believe in life.

Whatever happened to the girls I used to know?
Whatever happened to the places that we'd go?
When we were running in and out of time,
But all the time we still believed in life.
We were running in and out of time,
But still believed in life.

And when the day is almost done
And there is nothing left to say,
You will let me call your name,
'Cause I love you more than light,
And it will always be this way
As long as I believe in life.

Running in and out of time,
But still believed in life.

And when the day is almost done
And there is nothing left to say,
You will let me call your name,
'Cause I love you more than light,
And it will always be this way
As long as I believe,
As long as you believe,
As long as I believe that you believe, then I'll believe, I'll believe in life.
As long as I believe that you believe, then I'll believe, I'll believe in life.

Believe in life.
I believe in life.
I believe in life.

Writer/s: CLAPTON, ERIC PATRICK
Publisher: Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Believe In Life

Clapton told Uncut magazine August 2014 that he believes this heartfelt declaration of love is the best tune that he's ever recorded. "That's my favorite song, and it's also current, because I wrote it about my wife," he said. "I like the fact that it's kind of low-key, a little in-the-background thing, but I'm proud of that song, as much as anything of mine that's more popular or well-known."

Eric Clapton married American-born graphic artist of Korean-Irish parentage Melia McEnery in January 2001. The couple met in 1998 after McEnery approached the guitar legend for an autograph at a party in LA thrown by Giorgio Armani (she was working for the fashion designer at the time).

Eric Clapton - I Shot The Sheriff

Eric Clapton - I Shot The Sheriff Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: 461 Ocean Boulevard
Released: 1974

I Shot The Sheriff Lyrics

I Shot The Sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy
I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy

All around in my home town
They're trying to track me down
They say they want to bring me in guilty
For the killing of a deputy
For the life of a deputy, but I say

I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self-defense
I shot the sheriff, and they say it is a capital offense

Sheriff John Brown always hated me
For what I don't know
Every time that I plant a seed
He said, "Kill it before it grows"
He said, "Kill it before it grows", I say

I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self-defense
I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self-defense

Freedom came my way one day
And I started out of town
All of a sudden I see sheriff John Brown
Aiming to shoot me down
So I shot, I shot him down, I say

I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy
I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy

Reflexes got the better of me
And what is to be must be
Every day the bucket goes to the well
But one day the bottom will drop out
Yes, one day the bottom will drop out, but I say

I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy, oh no
I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy, oh no

Writer/s: ROBERT MARLEY
Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

I Shot The Sheriff Song Chart

This was written and originally recorded by Bob Marley in 1973. A member of Clapton's band played the Bob Marley album for him and convinced him to record it.

This is Clapton's only #1 hit. He came close in 1992 with "Tears In Heaven," which reached #2.

Clapton didn't want to use this on the album because he thought it might seem disrespectful to Marley. Members of his band and management convinced him that it should not only go on the album, but also be released as a single.

Eric spoke with Bob Marley about the song, he said "I tried to ask him what the song was all about, but couldn't understand much of his reply. I was just relieved that he liked what we had done." (from Clapton: The Autobiography )

Eric Clapton - Change The World

Eric Clapton - Change The World Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: Phenomenon Soundtrack
Released: 1996

Change The World Lyrics

If I could reach the stars, I'd pull one down for you
Shine it on my heart, so you could see the truth
That this love I have inside, is everything it seems
But for now I find, it's only in my dreams

[Chorus:]
That I can Change The World
I would be the sunlight in your universe
You will think my love was really something good
Baby, if I could, change the world

If I could be king, even for a day
I'd take you as my queen, I'd have it no other way
And our love will rule, in this kingdom we have made
Till then I'd be a fool, wishin' for the day

[Chorus]

Baby, if I could change the world

[Chorus]

Baby, if I could change the world

Writer/s: KENNEDY, GORDON SCOTT / KIRKPATRICK, WAYNE / SIMS, TOMMY L.
Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Change The World Song Chart

This was written by the songwriting team of Tommy Sims, Gordon Kennedy and Wayne Kirkpatrick. The song was originally recorded by Wynonna Judd early in 1996, and then it became a big hit when Eric Clapton heard the song and recorded it as a duet with the R&B singer Babyface later that year.

Elton John's lyricist Bernie Taupin uses this as an example of a song that can succeed without a great title or lyric. He told Musician magazine: "What sold that song, I believe, is production. And it had a good melody. But don't listen to the lyric. Because the lyric is appalling. It's a bad lyric. There are some rhymes in there that are really awful. But that's not what sold the song."

