In the mid-1960s Clapton left the Yardbirds to play with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. Immediately after leaving Mayall, Clapton formed the power trio Cream with drummer Ginger Baker and bassist Jack Bruce, in which Clapton played sustained blues improvisations and "arty, blues-based psychedelic pop". After Cream broke up, he formed blues rock band Blind Faith with Baker, Steve Winwood, and Ric Grech. Clapton's solo career began in the 1970s, where his work bore the influence of the mellow style of J. J. Cale and the reggae of Bob Marley. His version of Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff" helped reggae reach a mass market. Two of his most popular recordings were "Layla", recorded with Derek and the Dominos; and Robert Johnson's "Crossroads", recorded with Cream. Following the death of his son Conor in 1991, Clapton's grief was expressed in the song "Tears in Heaven", which was featured on his Unplugged album.
Clapton has been the recipient of 18 Grammy Awards, and the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. In 2004 he was awarded a CBE at Buckingham Palace for services to music. He has received four Ivor Novello Awards from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors, including the Lifetime Achievement Award. In his solo career, Clapton has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling musicians of all time. In 1998, Clapton, a recovering alcoholic and drug addict, founded the Crossroads Centre on Antigua, a medical facility for recovering substance abusers.
Ain't That Lovin You
Eric Clapton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like I know myself.
I just want to love you, baby,
But you leave me on the shelf.
[Chorus:]
Ain't that lovin' you, baby?
Ain't that lovin' you, baby?
But you don't even know my name.
Let me tell you something,
I swear to God it's true.
If you give your love to me,
I'm gonna give it all to you, you know it's true.
[Chorus]
They may kill me, baby,
And bury me like they do.
My body will lie, but my spirit's gonna find
Only you.
[Chorus]
The lyrics of Eric Clapton's "Ain't That Lovin' You" portray the feelings of a man who is in love with a woman who doesn't reciprocate his feelings. The man feels like the woman doesn't know him as well he knows himself, but all he wants is to love her. However, she ignores his advances and leaves him on the shelf. The chorus repeats the line "Ain't that lovin' you, baby?" which can be interpreted as the man questioning why his love isn't enough to catch the woman's attention even though he's willing to shower her with affection. He's frustrated that she doesn't even bother to know his name, yet he's deeply in love with her.
In the second verse, the man pleads for the woman to give him a chance to love her entirely. He swears that if she gives him her love, he'll give her everything in return. The lyrics show how the man desperately wants to be with the woman, and he's willing to do anything to win her heart. The last verse brings an element of tragedy, where the man says that even if someone kills him, and his body lies buried, his spirit will find the woman he loves. It conveys the idea that the man's love for the woman is so strong that it will survive even if he dies.
Overall, "Ain't That Lovin' You" is a poignant song that showcases the depth of emotions that come with being in love with someone who doesn't share the same feelings. It speaks of a universal human experience of unrequited love that many can relate to.
Line by Line Meaning
You don't know me, baby,
You don't understand who I am and what I'm capable of.
Like I know myself.
Because I have an intimate knowledge of my own desires and emotions that you don't possess.
I just want to love you, baby,
I'm deeply and truly committed to you emotionally.
But you leave me on the shelf.
You continue to neglect me and not give me the love and attention I deserve.
Ain't that lovin' you, baby?
Isn't it a testament to my love for you despite your neglectful behavior?
Ain't that lovin' you, baby?
Shouldn't my unwavering affection make you reconsider your neglectful ways?
Ain't that lovin' you, baby?
Can't you see how much I truly care for you, even though you don't reciprocate that care?
But you don't even know my name.
You aren't even aware of my existence or who I am as a person.
Let me tell you something,
Allow me to explain something to you that you may not understand.
I swear to God it's true.
I'm being completely honest and truthful with you.
If you give your love to me,
If you're willing to invest in our relationship and give me your affection and attention.
I'm gonna give it all to you, you know it's true.
I will reciprocate that love fully and completely, without reservation or hesitation.
They may kill me, baby,
Even if I were to die for my love for you.
And bury me like they do.
And even though I may be physically gone.
My body will lie, but my spirit's gonna find
My soul will seek out only you, even in death.
Only you.
Because I'm that devoted and committed to you, and no one else.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: James Reed
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brent
on Mainline Florida
I always thought the song was about Florida. Not a woman. His friends told him that it was the place to be but as it turned out the only thing to do there was take cruises.
It makes sense because Florida has always had the reputation of being boring. A place where old people go to die.
