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.
Anyway the Wind Blows
Eric Clapton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And some don't know where it's at
If you don't get loose,
If you don't groove
Well, your motor won't make it
And your motor won't move
If time don't tell you then don't ask me
I'm riding on a hurricane down to the sea
If you can't hear the music,
Turn it up loud
There's movement in the air
And movement in the crowd
Bow-legged woman
Doing the boogaloo
She got a jive,
She got a move
Turn around, d
Do it again
Bow-legged woman,
Where you been
Fat Jack owns a
Honky-tonk downtown
You can catch a woman
If you hang around
You can tear down the door,
Tear down the wall
Fat Jack he don't care at all
Easy come, easy go
Any way the wind blows
Hey, drummer, drummer,
Can you give me that beat
Can you give me that beat,
Got to move my feet
Guitar player been
All around the world
But he can't play a lick
For looking at the girls
One two three four five six seven
Well, you'd better change
Your ways or you won't get to heaven
Eight nine ten, gonna stop at eleven
Eleven just lays around with seven
Some like this and some like that
And some don't know where it's at
If you don't get loose,
If you don't groove
Well, your motor won't make it
And your motor won't move
Easy come, easy go
Any way the wind blows
The song "Anyway the Wind Blows" by Eric Clapton and J.J. Cale is a upbeat rock and roll tune that celebrates the universal language of music and dancing. The lyrics of the song posit that everyone has their own preferences when it comes to music and dancing. Some people like certain styles while others don't have an opinion either way. The song suggests that no matter what one's preferences are, as long as you feel the music and move to the rhythm, you will have a good time.
The opening verse of the song utilizes the metaphor of a motor to capture the essence of the song's message. Just like a car needs a properly functioning motor to move, people need to "get loose" and "groove" to the music in order to enjoy the experience. The chorus of the song reinforces this idea, with the lyrics "Easy come, easy go / Any way the wind blows." This can be interpreted as a reminder that life is short and one should enjoy things as they come without worrying too much about what others may think. The song also references musical improvisation with the line "Turn around, do it again," which encourages the listener to keep dancing and experimenting with new moves.
The bridge of the song features call and response where Clapton's guitar and the drummer trade licks. The drummer is asked to keep the beat going because it's the foundation of any good dancing. The guitar player has traveled the world but is mostly focused on checking out girls, which is a playful reference to the basic human desire for connection and enjoyment. The final verse of the song is a playful joke, where eleven is the number between ten and twelve, but "just lays around with seven." This is another reminder that life is a playful experience, and one shouldn't take things too seriously.
Line by Line Meaning
Some like this and some like that
Everyone has their own preferences
And some don't know where it's at
Some people are lost or confused
If you don't get loose,
If you don't relax and have fun
If you don't groove
If you don't feel the rhythm
Well, your motor won't make it
You won't be able to enjoy life
And your motor won't move
You won't be able to make progress
If time don't tell you then don't ask me
I don't have all the answers
I'm riding on a hurricane down to the sea
I'm going with the flow, wherever life takes me
If you can't hear the music,
If you can't appreciate life's joys
Turn it up loud
Try to find more excitement and enthusiasm
There's movement in the air
There's energy and excitement all around
And movement in the crowd
Other people are enjoying themselves too
Bow-legged woman
A woman with a distinctive appearance
Doing the boogaloo
Dancing to music
She got a jive,
She's got a great rhythm
She got a move
She's got style and grace
Turn around, do it again
Let's keep dancing
Bow-legged woman,
That same distinctive woman
Where you been
What have you been up to lately?
Fat Jack owns a
There's a man named Fat Jack who owns a
Honky-tonk downtown
A type of bar or nightclub
You can catch a woman
You can meet a woman there
If you hang around
If you stay there long enough
You can tear down the door,
You can be bold and confident
Tear down the wall
You can break through barriers
Fat Jack he don't care at all
Fat Jack is laid-back and unconcerned
Easy come, easy go
Don't get too attached to things, they might not last
Any way the wind blows
Life can take many unexpected turns
Hey, drummer, drummer,
Referring to a drummer in a band
Can you give me that beat
Can you provide some rhythm?
Can you give me that beat,
Asking again for rhythm
Got to move my feet
I want to dance
Guitar player been
There's a guitar player
All around the world
They have traveled extensively
But he can't play a lick
He's not very skilled
For looking at the girls
Because he's distracted by attractive women
One two three four five six seven
Counting out loud, possibly for a song
Well, you'd better change
You should reconsider
Your ways or you won't get to heaven
If you don't change your behavior, you might face consequences
Eight nine ten, gonna stop at eleven
Counting again, possibly for a song
Eleven just lays around with seven
Eleven and seven are not very active
Easy come, easy go
Don't get too attached to things, they might not last
Any way the wind blows
Life can take many unexpected turns
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: J.J. CALE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Queensland-girl
I freaking love watching these two giants play together. Simply a happy place for all of us!
@bobjanes855
It is so nice to see jj smile
@TexasBurningFlower
I love you Papa Chubby, I am hear to tell Ya J. Winter is loving it!
@TheUSEagle
JJ, I miss you, my friend ..RIP.
Thanks for sharing, Eric !!
@hblad
I saw J J in Stockholm, Sweden 1976. Such a shy man onstage, but a wonderful musician, and what a legacy of songs!
@steelyman08
I honestly think that Clapton worshipped JJ Cale in his own way. Said that JJ was largely behind his coming out of hell in the seventies. Then he just launched into that Tulsa sound era which I just love. Most of his band were from Tulsa at one point. You'd think it would be JJ worshipping Clapton, but it isn't. I love these clips of them playing live together. And without Clapton, we might never have even heard of JJ Cale. Their relationship is a pretty cool story ♥
@woody816
Oklahoma had a hell of a lot of talent coming out during that time. All the boys from UK picked up on it real quick.
Love that Tulsa sound much love Fae Scotland
@edsalem6800
A lot of great music after Cream for all three members.
@warrentully5622
Easy come easy go.🤔💯👌
@michelemangino1063
❤️