This was featured in the John Travolta movie Phenomenon.

Clapton and Babyface performed this at the Grammys in 1997, where the song won the award for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)

The Clapton/Babyface combination brought together a rock legend and an R&B kingpin, and the combination gave the song huge crossover appeal. The duo got together again when Babyface played on Clapton's album Pilgrim in 1998.

Gordon Kennedy told the story of this song in an interview with American Songwriter magazine: "'Change The World' was a song written over the course of a year by Tommy Sims, Wayne Kirkpatrick, and myself. On a recording session in Quad Studios in Nashville, in the early '90s, Wayne and I were recording some demos in an attempt to do the 'artist' thing. We recorded four songs that day, three of which wound up on Garth (Brooks)'s Chris Gaines CD (this would happen several years later).
During that session, Tommy was there playing bass and played us the nugget of an idea he had, wondering if it might be something that would work for the sound we were doing. He had the title and a chord progression and melody direction going. Wayne would ask him some months later for a tape of the idea so he could work on it. He wrote the lyrics to the chorus and all but one line of the second verse. Then, it went dormant again for a time before I asked Wayne about its progress. He gave me what he'd done on it. I finished writing the music, went to Columbus, Ohio and laid down a demo track with Tommy. He was there working on a church choir album. On the way home, I listened to a tape of the track and dictated lyrics into another little handheld recorder (I still have the micro-cassette!) I wrote the lyrics to the first verse and the missing line in the second verse. When I got home, I went into the studio and did a guitar and all of the vocals for a finished demo, the one Clapton heard later… None of the three of us were together when we wrote what we each wrote on the song."

The song was a massive AOR hit but Clapton was happy to take a walk in the commercial market as the guitarist made sure that he still kept one foot tapping on his blues roots. Clapton explained to Mojo magazine May 2013: "When I heard Tommy Sims' demo. I could hear McCartney doing that, so I needed to, with greatest respect to Paul, take that and put it somewhere black. So I asked Babyface who, even though he may not be aware of it, gave it the blues thing. The first two lines I play on that song on the acoustic guitar are lines I quote wherever I can and they come from the beginning of 'Mannish Boy' by Muddy Waters. On every record I make where I think. This has got a chance of doing well, I make sure I pay my dues on this. So I think I've found a way to do it, but it has to have one foot in the blues, even if its subtly disguised."

Eric Clapton - Tulsa Time

Eric Clapton - Tulsa Time Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: Backless
Released: 1978

Tulsa Time Lyrics

I left Oklahoma, drivin' in a Pontiac
Just about to lose my mind
I was goin' to Arizona, maybe on to California
Where the people all live so fine

My baby said I was crazy
My Momma called me lazy
I was goin' to show 'em all this time
'Cause you know I ain't no fool
An' I don't need no more schoolin'
I was born to just walk the line

Livin' on Tulsa Time, livin' on Tulsa time
Well, you know I've been through it
When I set my watch back to it
Livin' on Tulsa time

Well, there I was in Hollywood
Wishin' I was doin' good
Talkin' on the telephone line
But they don't need me in the movies
And nobody sings my songs
Guess I'm just wastin' time

Well, then I got to thinkin'
Man, I'm really sinkin'
And I really had a flash this time
I had no business leavin'
And nobody would be grievin'
If I went on back to Tulsa time

Livin' on Tulsa time, livin' on Tulsa time
Gonna set my watch back to it
'Cause you know I've been through it
Livin' on Tulsa time

Livin' on Tulsa time, livin' on Tulsa time
Gonna set my watch back to it
'Cause you know I've been through it
Livin' on Tulsa time

Writer/s: FLOWERS, DANIEL W.
Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Tulsa Time Song Chart

This song was originally recorded by the Texas songwriter Don Williams; it was written by his guitarist Danny Flowers. The song is about a guy who leaves Oklahoma for the bright lights of Hollywood, but discovers that he is much happier back home where he can set his watch to "Tulsa Time," where things happen at a much slower pace.

The original version of this song was released earlier in 1978 on Don Williams' album Expressions. Clapton was into American roots music and had recorded Williams' song "We're All the Way" on his 1977 album Slowhand. When it came time to record Backless, he included this song and released it as a single, backed with "Cocaine," a song written by the Tulsa musician J.J. Cale.

