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.
Crossroads
Derek and the Dominos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I went down to the crossroads, fell down on my knees
Asked the lord above for mercy, "save me if you please"
I went down to the crossroads, tried to flag a ride
I went down to the crossroads, tried to flag a ride
Nobody seemed to know me, everybody passed me by
I'm going down to rosedale, take my rider by my side
I'm going down to rosedale, take my rider by my side
You can still barrelhouse, baby, on the riverside
You can run, you can run, tell my friend-boy willie brown
You can run, you can run, tell my friend-boy willie brown
And I'm standing at the crossroads, believe I'm sinking down
The lyrics of Derek and the Dominos's song Crossroads speak of a person's desperation as they turn to the Lord for salvation. The singer expresses their hopelessness at the crossroads and kneels down, asking for mercy. They go on to describe their attempts to get a ride out of there, but no one pays any attention to them. It seems like they're trying to escape something terrible, but no one is willing to help them. In the final lines, the singer seems to accept their fate and predicts their own downfall.
The crossroads have a lot of significance in mythology and literature. They're often seen as a place of transformation and decision-making. In African American folklore, it's believed that the devil meets people at the crossroads and offers them a deal for their soul in exchange for talent or success. The singer of this song seems to be dealing with something very similar, as they're desperate for salvation but seem to be acknowledging their own downfall.
Line by Line Meaning
I went down to the crossroads, fell down on my knees
I came to a point in my life where I felt lost and helpless, and desperately prayed for guidance and mercy.
Asked the lord above for mercy, "save me if you please"
I pleaded to a higher power for assistance and begged for salvation from my struggles.
I went down to the crossroads, tried to flag a ride
I attempted to find a way out of my predicament, but nothing seemed to present itself.
Nobody seemed to know me, everybody passed me by
I felt completely alone and unrecognized, as though no one could comprehend the depth of my troubles.
I'm going down to rosedale, take my rider by my side
I plan to go to a specific place with someone dear to me, where we can take comfort in one another's company.
You can still barrelhouse, baby, on the riverside
Despite the challenges I face, there are still aspects of life that are enjoyable and worth celebrating.
You can run, you can run, tell my friend-boy willie brown
You may try to escape from your problems, but they will follow you wherever you may go. Pass this message on to my friend, Willie Brown.
And I'm standing at the crossroads, believe I'm sinking down
My troubles have reached a critical point, and I fear that I may not be able to rise above my struggles.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: Wendy Waldman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind