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.
Belief
Eric Clapton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ever remembers
Changing their mind from
The paint on a sign
Is there anyone who
Really recalls
Ever breaking rank at all
For something someone yelled real loud one time
Oh everyone believes
In how they think it oughta be
Oh everyone believes
And they’re not going easy
Belief is a beautiful armor
But makes for the heaviest sword
Like punching underwater
You never can hit who you trying for
Some need the exhibition
Some have to know their trying
It’s the chemical weapon for the war
That’s raging on inside
Oh everyone believes
From emptiness to everything
Oh everyone believes
No one’s going quietly
We’re never gonna win the world
We’re never gonna stop the war
We’re never gonna beat this is
If belief is what we’re fighting for
We’re never gonna win the world
We’re never gonna stop the war
We’re never gonna beat this is
If belief is what we’re fighting for
Is there anyone who
Can remember
Ever surrendering
With their life on the line
What puts a hundred thousand children in the sand?
Belief can
Belief can
What puts a folded flag inside his mother’s hands?
Belief can
Belief can
The lyrics to Eric Clapton's song "Belief" delve into the concept of belief itself and how it manifests in various situations. The first verse explores the idea of people being influenced by external factors, such as a sign or someone shouting something loudly, and how they then adopt those beliefs as their own. The chorus emphasizes that everyone believes in what they think should be, and they are not easily swayed from those beliefs.
The second verse compares belief to both armor and a heavy sword. While belief can protect and strengthen individuals, it can also make it difficult to effectively communicate or connect with others. The line "like punching underwater, you never can hit who you trying for" reflects the frustration that can arise from trying to convey one's beliefs in a way that is understood by others. The verse suggests that belief can be a weapon in the ongoing internal and external conflicts within oneself and in the world.
The final verse challenges the notion of winning the world or stopping the war through belief. The repetition of the line "we're never gonna" emphasizes the futility of using belief as the sole means to achieve these goals. Instead, the lyrics imply that belief may be the very thing fueling the never-ending battles. The song poses the question of surrendering one's life for a belief and highlights the tragic consequences of belief in certain situations, such as the loss of innocent lives in war.
In summary, "Belief" by Eric Clapton explores the power and limitations of belief, highlighting its influence on individuals and societies, as well as the potential dangers that can arise from unwavering beliefs.
Line by Line Meaning
Is there anyone who
Is there a single person who
Ever remembers
Remembers at any point in their life
Changing their mind from
Altering their perspective away from
The paint on a sign
A superficial message displayed on a sign
Is there anyone who
Is there a single person who
Really recalls
Vividly remembers
Ever breaking rank at all
Ever deviating from a collective stance
For something someone yelled real loud one time
Because of a single instance of someone shouting passionately
Oh everyone believes
Oh, every individual holds a personal conviction
In how they think it oughta be
In their perception of how things should ideally be
Oh everyone believes
Oh, every individual holds a personal conviction
And they’re not going easy
And they refuse to give up easily
Belief is a beautiful armor
Belief serves as a captivating shield
But makes for the heaviest sword
But becomes the weightiest weapon
Like punching underwater
Similar to fruitless efforts in a submerged environment
You never can hit who you trying for
You can never reach the target you aim for
Some need the exhibition
Certain individuals require public displays
Some have to know their trying
Some need assurance that they are making an effort
It’s the chemical weapon for the war
It functions as a potent weapon in the internal conflict
That’s raging on inside
That is continuously occurring within oneself
Oh everyone believes
Oh, every individual holds a personal conviction
From emptiness to everything
From a state of insignificance to significance
Oh everyone believes
Oh, every individual holds a personal conviction
No one’s going quietly
No one is willing to give in silently
We’re never gonna win the world
We will never be able to conquer the world
We’re never gonna stop the war
We will never succeed in ending the conflict
We’re never gonna beat this is
We will never overcome these circumstances
If belief is what we’re fighting for
If belief is the cause we are struggling for
Is there anyone who
Is there a single person who
Can remember
Can recall
Ever surrendering
Ever giving up
With their life on the line
When their life is at stake
What puts a hundred thousand children in the sand?
What causes the death of a hundred thousand children in war?
Belief can
Belief has the power to
Belief can
Belief has the power to
What puts a folded flag inside his mother’s hands?
What leads to a flag being presented to a fallen soldier's mother?
Belief can
Belief has the power to
Belief can
Belief has the power to
Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: John Clayton Mayer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
LOPES
Running on faith
One, two, three, four
Lately I've been running on faith
What else can a poor boy do?
But my world will be right
When love comes over me
Lately I've been talking in my sleep
Can't imagine what I'd have to say
Except my world will be right
When love comes back your way
I've always been
One to take each and every day
Seems like by now
I'd find a love who'd care, care just for me
And we go running on faith
All of our dreams will come true
And our world will be right
When love comes over me and you
Ooh, I've always been
One to take each and every day
Seems like by now
I'd find a love who cares just for me
Then we'd go running on faith
All of our dreams would come true
And our world will be right
When love comes over me and you
Yes, it would
When love comes over you
Love comes over you
Love comes over you (love comes over you)
All of our dreams will come true (love comes over you)
Love comes over you (love comes over you)
All of our dreams will come true (love comes over you)
When love, when love comes over you (love comes over you)
And all of our dreams will come true (love comes over you)
Love comes over you (love comes over you)
Love comes over you (love comes over you)
Love comes over you (love comes over you)
Love comes over you (love comes over you)
Love comes over you (love comes over you)
Love comes over you (love comes over you)
Love comes over you (love comes over you)
Love comes over you (love comes over you)
Henrik Struebli
Running on faith
One, two, three, four
Lately I've been running on faith
What else can a poor boy do?
But my world will be right
When love comes over me
Lately I've been talking in my sleep
Can't imagine what I'd have to say
Except my world will be right
When love comes back your way
I've always been
One to take each and every day
Seems like by now
I'd find a love who'd care, care just for me
And we go running on faith
All of our dreams will come true
And our world will be right
When love comes over me and you
Ooh, I've always been
One to take each and every day
Seems like by now
I'd find a love who cares just for me
Then we'd go running on faith
All of our dreams would come true
And our world will be right
When love comes over me and you
Yes, it would
When love comes over you
Love comes over you
Love comes over you (love comes over you)
All of our dreams will come true (love comes over you)
Love comes over you (love comes over you)
All of our dreams will come true (love comes over you)
When love, when love comes over you (love comes over you)
And all of our dreams will come true (love comes over you)
Love comes over you (love comes over you)
Love comes over you (love comes over you)
Love comes over you (love comes over you)
Love comes over you (love comes over you)
Love comes over you (love comes over you)
Love comes over you (love comes over you)
Love comes over you (love comes over you)
Love comes over you (love comes over you)
Lourdes Sepúlveda
Running on faith
One, two, three, four
Lately I've been running on faith
What else can a poor boy do?
But my world will be right
When love comes over me
Lately I've been talking in my sleep
Can't imagine what I'd have to say
Except my world will be right
When love comes back your way
I've always been
One to take each and every day
Seems like by now
I'd find a love who'd care, care just for me
And we go running on faith
All of our dreams will come true
And our world will be right
When love comes over me and you
Ooh, I've always been
One to take each and every day
Seems like by now
I'd find a love who cares just for me
Then we'd go running on faith
All of our dreams would come true
And our world will be right
When love comes over me and you
Yes, it would
When love comes over you
Love comes over you
Love comes over you (love comes over you)
All of our dreams will come true (love comes over you)
Love comes over you (love comes over you)
All of our dreams will come true (love comes over you)
When love, when love comes over you (love comes over you)
And all of our dreams will come true (love comes over you)
Love comes over you (love comes over you)
Love comes over you (love comes over you)
Love comes over you (love comes over you)
Love comes over you (love comes over you)
John Zolman
I took my 4 year old son camping years ago and had just enough battery on my phone to listen to one song. This was the one we listened to. This song will always remind me of him and that time we had together. As a father I have many dreams that my son will help make the world a better place and that someday he'll know of the love I have for him.
john wright
Instant cry fuel
Kir
I have a homevideo of my dad singing this to me when I was a baby. Now we go to Clapton concerts together any chance we get and drink his good whiskey while listening to all the blues music we both love, when I visit him. He is my best friend. This touched my ❤️
Nick Lopez
Beautiful story sir
Scott Campbell
Oh he'll know the minute he has a child, or becomes a Father in any way, my Son's sitting right behind me on his phone :) he's 28 and I have this one memory at Laguna Beach when he was maybe 6 and we were building little dams in the river coming down to the beach. Something I loved as a boy too - anyway I wish sometimes I could have do over of that day - it's still one of the best days of my life then, and reminds me, - Dad's Mom's and everyone - stop being in a hurry to move on to the next thing, be present where you are, you won't remember the last time you drop you kid off your shoulder. So pay attention to all the time you have - AMEN
D. Crane
@Kir ❤️ I lost my dad when I was 17 ..
2 days before my highschool graduation in 1995 and you just made me smile
Thank you ❤️
james withers
Erics vocal on Running on Faith here is superb.
DJ Gene
There's so much.. emotion, compassion coming out of Eric in this performance. If you allow yourself to feel all of it, it's overwhelming. Simply overwhelming.
Z
so agree
Talking Pictures
Epic album. What a musician to go through what he was. Yes. Music history. I was 13 and my dad had a heart attack. I still can not hear tears in heaven. 28 years later. It was on in the lobby of the hospital.