The original 1978 single didn't chart, but a live version taken from a show at the Budokhan Temple in Japan was issued in 1980 and made #30 US.

When he recorded this, four members of Clapton's band were from Oklahoma: bassist Carl Radle, drummer Jamie Oldaker, organist Dick Simms and backup singer Marcy Levy. Radle, Oldaker and Simms were all from Tulsa and had a band together called the Tulsa County Band, which helped forge the "Tulsa Sound," a melding of country and rock. Clapton was smitten with this sound, and used these musicians to create it on his Slowhand and Backless albums. On his next album, Just One Night, Clapton switched to British musicians.

For a while, Clapton opened his shows with this song, including the Budokhan show the single was taken from.

Eric Clapton - The Core

Eric Clapton - The Core Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: Slowhand
Released: 1977

The Core Lyrics

Every morning when I wake, a feeling soon begins to overtake me.
Ringing in my ears resounds through my brain; it finally surrounds me.
There is fire, there is life, there is passion, fever and fury.
There is love and there is hate, there is longing, anger and worry.

[Chorus]
Oh, I have a flame; feel it touch my heart.
And down at my core is the hottest part.
I can burn without fuel.

If it should become too cold, I know I can endure the frostbite.
Oh, a blanket then I'll wrap around me; I keep myself so close to my side.
No one then can cause me harm, just as the river runs into the sea.
Cause every day, your fire alarm is deafening the silence all around me.

[Chorus]

It is burning.
It is burning.

You can trust me; we can laugh. Together we can share our sorrow.
I will give you secrets too, an attitude that you may borrow.
Gypsy woman said to me, "One thing you must bear in your mind:
You are young and you are free, but damned if you're deceased in your own lifetime."

Oh, you have a flame; feel it in your heart.
And down at The Core is the hottest part.
We can burn without fuel.

It is burning.
It is burning.

Writer/s: CLAPTON, ERIC PATRICK / LEVY, MARCY
Publisher: Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

The Core Song Chart

Clapton wrote this based on a repeating guitar riff he came up with.

The original title was "The Riff," followed by "Burning Hot Core," and finally "The Core."

Marcy Levy, one of Clapton's backup singers, helped him write this. She also helped him with "Lay Down Sally." In 1988, using the name Marcella Detroit, she joined former Bananarama singer Siobhan Fahey to form Shakespear's Sister.

A rare Clapton song with horns. Mel Collins, who has also recorded with King Crimson and The Rolling Stones, played the sax. It was the first time Clapton used horns since his first solo album.

Eric Clapton - Tearing Us Apart

Eric Clapton - Tearing Us Apart Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: August
Released: 1986

Tearing Us Apart Lyrics

A modern man with an old-fashioned heart.
One look at her and I fell apart.
I was always the one playing it cool.
I got caught in the act, now there's no turning back.

[Chorus:]
I got tangled in love, tangled in love.
I got tangled in love, tangled in love.
I got caught up, bought up, strangled, tangled in love.
I got tangled in love, tangled in love.
A long black dress and the call of the wild.
I was a fool to think she was just a child.
Out of my mind, out of control.
Knew that feeling too well, tried to run but I fell.

[Chorus]

I never meant to feel this way,
Now I always want to stay

[Chorus]

I got tangled in love, tangled in love. [Repeat: x4]

Writer/s: CLAPTON, ERIC PATRICK/PHILLINGANES, GREGORY ARTHUR
Publisher: Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Tearing Us Apart Song Chart

Tina Turner sang with Clapton on this. She performed it at many of her concerts.

Clapton and Turner performed this in 1986 at The Prince's Trust Rock Gala in London's Wembley Stadium.

In 1993, Turner presented Clapton with the Record of the Year Grammy for "Tears In Heaven."

Clapton named the album after the month his son Conor was born. Sadly, Conor died when he fell out of a window in 1991.

Phil Collins produced this and played drums on it. He helped out Clapton on this and his previous album, Behind The Sun. Clapton played on Collin's first solo album in 1981.