Anonymous
on My Father's Eyes
13 Eric Clapton - You Were There Lyrics- From the Album - 1998 - Eric Clapton - Pilgrim
We made the distance
Yeah, we made the day
You made all the difference
'Cause you found the way
Without your wisdom
Lord, where would we be
Lost in the wilderness
Somewhere out at sea
But you were there
Through the days of wine and madness
When I'd always put you down
You were there
Through my joys and my sadness
And you never let me down
You found the meaning
And helped me to see
Where I was going to
All that I could be
Without permission
You turned the key
You climbed the prison wall
Deep inside of me
You were there
Through the days of wine and madness
When I'd turn and put, put you down
You were there
Through my joys and my sadness
And you never let me down
You were there
Through the days of wine and madness
When I'd turn and put, put you down
You were there
Through my joys and my sadness
And you never let me down
Let me down
Musical Outro
You were there
You were there
You were there
Anonymous
on My Father's Eyes
14 Inside Of Me Lyrics- From the Album - 1998 - Eric Clapton - Pilgrim
The point on the water, there's a chill in the air
A vibe in the darkness, but there's nobody there
I look for the reason but there's nothing to see
Just the hole in my memory where my mind used to be
Tell me why
Can I find no relief in my heart?
I reside
In a world that is falling apart
(Out of my mind baby, show me a sign, baby
Show me a way to get back on time)
Tell me why?
And where do we go from here
(Please where do we go, baby, how will I know?)
Tell me why
(Who holds the key, is it hidden inside of me?)
Musical Interlude
But why should I worry
And why do I care?
When this road that I walk on
Is going nowhere
I stand and I study
Every face in the crowd
See the fear in their eyes,
They must be thinking out loud
Tell me why
Can I find no relief in my heart?
'Cause I reside
In a world that is falling apart
(Out of my mind baby, show me a sign, baby)
Tell me why
(Show me a way to get back on time)
And where do we go
(Please where do we go, baby, how will I know?)
Where do we go from here
(Who holds the key, is it hidden inside of me?)
Scratching the surface,
It all looks the same
A world full of anger
With no one to blame
But who can I turn to,
Who holds the key?
And who has the answer?
I think it's inside of me
Tell me why
Can I find no relief in my heart?
'Cause I reside
To the world that is falling apart
(Out of my mind, baby, show me a sign, baby)
Where do we go from here
(Show me a way, to get back on time)
I want to know
(Where do we go, baby, how will I know?)
It isn’t my fault
(Who holds the key, is it hidden inside of me?)
Use it against
(All things considered it looks as though
Utopia were far closer to us than anyone
Only fifteen years ago, could have imagined)
(Then, I projected it six hundred years into the future
Today it seems quite possible that the
Horror may be upon us within a single century)
(That is, if we refrain from blowing
Ourselves to smithereens
In the interval)
(Indeed, unless we choose to decentralize
And to use applied science
Not as the end to which human beings are to be made the means)
(But as the means to producing a race of free individuals
We have only two alternatives to choose from
Either a number of national)
Anonymous
on Layla
01 Eric Clapton - I Feel Free Lyrics from the Album - 1995 - Eric Clapton - The Cream Of Clapton
Bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp
Bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp
I feel free
Bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp
I feel free
Bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp
I feel free
Bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp
I feel free
Bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp
I feel free
Bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp
I feel free
Bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp
I feel free
Bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp
I feel free
Bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp
I feel free
Feel when I dance with you,
We move like the sea.
You, you're all I want to know.
I feel free.
I feel free.
I feel free.
I can walk down the street, there's no one there
Though the pavements are one huge crowd.
I can drive down the road
My eyes don't see,
For my mind wants to cry out loud.
I, I, I, I feel free.
I feel free.
I feel free.
I can walk down the street, there's no one there
Though the pavements are one huge crowd.
I can drive down the road; my eyes don't see,
Though my mind wants to cry out loud,
Though my mind wants to cry out loud.
Dance floor is like the sea,
Ceiling is the sky.
You're the sun and as you shine on me,
I feel free.
I feel free.
I feel free.
