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.
Tell The Truth
Derek and the Dominos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell the truth.
Tell me who's been fooling you?
Tell the truth.
Who's been fooling who?
There you sit there, looking so cool
While the whole show is passing you by.
The whole world is shaking now. Can't you feel it?
A new dawn is breaking now. Can't you see it?
[Chorus]
It doesn't matter just who you are,
Or where you're going or been.
Open your eyes and look into your heart.
The whole world is shaking now. Can't you feel it?
A new dawn is breaking now. Can't you see it?
I said see it, yeah, can't you see it?
Can't you see it, yeah, can't you see it?
I can see it, yeah.
[Chorus]
Hear what I say, 'cause every word is true.
You know I wouldn't tell you no lies.
Your time's coming, gonna be soon, boy.
[Repeat: x2]
It doesn't matter just who you are,
Or where you're going or been.
Open your eyes and look into your heart.
The lyrics to Derek and the Dominos's song Tell the Truth are an urgent call to action for people to stop living in a state of denial and face the reality of the world around them. The chorus repeats the phrase "Tell the truth," interrogating the listener about who has been fooling them, stressing the importance of honesty and critical thinking.
The first verse specifically addresses someone who is "looking so cool" while the world is passing them by. The lyrics encourage the listener to come to terms with their fellow human beings and recognize that the world is changing rapidly. The lines "The whole world is shaking now, can't you feel it? A new dawn is breaking now, can't you see it?" are a call to action for people to be aware of the political and social upheavals happening all around them.
The second verse emphasizes that the message of the song is for everyone, regardless of who they are or where they have been. The lines "Open your eyes and look into your heart" remind the listener to be introspective and to see the world and themselves clearly.
Overall, the song can be interpreted as a call for honesty, self-reflection, and critical thinking in a world that is rapidly changing.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell the truth.
Be honest and truthful in your words and actions.
Tell me who's been fooling you?
Inform about the person or people who have deceived or misled you.
Tell the truth.
Emphasize the importance of being honest and sincere.
Who's been fooling who?
Question the authenticity of the actions of the individuals involved in the situation.
There you sit there, looking so cool
You appear to be composed and unfazed on the outside.
While the whole show is passing you by.
Life and opportunities are moving forward without you noticing them.
You better come to terms with your fellow men soon, cause
It is vital to settle any differences with other people as soon as possible.
The whole world is shaking now. Can't you feel it?
There is ongoing turmoil and changes happening in the world, which are evident to anyone perceptive enough.
A new dawn is breaking now. Can't you see it?
A new era full of opportunities and positive changes is about to start, and it's essential to be aware of it.
It doesn't matter just who you are,
Irrespective of your background or current status in life,
Or where you're going or been.
Regardless of where you come from or where you're heading,
Open your eyes and look into your heart.
Pay attention to your inner voice and intuition.
Hear what I say, 'cause every word is true.
Take my words seriously as they are based on facts and are truthful.
You know I wouldn't tell you no lies.
Assure the listener that you're not deceiving them and that your intentions are pure.
Your time's coming, gonna be soon, boy.
Imply that the listener's moment of triumph or success is around the corner.
It doesn't matter just who you are,
Emphasize yet again that one's background or identity is irrelevant.
Or where you're going or been.
Past or present experiences don't matter in the grand scheme of things.
Open your eyes and look into your heart.
Take a look at your innermost feelings and intentions.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bobby Whitlock, Eric Clapton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind