Blind Faith were an English blues-rock band that comprised Eric Clapton, Gi… Read Full Bio ↴Blind Faith were an English blues-rock band that comprised Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, Steve Winwood and Ric (aka Rick) Grech. The band, which was one of the first "super-groups", released their only album, Blind Faith, in August 1969.

Blind Faith formed in London, England, in late 1968 when Eric Clapton (ex-Cream) and Steve Winwood (ex-Traffic) were at loose ends following the demise of their former bands and began to spend time together again, jamming and working on new material at Clapton's house in Surrey (they had previously collaborated on a Clapton project called Eric Clapton & The Powerhouse. At Winwood's instigation, Cream's former drummer Ginger Baker was invited along, and they subsequently spent some time recording in the studio. Rick Grech, bassist with Family, was invited to join them...and he left Family, mid-tour! Record producer Jimmy Miller came in to bring some focus to the recording of further material.

News of the formation of the group created a buzz of excitement among the public, and a free concert was scheduled for London's Hyde Park on June 7, 1969. Their small repertoire was reported by the music press as having disappointed the crowd of 100,000 who were also expecting to hear songs from the days of Cream and Traffic. The recording of their album continued; followed by a short tour of Scandinavia, then a U.S. tour from July 11 (Newport) to August 24 (Hawaii), supported by Free and Delaney & Bonnie and Friends.

Audience reaction in the USA was similar to that in the UK, and the band was forced to appease them by playing a couple of Cream and Traffic songs. The management pressure to cash in on the hyperbole (the Press dubbed them a supergroup), and Baker's view that the group was a continuation of Cream soured feelings within the band, and they disbanded immediately after completing the U.S. tour.

An expanded, deluxe edition of the album was released in 2001, with previously unreleased tracks and jams included. Two live tracks from the Hyde Park concert, "Sleeping in the Ground" by Sam Myers and the Rolling Stones song "Under My Thumb" are also available on Winwood's 4-CD retrospective The Finer Things.

The band dissolved in 1969 after only a year together. Winwood reformed Traffic, and later, a solo career. Clapton stepped out of the spotlight, first to sit in with the Plastic Ono Band, and then to tour as a sideman for Delaney & Bonnie and Friends.

Upon its release, Blind Faith topped Billboard's Pop Albums chart in America (as it did the UK charts) and peaked at #40 on the Black Albums chart, an impressive feat for a British rock quartet.

Do What You Like
Blind Faith Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Do right, use your head.
Everybody must be fed.
Get together, break your bread.
Yes, together, that's what I said.
Do what you like.

Don't fight, use your head.
It's all right every night.

Do what you like, that's what I said.
Everybody must be fed.
Do what you like.

Open your eyes.
Realize you're not dead.
Take a look at an open book.

Do what you like, that's what I said.
Do what you like.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Blind Faith's song "Do What You Like" communicate a message encouraging individuals to live life as they please as long as they are considerate of others. The opening lines advise listeners to make wise decisions while also reminding them of the importance of ensuring everyone has their basic needs met. The subsequent lines urge people to come together in harmony, share their resources and support one another.

The chorus repeatedly emphasizes the freedom to do as one pleases, while stressing the importance of being considerate of others. The lyrics encourage openness and exploration, telling listeners to open their eyes and explore the world. The final lines invite listeners to live life as they enjoy it, with the key emphasis being to do so without harming others or imposing on their happiness.

The lyrics to "Do What You Like" embody the spirit of the 1960s, with its messages of free love, peace, and understanding. However, the song is also rooted in the blues and rock genres, with its iconic guitar riffs, powerful drumming, and the bluesy vocal stylings of Steve Winwood. Overall, "Do What You Like" is a timeless classic that continues to inspire people to live authentically and compassionately.

Line by Line Meaning

Do right, use your head.
Make good decisions and use your intelligence.

Everybody must be fed.
It's important for everyone to have their basic needs met.

Get together, break your bread.
Come together and share food as a symbol of unity.

Yes, together, that's what I said.
Reinforcing the message of coming together as a group.

Don't fight, use your head.
Avoid conflict and use your intelligence to solve problems.

It's all right every night.
Everything is okay, no need to worry.

Open your eyes.
Be aware and observant of the world around you.

Realize you're not dead.
Be grateful for life and seize the day.

Take a look at an open book.
Take the time to learn and expand your knowledge.

Do what you like, that's what I said.
Encouraging individuality and pursuing one's own interests.

Everybody must be fed.
Repeating the importance of meeting basic needs for all.