Aye
Aye
Aye
Aye
Anonymous
on Layla
02 Eric Clapton - Sunshine Of Your Love Lyrics from the Album - 1995 - Eric Clapton - The Cream Of Clapton
Well it's getting near dawn
When lights close their tired eyes
I'll soon be with you my love
Give you my dawn surprise
I'll be with you darling soon
I'll be with you when the stars stop falling
I've been waiting so long
To be where I'm going
In the sunshine of your love
I’ll make you my love
Light's shining through on you
Yes, I'm with you my love
It's the morning and just we two
I'll stay with you darling now
I'll stay with you till my seas are dried up
I've been waiting so long
To be where I'm going
In the sunshine of your love
Musical Interlude
I'm with you my love
The light shinning through on you
Yes, I'm with you my love
It's the morning and just we two
I'll stay with you darling now
I'll stay with you till my seas are dried up
I've been waiting so long
I've been waiting so long
I've been waiting so long
To be where I'm going
In the sunshine of your love
Musical Outro
Anonymous
on Layla
03 Eric Clapton - White Room Lyrics from the Album - 1995 - Eric Clapton - The Cream Of Clapton
In the white room with black curtains in the station
Black roof country,
No gold pavements, tired starlings
Silver horses ran down moonbeams in your dark eyes
Dawn light smiles on you leaving, My contentment
I'll wait in this place where the sun never shines
Wait in this place where the shadows run from themselves
You said no strings
Could secure you at the station
Platform ticket, restless diesels, goodbye windows
I walked into such a sad time at the station
Been I walked out, felt my own need just beginning
I'll wait in the queue when the trains come back
Lie with you where the shadows run from themselves
At the party she was kindness in the hard crowd
Consolation for the old wound now forgotten
Yellow tigers crouched in jungles in her dark eyes
She's just dressing, goodbye windows, tired starlings
How sweet in this place with the lowly cry
Lie in the dark where the shadows
run from themselves
Musical Outro
Anonymous
on Layla
04 Eric Clapton - Crossroads Lyrics from the Album - 1995 - Eric Clapton - The Cream Of Clapton
I went down to the crossroads, fell down on my knees.
I went down to the crossroads, fell down on my knees.
Asked the Lord above for mercy, Save me if you please.
I went down to the crossroads, tried to flag a ride.
I went down to the crossroads, tried to flag a ride.
Nobody seemed to know me, Everybody passed me by.
When I'm going down to Rosedale, Take my rider by my side.
I'm going down to Rosedale,
Take my rider by my side.
You can still barrelhouse,
Baby, on the riverside.
Musical Interlude
Going down to Rosedale,
Take my rider by my side.
Going down to Rosedale,
Take my rider by my side.
You can still barrelhouse,
Baby, on the riverside.
Musical Interlude
You can run, you can run,
Tell my friend-boy baldy Brown.
Run, you can run, tell my friend-boy baldy Brown.
And I'm standing at the crossroads, believe I'm sinking down.
Anonymous
on Layla
05 Eric Clapton - Badge Lyrics from the Album - 1995 - Eric Clapton - The Cream Of Clapton
Thinkin' 'bout the times you drove in my car
Thinkin' that I might have drove you too far
And I'm thinkin' 'bout the love that you laid on my table
I told you not to wander 'round in the dark
I told you 'bout the swans, that they live in the park
Then I told you 'bout our kid, now he's married to Mabel
Yes, I told you that the light goes up and down
Don't you notice how the wheel goes 'round?
And you'd better pick yourself up from the ground
Before they bring the curtain down
Yes, before they bring the curtain down
Oh oh
Musical Interlude
Talkin' 'bout a girl that looks quite like you
She didn't have the time to wait in the queue
She cried away her life since she fell off the cradle
Anonymous
on Layla
06 Eric Clapton - Presence Of The Lord Lyrics from the Album - 1995 - Eric Clapton - The Cream Of Clapton
I have finally found a way to live
Just like I never could before
I know that I don't have much to give,
But I can open any door
Everybody knows the secret,
Oh everybody knows the score, yes, yeah, yeah
I have finally found a way to live
In the colour of the Lord
I have finally found a place to live Just like I never could before
And I know I don't have much to give,
But soon I'll open any door
Everybody knows the secret,
Oh everybody knows the score
I have finally found a place to live, Oh, in the presence of the Lord
In the presence of the Lord
Musical Interlude
I have finally found a way to live, Just like I never could before
And I know I don't have much to give,
But I can open any door
Everybody knows the secret,
I said everybody knows the score
I have finally found a way to live
Oh in the colour of the Lord
In the colour of the Lord
Anonymous
on Layla
07 Eric Clapton - Blues Power Lyrics from the Album - 1995 - Eric Clapton - The Cream Of Clapton
Bet you didn't think I knew how to rock 'n' roll
Lord, I got the boogie-woogie right down in my very soul
There ain't no need for me to be a wallflower
'Cause now I'm living on blues power
I knew all the time but now I'm gonna let you know
I'm gonna keep on rocking, no matter if it's fast or slow
Ain't gonna stop until the twenty-fifth hour
'Cause now I'm living on blues power
Well bet you didn't think I knew how to rock 'n' roll
Lord, I got the boogie-woogie right down in my very soul
There ain't no need for me to be a wallflower
'Cause now I'm living on blues power
Musical Outro
Talking to you now
The blues is going to boogie too
Keep on, keep on, keep on……