As Duane Allman's debut does not come until the album's fourth track (the blues standard "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out"), "Bell Bottom Blues" features only Clapton on guitar; Clapton compensates for this by overdubbing rhythm and lead parts. The track is likely the second-best known cut from the album, surpassed only by the famous title track, "Layla".
Bell-bottoms are a style of trousers that were popular at the time. According to Clapton,[1] the song was written for Pattie Boyd after she requested him to get her a pair of bell bottom blue jeans from the USA. Clapton wrote the song for her, as many others in the album such as "I Looked Away". During some tours, he has played the song as part of an acoustic set, such as One More Car, One More Rider. He played the song along with Bobby Whitlock on Later with Jools Holland in April 2000.
Bell Bottom Blues
Derek and the Dominos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't want to lose this feeling
And if I could choose a place to die
It would be in your arms
Do you want to see me crawl across the floor to you?
Do you want to hear me beg you to take me back?
I'd gladly do it because
Give me one more day, please
I don't want to fade away
In your heart I want to stay
It's all wrong, but it's all right
The way that you treat me baby
Once I was strong but I lost the fight
You won't find a better loser
Do you want to see me crawl across the floor to you?
Do you want to hear me beg you to take me back?
I'd gladly do it because
I don't want to fade away
Give me one more day, please
I don't want to fade away
In your heart I want to stay
Do you want to see me crawl across the floor to you?
Do you want to hear me beg you to take me back?
I'd gladly do it 'cause
I don't want to fade away
Give me one more day, please
I don't want to fade away
In your heart I want to stay
Bell bottom blues, don't say goodbye
I'm sure we're gonna meet again
And if we do, don't you be surprised
If you find me with another lover
Do you want to see me crawl across the floor to you?
Do you want to hear me beg you to take me back?
I'd gladly do it 'cause
I don't want to fade away
Give me one more day, please
I don't want to fade away
In your heart I want to stay
I don't want to fade away
Give me one more day please
I don't want to fade away
In your heart I want to stay
I don't want to fade away
Give me one more day please
I don't want to fade away
In your heart I want to stay
The lyrics to Derek and the Dominos’s song Bell Bottom Blues speak about the emotional turmoil of heartbreak and the desperation to hold onto love. The opening lines set the melancholic tone of the song, with the singer expressing how the person they love has made them cry. Despite the pain caused by the relationship, the singer does not want to let go of the feeling they experience when they’re with their lover. They even suggest that they would want to die in their arms, emphasizing the intensity of their love.
The following lines, “Do you want to see me crawl across the floor to you? Do you want to hear me beg you to take me back?” demonstrate the singer’s willingness to do anything to be with their lover once again, even if it means them sacrificing their pride. The lines reveal the singer’s desperation and the state of vulnerability they are in. They’re afraid to fade away and want to hold onto the relationship at all costs. The last lines of the song suggest that the singer accepts the possibility of moving on but also that they want to keep their lover in their heart always.
Line by Line Meaning
Bell bottom blues, you made me cry
Your love has brought me to tears.
I don't want to lose this feeling
I'm afraid of losing the love and connection we have.
And if I could choose a place to die
It would be in your arms
I want to be with you until the very end.
Do you want to see me crawl across the floor to you?
Are you willing to make me grovel and beg for your love?
Do you want to hear me beg you to take me back?
Will you listen to my pleas to give our relationship another chance?
I'd gladly do it because
I don't want to fade away
Give me one more day, please
I don't want to fade away
In your heart I want to stay
I'm willing to do anything to keep our love alive, even if it means giving up my pride to make things right.
It's all wrong, but it's all right
The way that you treat me baby
Once I was strong but I lost the fight
You won't find a better loser
Though I know your treatment of me is unacceptable, I can't help but stay and beg for your affection.
Bell bottom blues, don't say goodbye
I'm sure we're gonna meet again
And if we do, don't you be surprised
If you find me with another lover
I can't bear the thought of our love ending, but if it does, don't be shocked if I try to find someone else to fill the void.
I don't want to fade away
Give me one more day please
I don't want to fade away
In your heart I want to stay
I'm desperate to hold on to our love and willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ERIC PATRICK CLAPTON, BOBBY WHITLOCK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind