Sleeping In The Ground
Eric Clapton; Steve Winwood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sleeping in the ground
I would rather see you
Sleeping in the ground
Than to stay around here
If you're gonna put me down
Well, I give you all my money
Well, I give you all my money
Everything I own
Well, some day I'm gonna get lucky
And down the road you know I'm goin'
Well, I would rather see you
Sleeping in the ground
Well, I would rather see you
Sleeping in the ground
Than to stay around here
If you're gonna put me down
You know I give you all my money
Yeah little girl, everything I own
Well, I give you all my money
Everything I own
Well, today I'm gonna get lucky
And down the road you know I'm goin'
The lyrics to Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood's "Sleeping in the Ground" express the singer's deep hurt and frustration at a relationship that has gone sour. The repeated refrain, "I would rather see you sleeping in the ground" is a stark and powerful image that underscores the level of disappointment that the singer is feeling. The message of the lyrics is clear- the singer cannot continue to be in this relationship if he is going to be treated poorly.
In the first two verses, the singer describes how he has given everything he has to the relationship, including his money and possessions. Despite his efforts, he feels that he is being put down and disrespected. The third verse repeats the earlier sentiment of preferring to see the other person sleeping in the ground rather than stay in the relationship, while the fourth verse repeats the idea of giving everything he has but this time with the added hope of finding luck down the road.
The song is a powerful representation of the pain and disappointment of a relationship that has collapsed, and the heavy blues-inspired sound of Clapton and Winwood's playing adds to the overall sense of melancholy that permeates the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I would rather see you
The singer wants to witness the end of the relationship
Sleeping in the ground
The singer would rather the person be dead than remain in the relationship
Than to stay around here
The singer wants to leave the relationship
If you're gonna put me down
The artist is tired of being disrespected and mistreated by the other person
Well, I give you all my money
The artist has given the other person all their possessions and resources
Everything I own
This includes everything important to the singer
Well, some day I'm gonna get lucky
The singer hopes to find success and happiness in the future
And down the road you know I'm goin'
The artist plans to leave the relationship in search of something better
Yeah little girl
The artist is addressing the other person
Today I'm gonna get lucky
The artist believes that they will find happiness and success soon
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: SAM MYERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind