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.
Blues Before Sunrise
Eric Clapton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tears standing in my eyes.
I have the blues before sunrise,
Tears standing in my eyes.
It was a miserable feeling, now babe,
A feeling I do despise.
I have to leave, leave you baby,
I have to leave you baby,
Because you know you done me wrong.
I'm gonna pack up and leave you darling
And break up my happy home.
I have to leave, leave you baby,
I'm gonna leave you all alone.
I'm gonna leave you baby,
I'm gonna leave you all alone.
I'm gonna pack up and leave you darling
Because you know you done me wrong.
Well now goodbye, goodbye baby,
I'll see you on some rainy day.
Well now goodbye baby,
I'll see you on some rainy day.
You can go ahead now little darling,
'Cause I want you to have your way.
The lyrics of Blues Before Sunrise by Eric Clapton describe a protagonist experiencing a deep sense of despair and sadness before the sunrise due to a failed relationship. The feeling of misery is further enhanced by the tears standing in the singer's eyes, and this is a state that he despises. The lyrics communicate the singer's decision to end the relationship and break up the happy home. The pain and anguish of the singer are palpable in the words that express the feeling of betrayal.
The singer conveys the decision to leave the partner, leaving her all alone, to start life anew. There is an acknowledgement in the lyrics that the partner has wronged the singer, and he is compelled to leave her. The last verse indicates that although the singer is leaving, he hopes to see his partner again sometime in the future. In retrospect, the singer is not bitter and wants his partner to be happy, "Because I want you to have your way."
The song reflects the feeling of heartbreak universally seen in many blues songs. Eric Clapton's rendition of this song with his guitar notes added a unique character to the song and became one of his widely famous classic blues songs.
Line by Line Meaning
I have the blues before sunrise,
I feel deeply sad and troubled before the sun even rises
Tears standing in my eyes.
I am crying and cannot stop my tears from flowing
It was a miserable feeling, now babe,
I feel terrible, dear, and I can't shake off this feeling
A feeling I do despise.
I hate feeling this way and wish it would go away
I have to leave, leave you baby,
I must depart from you, my love
Because you know you done me wrong.
You hurt me deeply and caused me pain, and that's why I'm leaving
I'm gonna pack up and leave you darling
I'm going to pack my things and go away from you, my sweetie
And break up my happy home.
I used to have a happy home, but now it's broken because of what you did
I'm gonna leave you all alone.
I will leave you by yourself
I'm gonna pack up and leave you darling
I'm going to pack my things and go away from you, my sweetie
Because you know you done me wrong.
You hurt me deeply and caused me pain, and that's why I'm leaving
Well now goodbye, goodbye baby,
Farewell, farewell, my dearie
I'll see you on some rainy day.
We will meet again on a day when it rains
You can go ahead now little darling,
You can go on and do whatever you want, my beloved
'Cause I want you to have your way.
Because I want you to be happy and free to do as you please
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOHN LEE HOOKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anonymous
01 Eric Clapton - Blues Before Sunrise Lyrics from the Album - 1994 - Eric Clapton - From The Cradle
I have the blues before sunrise, Tears standing in my eyes
I have the blues before sunrise, Tears standing in my eyes
It was a miserable feeling,
Now babe,
A feeling I do despise
I have to leave,
Leave you baby
Because you know you done me wrong
I have to leave you baby
Because you know you done me wrong
I'm gonna pack up and leave you darling
And break up my happy home
I have to leave,
Leave you baby,
I'm gonna leave you all alone
I'm gonna leave you baby,
I'm gonna leave you all alone
I'm gonna pack up
And leave you darlin'
Because you know you done me wrong
Musical Interlude
Well now goodbye,
Goodbye baby,
I'll see you on some rainy day
Well now goodbye baby,
I'll see you on some rainy day
You can go ahead
Now little darling, 'cause
I want you to have your way
Anonymous
02 Eric Clapton - Third Degree Lyrics from the Album - 1994 - Eric Clapton - From The Cradle
Got me accused of peeping,
I can't see a thing
Got me accused of petting,
I can't even raise my hand
Bad luck,
Bad luck is killing me
Well I just can't stand,
No more of this third degree
Got me accused of murder,
I ain't harmed a man
Got me accused of forgery,
I can't even write my name
Bad luck,
Bad luck is killing me
Well I just can't stand,
No more of this third degree
Musical Interlude
Got me accused of taxes,
I ain't got a dime
Got me accused of children,
And ain't nary one of them was mine
Bad luck,
Bad luck is killing me
Well I just can't stand,
No more of this third degree
Anonymous
03 Eric Clapton - Reconsider Baby Lyrics from the Album - 1994 - Eric Clapton - From The Cradle
So long,
Oh I hate to see you go.
So long,
Oh I hate to see you go.
And the way that I will miss you,
I guess you will never know.
We've been together so long
To have to separate this way.
We've been together so long
To have to separate this way.
I’m gonna let you go ahead on now baby,
Pray that you'll come back home someday.
Musical Interlude
You said you once had loved me,
But now I guess you've changed your mind.
You said you once had loved me,
But now I guess you've changed your mind.
Why don't you reconsider baby
Give yourself just a little more time.