Eric Clapton - Let It Rain

Eric Clapton - Let It Rain Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: Eric Clapton
Released: 1970

Let It Rain Lyrics

The rain is falling through the mist of sorrow that surrounded me
The sun could never thaw away the bliss that lays around me

[Chorus]
Let It Rain, let it rain,
Let your love rain down on me
Let it rain, let it rain,
Let it rain, rain, rain

Her life was like a desert flower burning in the sun
Until I found the way to love, it's harder said than done

Let it rain, let it rain,
Let your love rain down on me
Let it rain, let it rain,
Let it rain, rain, rain

Now I know the secret; there is nothing that I lack
If I give my love to you, you'll surely give it back

Let it rain, let it rain,
Let your love rain down on me
Let it rain, let it rain,
Let it rain, rain, rain

Let it rain, let it rain,
Let your love rain down on me
Let it rain, let it rain,
Let it rain, rain, rain

Writer/s: CLAPTON, ERIC PATRICK / BRAMLETT, BONNIE LYNN
Publisher: Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Let It Rain Song Chart

Clapton wrote this with the help of Bonnie and Delaney Bramlett. They put most of it together while they were touring together in 1969; Clapton with Blind Faith, and The Bramletts supporting them with their group Delaney & Bonnie. Blind Faith broke up after their first tour, and Clapton formed Derek and the Dominos with Delaney & Bonnie's backup group, who Clapton became friends with on the tour.

This was the last track on Clapton's first solo album. Delaney Bramlett produced it.

Organist Bobby Whitlock, bass player Carl Radle and drummer Jim Gordon were part of Clapton's backing band on his first album and played on this track. After recording the album, these four formed their own group, Derek and the Dominos, and released the classic album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.

Jim Gordon wrote the piano part for "Layla" and later suffered terrible mental illness and bludgeoned his mother to death.

Jerry Allison and Sonny Curtis sang backup on this track. They were former members of The Crickets, Buddy Holly's backup band. The female backup singers were Bonnie Bramlett and Rita Coolidge.

This wasn't released as a single until 1972, two years after the album came out. This was done to capitalize on the success of "Layla," which became a hit that year when it was re-released as a long version and after people figured out that Derek and the Dominos was Clapton's group.

This was one of the few Eric Clapton solo tracks Derek and the Dominos played when they toured. At one point, they used it to teach drummer Jim Gordon a lesson. "Jim Gordon was going on about how he never got a drum solo, so we fixed his little wagon," Bobby Whitlock said in his Songfacts interview. "We gave him a drum solo in 'Let It Rain' and it lasted for nine-and-a-half minutes. And he kept going - you could hear it in the solo. He would stop and he was looking at Eric. We were on the side of the stage behind the curtain smoking a cigarette and having a drink, and we wouldn't come back out, so he had to keep going and keep going. Okay, Mr. Drummerman, you want a solo? Take your solo."

Stephen Stills played the guitar solo in the middle of the song.

Eric Clapton - Lay Down Sally

Eric Clapton - Lay Down Sally Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: Slowhand
Released: 1977

Lay Down Sally Lyrics

There is nothing that is wrong
In wanting you to stay here with me
I know you've got somewhere to go
But won't you make yourself at home and stay with me?
And don't you ever leave

Lay down, Sally, and rest you in my arms
Don't you think you want someone to talk to?
Lay down, Sally, no need to leave so soon
I've been trying all night long just to talk to you

The sun ain't nearly on the rise
And we still got the moon and stars above
Underneath the velvet skies
Love is all that matters
Won't you stay with me?
And don't you ever leave

Lay down, Sally, and rest you in my arms
Don't you think you want someone to talk to?
Lay down, Sally, no need to leave so soon
I've been trying all night long just to talk to you

I long to see the morning light
Coloring your face so dreamily
So don't you go and say goodbye
You can lay your worries down and stay with me
And don't you ever leave

Lay down, Sally, and rest you in my arms
Don't you think you want someone to talk to?
Lay down, Sally, no need to leave so soon
I've been trying all night long just to talk to you

Lay down, Sally, and rest you in my arms
Don't you think you want someone to talk to?
Lay down, Sally, no need to leave so soon
I've been trying all night long just to talk to you

Writer/s: CLAPTON, ERIC PATRICK/LEVY, MARCY/TERRY, GEORGE E.
Publisher: Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Lay Down Sally Song Chart

This jaunty tune is one of Clapton's biggest American hits. He wrote it in the style of one of his favorite songwriters, the Oklahoma musician J.J. Cale (Clapton said the song was "as close as an Englishman could get to being J.J. Cale). The B-side of the single was Clapton's cover of Cale's song "Cocaine."

In this song, Clapton tries to convince a girl to hang out with him in bed instead of leaving. The song is not typical of Clapton's work, which is often based on the blues.

