The group debuted at the Lyceum Theatre in London on June 14, 1970 where the announcer mispronounced their provisional name of Eric and the Dynamos to Derek and the Dominos, the band decided to take up the new name and undertook a summer tour of England. From late August to early October, working at Criteria Studios in Miami with legendary Atlantic Records producer Tom Dowd, the band recorded Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, a brilliant double album now widely regarded as Clapton's masterpiece. Most of the material, including Layla (which soon became an FM radio staple) was inspired by Clapton's unrequited love for Pattie Boyd who was married to his best friend George Harrison. Clapton was seeing Pattie secretly at the time and Whitlock was dating her sister. It was not until much later that the affair was open; Boyd moved in with Clapton in 1974 and married him in 1979. However, they were separated in 1985 when Clapton started a relationship with Yvonne Khan Kelly and they divorced in 1988. The two-part song "Layla" was recorded in separate sessions; the opening guitar section was recorded first, with the second section following several months later. The second section was an elegiac piano piece composed and played by drummer Jim Gordon; early on, he objected to it being added onto Layla, but after some arguing among the band's members he finally agreed.
The Layla LP was actually recorded by a five-piece version of the group, thanks to the unforeseen inclusion of slide guitar virtuoso Duane Allman of The Allman Brothers Band. Clapton recorded most of the album while lying on the floor strung out on drugs. The band was heavily into drugs at this time, but, unlike many artists such as The Beatles, Clapton feels this did not hurt the recording process. A few days into the Layla sessions, Dowd, who was also producing the Allmans, invited Clapton to an Allman Brothers outdoor concert in Miami. The two guitarists who previously knew each other only by reputation, met backstage after the show, and then both bands repaired to the studio to jam (an impromptu session which, happily, was captured on tape). Clapton and Allman "fell in love" with each other's playing and became instant friends, so Allman was immediately invited to become the fifth member of The Dominos. (These studio jams were eventually released as part of the 3-CD 20th-anniversary edition of the album.)
When Allman and Clapton met, The Dominos had already recorded three tracks (I Looked Away, Bell Bottom Blues and Keep On Growing); Allman debuted on the fourth cut, Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out, and contributed some of his most sublime slide-guitar playing to the remainder of the LP. The album was heavily blues-influenced and featured a winning combination of the twin guitars of Allman and Clapton, with Allman's incendiary slide-guitar a key ingredient of the sound. It showcased some of Clapton's strongest material to date, as well as arguably some of his best guitar playing, with Whitlock also contributing several superb numbers, and his powerful, soul-influenced voice.
Any Day
Derek and the Dominos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Please leave me alone.
Nothing in this world can make me stay.
I'd rather go back, I'd rather go back home."
But if you believed in me like I believe in you,
We could have a love so true, we would go on endlessly.
And I know anyday, anyday, I will see you smile.
Any way, any way, only for a little while.
When this old world has got you down.
I'll be right here, so woman call me
And I'll never ever let you down.
[Chorus ]
And I know anyday, anyday, I will see you smile.
Any way, any way, only for a little while.
To break the glass and twist the knife into yourself;
You've got to be a fool to understand.
To bring your woman back home after she's left you for another,
You've got to be a, you've got to be a man.
[Chorus]
Anyday, anyday, I will see you, I will see you smile.
Any way, any way, only for a little while.
Anyday, anyday, I will see you smile.
Any way, any way, just for a little, just for a little while.
The lyrics to Derek and the Dominos's song "Any Day" convey a sense of hope and determination in the face of adversity. The first verse appears to be a plea for space and solitude, as the singer hears the other person saying "Please leave me alone...I'd rather go back home." But then the lyrics take a turn, as the singer professes a belief in the potential for a deep and enduring love between the two of them: "But if you believed in me like I believe in you, we could have a love so true, we would go on endlessly." The chorus echoes this sense of hope and faith, with the repeated lines "And I know anyday, anyday, I will see you smile. Any way, any way, only for a little while."
The second verse shifts focus slightly to highlight the challenges and pains of love and relationships. The first two lines are somewhat cryptic - "To break the glass and twist the knife into yourself; you've got to be a fool to understand." These lines could be interpreted as a warning against self-harm or self-destructive behavior, or perhaps as a metaphor for the risks and sacrifices required in order to truly love someone. The remainder of the verse speaks more plainly about the difficulty of winning back a lover who has left for another: "To bring your woman back home after she's left you for another, you've got to be a man." This final line implies that loyalty and perseverance are essential qualities in a successful relationship.
Overall, the lyrics to "Any Day" are full of emotion and sincerity, conveyed through Eric Clapton's powerful vocals and the band's expert musicianship. The song's message of hope in the face of difficulty resonates strongly with listeners, and has helped to make it a beloved classic in the rock canon.
Line by Line Meaning
You were talking and I thought I heard you say
I heard you say something but I wasn't sure, it was probably about wanting to be left alone
"Please leave me alone.
You explicitly said that you want to be left alone
Nothing in this world can make me stay.
There is nothing that could make you want to stay in this situation
I'd rather go back, I'd rather go back home."
You would rather go back to where you feel comfortable, back to where you belong
But if you believed in me like I believe in you,
If we had trust and faith in each other,
We could have a love so true, we would go on endlessly.
Our love could be so strong that it would last forever
And I know anyday, anyday, I will see you smile.
I have faith that I will see you happy again someday
Any way, any way, only for a little while.
Even if it's just for a short time
Well someday baby, I know you're gonna need me
I know that one day you will need my help
When this old world has got you down.
When life gets hard and you're feeling hopeless
I'll be right here, so woman call me
I'll always be here for you, so don't hesitate to call me
And I'll never ever let you down.
I will always be there for you, no matter what
To break the glass and twist the knife into yourself;
To harm yourself further when you're already hurt;
You've got to be a fool to understand.
It takes a foolish person to do that to themselves and to truly understand why
To bring your woman back home after she's left you for another,
To forgive and take back someone who has hurt you by leaving you for someone else,
You've got to be a, you've got to be a man.
It takes a courageous, strong person to do that
And I know anyday, anyday, I will see you smile.
I have faith that someday you will be happy again
Any way, any way, only for a little while.
Even if it's just for a brief moment
Anyday, anyday, I will see you smile.
I believe that someday you will be happy again
Any way, any way, just for a little, just for a little while.
Even if it's just for a short time
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CLAPTON, ERIC PATRICK / WHITLOCK, BOBBY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hippydippy
Bobby deserves so much more credit for his contributions to this album than he's ever been credited for. In fact... It's almost a crime. His song writing, soulful gospel voice & keyboards guided this whole album. It would NEVER have been the same without him. Hail Bobby!
@Bradfiddle
Amen to that! Whitlock has never received the acclaim he deserved with George Harrison or the Layla album. From the 1st time I listened to Layla in 1971, his writing and soulful vocals stood out above Clapton's and his kybd contribution were as 'instrumental' as Eric and Duane's guitars.
@romolahodas2413
@@Bradfiddle I agree...he was great. We lost him way too early.
@matthewstetson1840
@@romolahodas2413 Maybe in your head but in reality Bobby Whitlock still walks the Earth.
@staggerproof5589
Agreed. One of the least appreciated singers and songwriters of his time.
@johnmaer
@@romolahodas2413 We haven't lost him yet. Where do you see an Obit?
@josephgonzalez4380
Jim Gordon, tortured soul, great drummer on this incredible album, passed away today. RIP ✨
@larryrubin5150
Wow. Didn't know that. He refused parole hearings gave up. RIP Mr Gordon
@anthonygiordano8237
One of the most overlooked rock songs of all-time
@RealArtsMedia
word