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.
Anyday
Eric Clapton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Please leave me alone.
Nothing in this world can make me stay.
I'd rather go back, I'd rather go back home."
[Bridge:]
But if you believed in me like I believe in you,
We could have a love so true, we would go on endlessly.
[Chorus:]
And I know anyday, anyday, I will see you smile.
Any way, any way, only for a little while.
Well someday baby, I know you're gonna need me
When this old world has got you down.
I'll be right here, so woman call me
And I'll never ever let you down.
[Bridge]
[Chorus: x2]
To break the glass and twist the knife into yourself;
You've got to be a fool to understand.
To bring your woman back home after she's left you for another,
You've got to be a, you've got to be a man.
[Bridge:]
[Chorus: x2]
Anyday, anyday, I will see you smile.
Any way, any way, just for a little, just for a little while.
The lyrics of "Anyday" by Eric Clapton suggest a relationship in turmoil. The singer refers to a conversation with their partner, during which they expressed a desire to be left alone and return home. However, the singer counters this statement by indicating that if their partner believed in them as much as they did in them, they could have an enduring, authentic love.
The chorus repeats the phrase "anyday," suggesting that the singer is optimistic that they will eventually mend the relationship and once again see their partner smile. They promise to be there for their partner when life gets them down and to never let them down.
The final verse is a bit more ambiguous, suggesting that the singer has gone through some kind of difficult experience themselves. The lines "to break the glass and twist the knife into yourself, you've got to be a fool to understand" may be a reference to addiction or self-harm. Nonetheless, the singer insists that to win back a lost loved one, one must be a true "man."
Overall, the song deals with the themes of love, loss, and redemption. Despite the turmoil, the singer holds out hope for a better future and promises to support their partner through thick and thin.
Line by Line Meaning
You were talking and I thought I heard you say
It seemed like you wanted me to leave you alone based on what I thought I heard you say.
"Please leave me alone.
Nothing in this world can make me stay.
I'd rather go back, I'd rather go back home."
You explicitly told me to leave you alone, that nothing can make you stay, and that you'd rather go back home.
But if you believed in me like I believe in you,
We could have a love so true, we would go on endlessly.
If you have the same level of faith in me that I have in you, we could have a truly authentic and never-ending love.
[Chorus]
And I know anyday, anyday, I will see you smile.
Any way, any way, only for a little while.
I'm hopeful that one day soon, I'll see you smile again, even if it's only for a brief moment.
Well someday baby, I know you're gonna need me
When this old world has got you down.
I'll be right here, so woman call me
And I'll never ever let you down.
I know that one day you'll need me to be there for you when the world seems too much to bear, and I vow to always be there for you when you do.
[Chorus: x2]
I know that no matter what happens, I'll keep on hoping for the day when I can see you smile.
To break the glass and twist the knife into yourself;
You've got to be a fool to understand.
To bring your woman back home after she's left you for another,
You've got to be a, you've got to be a man.
It takes a certain kind of pain and heartache to understand what it means to hurt yourself even more than you already have. And it takes a strong, resilient, and mature person to win back the love of someone who's left you for someone else.
[Chorus: x2]
Anyday, anyday, I will see you smile.
Any way, any way, just for a little, just for a little while.
No matter what happens to us, whether we stay together or apart, I'll always hold onto the hope that one day I'll see you smile again, even if it's only for a fleeting moment.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BOBBY WHITLOCK, ERIC PATRICK CLAPTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hippydippy
Bobby deserves so much more credit for his contributions to this album than he's ever been credited for. In fact... It's almost a crime. His song writing, soulful gospel voice & keyboards guided this whole album. It would NEVER have been the same without him. Hail Bobby!
@Bradfiddle
Amen to that! Whitlock has never received the acclaim he deserved with George Harrison or the Layla album. From the 1st time I listened to Layla in 1971, his writing and soulful vocals stood out above Clapton's and his kybd contribution were as 'instrumental' as Eric and Duane's guitars.
@romolahodas2413
@@Bradfiddle I agree...he was great. We lost him way too early.
@matthewstetson1840
@@romolahodas2413 Maybe in your head but in reality Bobby Whitlock still walks the Earth.
@staggerproof5589
Agreed. One of the least appreciated singers and songwriters of his time.
@johnmaer
@@romolahodas2413 We haven't lost him yet. Where do you see an Obit?
@josephgonzalez4380
Jim Gordon, tortured soul, great drummer on this incredible album, passed away today. RIP ✨
@larryrubin5150
Wow. Didn't know that. He refused parole hearings gave up. RIP Mr Gordon
@anthonygiordano8237
One of the most overlooked rock songs of all-time
@RealArtsMedia
word