Marcy Levy, one of Clapton's backup singers, wrote this with him and sang on it. She toured with Bob Seger before joining Clapton's band in 1973. In 1988, Levy, using the name Marcella Detroit, joined former Bananarama singer Siobhan Fahey to form Shakespear's Sister.

Also getting a songwriting credit on this track is George Terry, who also played guitar on the track. Terry was a member of Clapton's band.

"Lay Down Sally" is grammatically incorrect, as it would mean taking Sally and actually placing her horizontally. When asking Sally to join him in bed, Clapton's correct grammar would be "Lie Down Sally." He's in good company: Bob Dylan also ignored this rule of grammar in "Lay Lady Lay." (thanks, Bert - Pueblo, NM)

Eric Clapton once had his hand slammed in a car door by a member of the band The Blues Project. As told in Al Kooper's Backstage Passes and Backstabbing Bastards , during the landmark 1967 concert "Murray the K's Easter Rock Extravaganza," Clapton, Steve Katz, and Kooper headed out to a local music store between sets and were a little late getting back. Hurrying out of the cab, "Steve was right behind me and as he left the cab he accidentally slammed the door right on Clapton's hand! Eric began to scream in pain, and Steve turned around, ran back, and opened the door. Miraculously, Eric hadn't broken any bones or even punctured his skin for that matter. Steve felt like a jerk, however. Can you imagine that kind of guilt?"

This is the first track on the album. Depending on who you ask, "Slowhand" was either a nickname given to Clapton by the group's manager when he was with The Yardbirds (because of his laid-back guitar style), or derived from what would happen when Clapton would break a string on stage: the audience would do a "slow hand clap" while he fixed it.

Eric Clapton - I Can't Stand It

Eric Clapton - I Can't Stand It Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: Another Ticket
Released: 1981

I Can't Stand It Lyrics

You've been told, so maybe it's time that you learned
You've been sold, maybe it's time that you earned

I Can't Stand It
You're fooling around, I can't stand it
You're running around, I can't stand it
You're fooling around with my heart

I'll explain, Ifeel like i'm being used
Make it plain, so you don't get confused

I can't stand it
You're fooling around, I can't stand it
You're running around, I can't stand it
You're fooling around with my heart

I can't stand it
You're running around, I can't stand it
You're fooling around, I can't stand it
You're playing around with my heart

It's time, time for me to let you know
Ain't no crime, no crime to let your feelings show

I can't stand it
You're fooling around, I can't stand it
You're playing around, I can't stand it
You're fooling around I can't stand it
You're running around, I can't stand it
You're playing around, I can't stand it
You're fooling around I can't stand it
You're running around, I can't stand it
You're running around, I can't stand it
Running around, I can't stand it
You're fooling around I can't stand it
Playing around, I can't stand it
You're fooling around with my heart
You're fooling around with my heart
My heart
Running around
Fooling around with my heart
Fooling around, I can't stand it
Running around, I can't stand it
Fooling around I can't stand it
Fooling around I can't stand it
Fooling around I can't stand it
Running around I can't stand it
Fooling around I can't stand it
Running around
Running around
Running around
Running around
Running around

Writer/s: CLAPTON, ERIC PATRICK
Publisher: Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

I Can't Stand It Song Chart

Clapton is rooted in Blues, which is evident on this song where he tells his lover he can't stand her cheating and isn't going to put up with it anymore.

Clapton added some new members to his band before recording this, including Albert Lee on guitar and Gary Brooker, formerly of Procol Harum, on keyboards. The band lasted only one album, but Clapton remained good friends with Brooker.

A month after this was released, Clapton developed severe ulcers and almost died. Years of alcohol and pain killers were responsible.

Clapton got the album title from a friend who was always asking for another ticket to his shows.

Eric Clapton - Forever Man

Eric Clapton - Forever Man Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: Behind The Sun
Released: 1985

Forever Man Lyrics

How many times must I tell you baby
How many bridges I've got to cross
How many times must I swear to myself
Before I can talk to the boss
Before I can talk to the boss

[Repeat: x2]
How many times must I say I love you
Before you finally understand
Won't you be my forever woman
I'll try to be your Forever Man
Try to be your forever man

Forever man, forever man, forever man
Forever man, forever man, forever man
I'll try to be your forever man
Forever man, forever man, forever man
Forever man, forever man, forever man
Forever man, forever man, forever man
I'll try to be your forever man

Writer/s: JERRY LYNN WILLIAMS
Publisher: BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Forever Man Song Chart

This was one of the last songs added to the album. Clapton's record company wanted songs that were more upbeat, so this was included.

