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.
Rambling on My Mind
Derek and the Dominos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've got rambling all on my mind
I've got rambling
I've got rambling all on my mind
Is to leave my baby
'Cause she treat me so unkind
I'm going down to the station
Catch that old first mail train, see
I'm going down to the station
Catch that old first mail train, see
I got the blues 'bout miss so and so
And her son's got the blue about me
I got mean things
I got mean things all on my mind
Lil' girl, lil' girl
I got mean things all on my mind
Is to leave my baby
'Cause she treat me so unkind
The lyrics to Derek and the Dominoes' song "Rambling on My Mind" are an expression of the singer's desire to leave his baby because she treats him badly. He's got rambling all on his mind, which refers to his constant thoughts and need to move on from this relationship. The line "I got the blues 'bout miss so and so, and her son's got the blues about me" suggests that there is a complicated history between the singer and his partner's family, possibly causing additional stress and conflict in the relationship. The line "I got mean things all on my mind" reveals that the singer is harboring negative feelings towards his partner, but also acknowledges that leaving is the best course of action for him.
The use of repetition throughout the song reinforces the singer's frustration and restlessness. The repetition of the phrase "I've got rambling" reflects the constant state of mind he is in, while the repetition of the line "Is to leave my baby, 'cause she treat me so unkind" emphasizes the reason for his desire to leave. The line "I'm going down to the station, catch that old first mail train, see" adds a sense of urgency to the situation, painting the picture of a man who is ready to get out of town and move on with his life.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got rambling
I have an urge to leave and wander aimlessly
I've got rambling all on my mind
My mind is consumed by the desire to leave
Is to leave my baby
The reason for my rambling is to leave my girlfriend
'Cause she treat me so unkind
Because she has not been treating me well
I'm going down to the station
I am heading towards the train station
Catch that old first mail train, see
I intend to catch the earliest train available
I got the blues 'bout miss so and so
I am feeling sad about a certain woman, Miss So-and-So
And her son's got the blue about me
And her son is also feeling down or negative towards me
I got mean things
I have unpleasant thoughts or feelings
Lil' girl, lil' girl
Addressing his girlfriend
I got mean things all on my mind
My mind is consumed by negative thoughts and feelings
Is to leave my baby
The reason for my negative thoughts and feelings is to leave my girlfriend
'Cause she treat me so unkind
Because she has not been treating me well
Lyrics © THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY,
Written by: ROBERT LEROY JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
GuitarlosCarlos
MARCY LEVY WAS IN MY BAND FOR 3 1/2 YRS 03~05+
WE WROTE A LOT OF SONGS WE DID A LOT OF COOL GIGS
AND WE HAD A LOT OF FUN
SCROLL DOWN FOR A SONG
CARLOS GUITARLOS USA HIGHLAND PARK L.A. 90042
"SAVE A DANCE" A 2005
FROM 'HELL CAN WAIT'
SUNG WITH MARCELLA
USE HEADPHONES OR BUDS
http://www.carlosguitarlosmusic.com/carlos/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/05-Save-a-Dance.mp3
Darrell Jones
Been listening to EC for over 40 yr. now and it still sounds as fresh as the first time I heard it. This rendition of Ramblin is the best. For my money Clapton is the best.
Conception McCrimmon
This version is way faster than all versions I heard before. It is now my fave of all.
Bluesful1
Yes this is Dust My Blues but words from I got Ramblin
Miguel Ángel Acevedo Sollano
Buen blues y mejor interprete!!!
Darleen Hopewell
Fantastic! Loving your playlist
TOM Virgo
My favorite version of Rambling by the great EC.
ponkelonke
Thanks for Sharing this Great Performance !!!
claptongroupie
Another great one from you slowhand44dz..thanks so much for sharing, its a gem :-)
Baci302
Bobby Whitlock was EC's best singing/writing partner, with apologies to Jack Bruce.
matteo mike
Best Clapton era