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.
Alberta
Eric Clapton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where you been so long?
Alberta, Alberta
Where you been so long?
Ain't had no loving
Since you've been gone
Alberta, Alberta
Alberta, Alberta
Where'd you stay last night?
Come home this morning
Clothes don't fit you right
Alberta, Alberta
Where you been so long?
Alberta, Alberta
Where you been so long?
Ain't had no loving
Since you've been gone
The song "Alberta" was a classic blues tune that was first recorded by blues singer Huddie Ledbetter, commonly known as Lead Belly, in 1935. Eric Clapton later covered the song for his Unplugged album in 1992. The song is about a woman named Alberta who has been away from her lover for quite some time, and the singer in the song is impatiently asking where she has been. His emotional state is evident in the chorus where he repeats "Where you been so long?" twice.
The first verse of the song shows the singer expressing his frustrations of not receiving any love since Alberta has been gone. He is longing for her return, as he misses her presence and seeks her love. In the second verse, he asks her where she stayed the previous night, showing his disbelief that she was away from him for so long. He also notices that her clothes don't fit her right, showing that she might have been up to something while away.
The chorus repeats the question of where she has been, emphasizing the singer's frustration and anger towards her absence. He concludes that he hasn't had any loving since she has been gone, indicating that she was the only one he desires. The song captures the pain of being away from someone you love and the impatience of waiting for their return.
Line by Line Meaning
Alberta, Alberta
The singer is calling out to Alberta.
Where you been so long?
The singer wonders where Alberta has been for such a long time.
Ain't had no loving
Since you've been gone
The singer has not experienced love in Alberta's absence.
Where'd you stay last night?
The artist wants to know where Alberta spent her night.
Come home this morning
Clothes don't fit you right
Alberta has come home in the morning and the artist notices that her clothes do not fit her properly.
Where you been so long?
The singer reiterates their earlier question about Alberta's whereabouts.
Ain't had no loving
Since you've been gone
The singer emphasizes that they have not experienced love while Alberta was absent.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Eric Patrick Clapton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pagegirl507
If your foot isn't tapping along to the rhythm than you don't have a heartbeat. Great song, great musicians.
@iceland_is_cool.
Exactly....
@ddoeser5830
WELTERUSTEN LIEVERD MORGEN GEZOND WEER OP ! ALLERBELANGRIJKSTE IN EEN MENSENLEVEN ❤🇳🇱🙏👋
@bekifeebelcher3757
It's my hips , not my foot that responds to this song !!! ❤
@BobF510
I'm moved by the potency of this material. A book with related themes was a significant influence in my life. "A Life Unplugged: Reclaiming Reality in a Digital Age" by Theodore Blaze
@dr.specht5895
you dont need to look at the chords to see how pure this is
@jasoncarpp7742
I love this version of "Alberta". I even love the introduction. :)
@michaelkoller633
Popular opinion:
I love this album!
@danapack40
when doing unplugged albums was all the rage in the 90s, Clapton knocked it out of the park....simply awesome
@sarahcroft4775
Omg i love this song.this brings.back so much good memories 😉 i absolutely love it ♥️♥️