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.
Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out
Derek and the Dominos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spent all my money, I just did not care.
Took all my friends out for a good time,
Bought bootleg whiskey, champagne and wine.
Then I began to fall so low,
Lost all my good friends, I did not have nowhere to go.
I get my hands on a dollar again,
I'm gonna hang on to it till that eagle grins.
Cause no, no, nobody knows you
When you're down and out.
In your pocket, not one penny,
And as for friends, you don't have any.
When you finally get back up on your feet again,
Everybody wants to be your old long-lost friend.
Said it's mighty strange, without a doubt,
Nobody knows you when you're down and out.
When you finally get back upon your feet again,
Everybody wants to be your good old long-lost friend.
Said it's mighty strange,
Nobody knows you,
Nobody knows you,
Nobody knows you when you're down and out.
The lyrics of "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" by Derek and the Dominos tell the story of a person who once lived a wealthy and lavish lifestyle, but after losing everything, including their friends, they realize the true value of money and the importance of enduring relationships. The song is written in a bluesy style and features Eric Clapton's signature guitar playing, which adds to the somber tone of the song.
The first verse describes the luxurious lifestyle of the singer, who worked hard and earned a lot of money. However, they didn't give much thought to the idea of saving money or investments, and instead spent it all on their friends and expensive drinks. The second verse then shows how the singer's life takes a sudden and drastic turn, as they fall from their high position and lose all their friends in the process. The line "I did not have nowhere to go" emphasizes the feeling of complete isolation and despair that the singer is experiencing.
The chorus then drives home the main message of the song, with the repeated refrain of "nobody knows you when you're down and out." The song explains how even the closest friends will disappear when things go south, and how difficult it is to find loyal and genuine friendship during hard times. The final verse then shows how once the singer has regained their wealth, they suddenly have many people wanting to be their friend again. The song implies that this shift in treatment is part of the reason why the singer is now more cautious and sensible with their money.
Line by Line Meaning
Once I lived the life of a millionaire,
At one point in my life, I was wealthy and lived lavishly.
Spent all my money, I just did not care.
I eventually spent all my money carelessly and without concern.
Took all my friends out for a good time,
I would bring my friends out and treat them to enjoyable experiences.
Bought bootleg whiskey, champagne and wine.
I would purchase illegal alcohol and expensive drinks for myself and those I was with.
Then I began to fall so low,
My financial and personal situation took a turn for the worse.
Lost all my good friends, I did not have nowhere to go.
As my wealth dwindled, I also lost the friendships I thought were strong and reliable.
I get my hands on a dollar again,
If I ever come into contact with money again, regardless of the amount, I will hold onto it tightly.
I'm gonna hang on to it till that eagle grins.
I will save and preserve my money until it can grow and flourish.
Cause no, no, nobody knows you
The harsh reality of life is that people will not care, will not notice or acknowledge you if you are not in a position of wealth or high status.
When you're down and out.
When you have hit rock bottom, people will ignore or abandon you in your time of need.
In your pocket, not one penny,
When you are broke, you literally have no money to your name.
And as for friends, you don't have any.
Your social circle may abandon you or stagnate when you are financially struggling.
When you finally get back up on your feet again,
If you manage to recover or regain your previous prosperity, status or success...
Everybody wants to be your old long-lost friend.
...many people who ignored or abandoned you will suddenly come back and try to connect with you.
Said it's mighty strange, without a doubt,
I find it perplexing and odd that people only seem to care about me when I am in a position of wealth and power.
Nobody knows you when you're down and out.
The sad truth is that when you have nothing, many people will not see you or be there for you.
When you finally get back upon your feet again,
If you overcome your struggles and regain success or wealth...
Everybody wants to be your good old long-lost friend.
...those who neglected or abandoned you might try to reconnect and build on your newfound status or success.
Said it's mighty strange,
The situation is peculiar and somewhat inexplicable ...
Nobody knows you,
...as the truth is that you only really matter to people when you are successful or wealthy.
Nobody knows you,
No one is really present or there for you in your darkest times in the way they were when you had everything going for you.
Nobody knows you when you're down and out.
It is only when you have lost everything that you realize who your true friends and supporters are, if any.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jimmy Cox
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@richardzuelch375
Even after 46 years, this album just never gets old.
@anjilenagrace9868
Richard Zuelch 46 is a good number
@raycali1946
Richard Zuelch Nope. Gets better with age. Like a fine wine.
@raycali1946
Richard Zuelch Nope. Sounds like Eric recorded yesterday. Blues just never gets dated . Especially when Clapton does all the solo’s. The guy is a guitar prodigy. Was born to play the blues
@PwlTwlGuy
Still music to my ears in 2020.
@eksanataprawira
almost 50th anniversary, i will wait for it
@dannybrazen
i love the kind of sad desperation in clapton's voice in the dominoes era. it just sounds so heartfelt and so heartbreaking. in the unplugged album the lyrics to this sound like a jokey anecdote about being broke, in this they sound so damn real man, like you've lost absolutely everything
@davidpaulsen2962
The "original" blues version by Scrapper Blackwell sounds a lot more like Clapton's Unplugged version. Or vice versa. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=626pNZB8xXE
@barbaraann7610
Me too! Raw desperation, intense feelings, as if he's sharing his very soul.
@Brian-pr1dq
Wonderfully put sir!