Songwriter Jerry Williams wrote this and two other songs on the album.

Clapton's marriage was in bad shape at the time. This is a positive song affirming his love, but many of the songs Clapton wrote on the album, including "Just Like A Prisoner" and "She's Waiting (For Another Lover)," express his doubts about his marriage.

Clapton married his wife Pattie in 1979. She was previously married to George Harrison, which didn't stop Clapton from expressing his love for her on the album Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs in 1970. Eric and Pattie divorced in 1988.

The album title comes from the song "Louisiana Blues" by Muddy Waters, which contains the line, "I'm going to New Orleans, baby, behind the sun."

Clapton had a new band for this album. It included Tim Renwick, Chris Stainton, and Donald "Duck" Dunn.

Eric Clapton - Before You Accuse Me

Eric Clapton - Before You Accuse Me Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: Journeyman
Released: 1989

Before You Accuse Me Lyrics

Before You Accuse Me, take a look at yourself
Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself
You say I've been spendin' my money on other women
But you've been runnin' with somebody else

I called your mama 'bout three or four nights ago
I called your mama 'bout three or four nights ago
Well your mother said 'son,
Don't call my daughter no more'

Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself
Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself
Well now you say I've been runnin' around
But you got somebody else

Come on back home baby, try my love one more time
Come on back home baby, try my love one more time
Well now you've been gone away so long
I'm gonna lose my mind

Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself
Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself
Well now you say I've been buyin' other women clothes
You've been taking money from somebody else

Writer/s: MCDANIEL, ELLAS
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Before You Accuse Me Song Chart

This song was written and originally recorded by the rock pioneer Bo Diddley in 1957. The composer credits are listed as his real name: Ellas McDaniel. Clapton released the song as the B-side of "Bad Love," the first single from Journeyman.

Clapton used to perform this song in his early days with The Yardbirds. He never considered putting it on a record until guitarist Robert Cray and drummer Jim Keltner started jamming on the tune one day in the studio during the Journeyman sessions. The Cray/Clapton combo on this song make it a favorite of guitar aficionados.

Creedence Clearwater Revival recorded this on their Cosmo's Factory album. The song was covered by The 13th Floor Elevators, a marginally successful 1960s psychedelic band from Austin. (thanks, Mason - San Antonio, TX)

Eric Clapton - Bad Love

Eric Clapton - Bad Love Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: Journeyman
Released: 1989

Bad Love Lyrics

Oh what a feeling I get when I'm with you
You take my heart into everything you do
And it makes me sad for the lonely people
I walked that road for so long
Now I know that I'm one of the lucky people
Your love is making me strong

[Chorus:]
I've had enough Bad Love
I need something I can be proud of
I've had enough bad love
No more bad love

And now I see that my life has been so blue
With all the heartaches I had till I met you
But I'm glad to say now that's all behind me
With you here by my side
And there's no more memories to remind me
Your love will keep me alive

[Chorus: x3]

Writer/s: DONNA ALLEN/LOU PACE/GARY KING/REGGIE WHITE/LARRY KING
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Bad Love Song Chart

Mick Jones from the band Foreigner wrote this with Clapton. It's not the first time Jones had worked with other rock stars: he produced Van Halen's 5150 album.

This won the 1990 Grammy for Best Rock Vocal. Clapton got a Grammy in 1972 for playing on the Concert For Bangladesh, which won Best Album, but this was his first as a solo artist. He won six more in 1993, including three for "Tears In Heaven."

Clapton's record company, Warner Brothers, was pressuring him to write something similar to "Layla" so they could have a hit from the Journeyman album. So, setting out to write a hit song with Mick Jones, Clapton followed his "Layla" formula to create this song.

Phil Collins played on the Journeyman album and sang backup on some tracks. Clapton played on Collins' first album in 1981.

The bridge is based on "Badge," which is one of Clapton's hits with Cream. Mick Jones had the idea to use it.

This was released as the first single from Journeyman, the first album Clapton released after his Crossroads boxed set.

Eric Clapton - Tears In Heaven

Eric Clapton - Tears In Heaven Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: Rush Soundtrack
Released: 1992

Tears In Heaven Lyrics

Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same
If I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong and carry on
'Cause I know I don't belong here in heaven

Would you hold my hand
If I saw you in heaven?
Would you help me stand
If I saw you in heaven?
I'll find my way through night and day
'Cause I know I just can't stay here in heaven

Time can bring you down, time can bend your knees
Time can break your heart, have you begging please, begging please

Beyond the door there's peace I'm sure
And I know there'll be no more Tears In Heaven

Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same
If I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong and carry on
'Cause I know I don't belong here in heaven

Writer/s: CLAPTON, ERIC PATRICK/JENNINGS, WILL
Publisher: Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Tears In Heaven Song Chart

Clapton wrote this about his four-year-old son Conor, who died when he fell out of a 53rd floor window in the apartment where his mother was staying in New York City. Clapton had one other child at the time: His daughter Ruth was born in 1987, the year after Conor was born.

Clapton wrote this with Will Jennings, who has written many famous songs from movies, including "Up Where We Belong" from An Officer And A Gentleman and "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic. Jennings wrote the lyrics to many of Steve Winwood's hits and has also written with B.B. King, Roy Orbison, The Crusaders, Peter Wolf and many others. He told us:
"Eric and I were engaged to write a song for a movie called Rush. We wrote a song called 'Help Me Up' for the end of the movie... then Eric saw another place in the movie for a song and he said to me, 'I want to write a song about my boy.' Eric had the first verse of the song written, which, to me, is all the song, but he wanted me to write the rest of the verse lines and the release ('Time can bring you down, time can bend your knees...'), even though I told him that it was so personal he should write everything himself. He told me that he had admired the work I did with Steve Winwood and finally there was nothing else but do to as he requested, despite the sensitivity of the subject. This is a song so personal and so sad that it is unique in my experience of writing songs."

Clapton knew of Jennings from his work with Steve Winwood. Says Jennings: "Eric and Steve go back, they made that one record together years ago (with Blind Faith), and Eric followed all our writing from Arc Of A Diver, because he always kept up with Steve. We wrote an album called Talking Back To The Night that Steve and I did, and then the third album we wrote was the Back In The High Life album. So Eric knew about that, and he knew about the Crusaders things and the B.B. King things. He had said he always wanted to get together and write, so he called me for the film. Russ Titelman, who had produced the Back In The High Life album, was involved in the film, and that was the other connection."

Jennings revised the lyrics as Clapton and his band worked on it in the studio. They had no idea it would be a huge hit. Says Jennings, "It was furthest through from my mind, really. I was so involved in the sensitivity of the subject, and I didn't even think about that. I'm passionate about all the songs I write, but it was just in another place entirely, another category." (Check out our interview with Will Jennings.)

Conor's mother is actress Lory Del Santo. She and Clapton began dating while he was going through a divorce with his wife Pattie.

After Conor's death, Clapton appeared in Public Service Announcements urging parents to put up gates to keep their children away from danger.

This won Grammys in 1993 for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Male Pop Vocal. Clapton was nominated for nine Grammys that year and won six.

Clapton played an acoustic version on his 1992 MTV Unplugged special. The performance was made into a very successful album, featuring acoustic versions of "Layla" and "Before You Accuse Me." The acoustic version was used a the B-side of the acoustic "Layla" single in 1992.

Clapton's 1986 album August is named for the month Conor was born.

In March 2004, Eric stopped playing this and "My Father's Eyes" in concert. While touring Japan in November and December 2003, he discovered he could no longer perform them. Said Clapton: "I didn't feel the loss anymore, which is so much a part of performing those songs. I really have to connect with he feelings that were there when I wrote them. They're kind of gone and I really don't want them to come back, particularly. My life is different now. They probably just need a rest and maybe I'll introduce them for a much more detached point of view." (thanks, harvey - jackson, MI)

Clapton wrote about this song in his 2007 autobiography: "The most powerful of the new songs was 'Tears in Heaven.' Musically, I had always been haunted by Jimmy Cliff's song 'Many Rivers to Cross' and wanted to borrow from that chord progression, but essentially I wrote this one to ask the question I had been asking myself ever since my grandfather had died. Will we really meet again? It's difficult to talk about these songs in depth, that's why they're songs. Their birth and development is what kept me alive through the darkest period of my life. When I try to take myself back to that time, to recall the terrible numbness that I lived in, I recoil in fear. I never want to go through anything like that again. Originally, these songs were never meant for publication or public consumption; they were just what I did to stop from going mad. I played them to myself, over and over, constantly changing or refining them, until they were part of my being."