Have You Ever Loved a Woman
Eric Clapton; Cream Lyrics


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Have you ever loved a woman
So much you tremble in pain?
Have you ever loved a woman
So much you tremble in pain?
And all the time you know
She bears another man's name.

But you just love that woman
So much it's a shame and a sin.
You just love that woman
So much it's a shame and a sin.
But all the time you know
She belongs to your very best friend.

Have you ever loved a woman
And you know you can't leave her alone?
Have you ever loved a woman
And you know you can't leave her alone?




Something deep inside of you
Won't let you wreck your best friend's home.

Overall Meaning

The song "Have You Ever Loved A Woman" by Eric Clapton and John Mayall's Bluesbreakers is about the intense pain and longing that comes with loving a woman who is already taken. The lyrics describe the experience of loving someone so deeply that it causes physical and emotional pain, even though the object of affection belongs to another man. The song speaks to the complicated emotions and moral dilemmas that arise when love's boundaries are tested.


Despite being in love with a woman who belongs to his best friend, the singer cannot help but feel drawn to her. The lyrics suggest that the love he feels for her is all-consuming, to the point where it feels like a "shame and a sin." Despite the intense longing he feels, however, he also knows that he cannot leave her alone. The lines "Something deep inside of you / Won't let you wreck your best friend's home" suggest that the singer is torn between his love for this woman and his loyalty to his friend.


Overall, the lyrics to "Have You Ever Loved A Woman" speak to the complexity of love and the emotional turmoil that can come with it. It is a song about yearning, heartache, and the difficult choices that come with loving someone who is off-limits.


Line by Line Meaning

Have you ever loved a woman
Have you ever truly and deeply cared for a woman?


So much you tremble in pain?
To the point where your emotions are overwhelming and physically affecting you?


And all the time you know
Even though you are aware that


She bears another man's name.
The woman you love is married to someone else.


But you just love that woman
You cannot help but still adore this woman


So much it's a shame and a sin.
Your feelings are so strong that it feels inappropriate and immoral.


But all the time you know
Despite your intense emotions,


She belongs to your very best friend.
The woman you love is in fact in a committed relationship with your closest companion.


And you know you can't leave her alone?
Despite the inherent difficulties in the situation,


Have you ever loved a woman
Have you ever truly and deeply cared for a woman?


And you know you can't leave her alone?
To the point where the idea of separating from her is unbearable?


Something deep inside of you
A fundamental part of who you are


Won't let you wreck your best friend's home.
Prevents you from doing anything that could jeopardize or damage the relationship between your best friend and his wife, even if it means sacrificing your own happiness.




Lyrics © Public Domain Publisher

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Mr Blue

How anybody could give a thumbs down to this is mind blowing. This group of musicians is by far one of the greatest bands Clapton has assembled. The rich and diverse history of each player is astonishing.

Starting with David Sancious: a native of Asbury Park, NJ was an original E Street Band member and recorded with Bruce Springsteen on the first 3 albums. David also recorded and toured with Peter Gabriel, Sting, Stanley Clarke and many others

Steve Gadd: what can one say but Steve Gadd is the man. You have all heard his drumming magic on songs like Paul Simon's "50 ways to leave your lover" and Steely Dan's "Aja". Steve has toured with Clapton, Joe Cocker, Simon & Garfunkel, Steely Dan, James Taylor, Chick Corea and many more

Billy Preston: Bless your Soul Mr. Preston. With a long history of solo top 40 hits, toured with so many bands and recorded and performed with Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, "The Beatles", "The Rolling Stones" as well as Eric Clapton and George Harrison. A master organist.

Nathan East: Nathan is an amazing bassist and has over 2,000 recordings. He has also recorded and co-written songs with Eric Clapton, Michael Jackson, Joe Satriani, George Harrison, Phil Collins, Stevie Wonder, Toto and Herbie Hancock.

Andy Fairweather Low: A teenage idol in the 60's while in the band "Amen Corner". They had several top 20 hits. Going solo in the 70's Andy wrote and recorded many more great songs and had several more top 40 hits. Andy has recorded and toured with Roger Waters, Eric Clapton, Leo Sayer, Gerry Rafferty, Dave Edmunds, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris, Joe Satriani and was a fill-in guitar player for The Who. Pete Townsend was in rehab so Andy filled in recording and rehearsing on their 1982 album "It's Hard". Andy had previously sang backups on their 1978 album "Who are you".

Eric Clapton: Not much explanation of defining needed.
The Roosters, Casey Jones & The Engineers, The Yardbirds, The Bluesbreakers, The Immediate All-Stars, Eric Clapton and the Powerhouse, Cream, (Eric recorded with "The Beatles" and George Harrison solo), Blind Faith, Delaney and Bonnie, Derek and the Dominos with slide master Duane Allman, Yvonne Elliman and Marcy Levy, Tina Turner, Roger Waters, Stevie Winwood and the list goes on and on ...... Guitarist, singer & songwriter extraordinaire ......



alan murr

Have you ever loved a woman's words:Have you ever loved a woman
So much you tremble in pain?
Have you ever loved a woman
So much you tremble in pain?
And all the time you know
She bears another man's name.
But you just love that woman
So much it's a shame and a sin.
You just love that woman
So much it's a shame and a sin.
But all the time you know
She belongs to your very best friend.
Have you ever loved a woman
And you know you can't leave her alone?
Have you ever loved a woman
And you know you can't leave her alone?
Something deep inside of you
Won't let you wreck your best friend's home.



All comments from YouTube:

Karen Reardon

Clapton's on fire! Love his voice. Billy is totally jamming on those keys, man. Stellar!! And the piano player is 😎👍

CBus Mike

David Sancious....years ago, he worked with Springsteen on his 1st two albums.

John Lucio

The chemistry here is on another level, everyone completely in tune and doing their thing, legendary

EC IS Here

hells yeah! this is one of the best peformances ever alll time any genre imo.Everybody is on fire! awwwwe, preston, i got sad there also.But i love how clapton stood back a lot on his playing and let the keys do thier thing.Just another reason clapton was so good, hes a conductor, a genius

K T

Billy Preston totally killed it on his solo... love the joy and teamwork between him and Clapton on this... true greatness

Ewan McFadyen

You can tell from everything Eric does during Billy Preston's solo that he's Billy's biggest fan

Gerald Johnson

Well said. Thanks

swissbrit1954

Billy Preston's solo was brilliant, what a show, could watch it a million times 😁

David Catalano

Agreed Brother, Eric enjoys Billy's playing.

Limited Edition

When you can play for the Beatles and Eric Clapton....you must be good.

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