Anonymous
04 Eric Clapton - Hoochie Coochie Man Lyrics from the Album - 1994 - Eric Clapton - From The Cradle
Gypsy woman told my mother
‘Fore I was born
You got a boy-child coming,
Gonna be a son of a gun
Gonna make pretty women
Jump and shout
And then the world wanna know What this all about
But you know I'm here
Everybody knows I'm here
Well, I'm the hoochie coochie man
Everybody knows I'm here
I got the black cat bone
And I got a mojo tooth
I got the John the Conquerer Root, Gonna mess with you
I'm gonna make you girls
Lead me by my hand
And then the world will know
The hoochie coochie man
But you know I'm here
Everybody knows I'm here
Well, I'm the hoochie coochie man
Everybody knows I'm here
Musical Interlude
On the seventh hour,
On the seventh day
On the seventh month,
Seven doctors say
"He was born for good luck,
That you'll see"
I got seven hundred dollars;
Don't you mess with me!
But you know I'm here
Everybody knows I'm here
Well, I'm the hoochie coochie man
Everybody knows I'm here
Anonymous
05 Eric Clapton - Five Long Years Lyrics fro the Album - 1994 - Eric Clapton - From The Cradle
Have you ever been mistreated
You know just what I'm talking about.
Have you ever been mistreated
You know just what I'm talking about.
I worked five long years for one woman,
She had the nerve to put me out.
I got a job in a steel mill,
Shucking steel like a slave.
Five long years, every Friday I come straight back home with all my pay.
Have you ever been mistreated
You know just what I'm talking about.
I worked five long years for one woman,
She had the nerve to put me out.
Musical Interlude
I finally learned my lesson,
Should a long time ago.
The next woman that I marry,
She gonna work and bring me the dough.
Have you ever been mistreated
You know just what I'm talking about.
I worked five long years for one woman,
She had the nerve,
She had the nerve,
She had the nerve,
She had the nerve to put me out.
Anonymous
06 Eric Clapton - I'm Tore Down Lyrics fro the Album - 1994 - Eric Clapton - From The Cradle
I'm tore down,
I'm almost level with the ground
I'm tore down,
I'm almost level with the ground
Well, I feel like this when my baby can't be found
I went to the river to jump in
My baby showed up and said, "I will tell you when"
When I'm tore down,
I'm almost level with the ground
Well, I feel like this when my baby can't be found
I love you babe with all my heart and soul
Love like mine will never grow old
Love you in the morning and in the evenin' too
Every time you leave me, I get mad with you
When I'm tore down,
I'm almost level with the ground
Well, I feel like this when my baby can't be found
Musical Interlude
I love you baby with all my might
Love like mine is out of sight
I'll lie for you if you want me to
I really don't believe that your love is true
When I'm tore down,
I'm almost level with the ground
Well, I feel like this when my baby can't be found
I'm tore down,
I'm almost level with the ground
When I'm tore down,
I'm almost level with the ground
Well, I feel like this when my baby can't be found
Anonymous
07 Eric Clapton - How Long Blues Lyrics fro the Album - 1994 - Eric Clapton - From The Cradle
How long, baby how long
Has that evening train been gone
How long, how how long, baby how long
Went to the station, didn't see no train
Down in my heart, I have an aching pain
How long, how how long, baby how long
I feel disgusted, I feel so bad
Thinking 'bout the good time that I once had had
How long, how how long, baby how long
I could see the green grass growing on the hill
I ain't seen no greenback on a dollar bill
How long, how how long, baby how long
You're gonna be sorry you feel so blue
When you want me, baby, I declare I want, want you
How long, how how long, baby how long
Don't have no money for to ride the train
I would ride the rugs, baby, to be with you again
How long, how how long, baby how long
How long, baby how long
Must I keep my, my watching point
How long, how how long, baby how long
Anonymous
08 Eric Clapton - Goin' Away Baby Lyrics fro the Album - 1994 - Eric Clapton - From The Cradle
Lord, I'm going away just to wear you off my mind
Lord, I'm going away just to wear you off my mind
Well you keep me worrying, 'bout it all the time
Well, I ain't never loved her, all womens in my life
Well, I ain't ever loved her, all womens in my life
Well, my mother and my sister, sweetheart, and my wife
Have you don't want me baby, Please don't call me at all
If you don't want me baby,
Please don't call me at all
Well, just like you found me,
You can put me down
Musical Interlude
Well now goodbye baby,
If you call at home
Well now goodbye baby,
If you call at home
You can go away,
Swear you won't stay long
Musical Outro
Anonymous
09 Eric Clapton - Blues Leave Me Alone Lyrics fro the Album - 1994 - Eric Clapton - From The Cradle
Blues, blues trying to drive me away from home
The blues, blues trying to drive me away from home
And the blues so bad, blues followed me all day long
The blues, blues won't let me take my rest
Blues, blues won't let me take my rest
My mind is ramblin' like a wild geese out in the west
Well, you're my all day steady,
Baby you're my midnight dream
Yes, you're my all day steady,
Baby you're my midnight dream
I love that woman better than anyone ever seen
Musical Interlude
Blues, blues follow me all day long
The blues, blues follow me all day long
Blues, blues, blues won't you please leave me alone
Anonymous
10 Eric Clapton - Sinner's Prayer Lyrics fro the Album - 1994 - Eric Clapton - From The Cradle
Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy on me
Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy on me
Well if I've done somebody wrong
Lord,
Have mercy if You please
I used to have plenty money,
The finest clothes in town
But bad luck and trouble overtaken me,
Bound to get me down
Please have mercy
Lord have mercy on me
Well if I've done somebody wrong
Have mercy
If You please
Keep on working now, child
Lord every morning
Musical Interlude
Well if I've been a bad boy, baby,
I declare I'll change my ways
I don't want bad luck and trouble to Follow me all my days
Please have a mercy
Lord have mercy on me
Well if I've done somebody wrong
Have mercy if You please
Oh, oh, oh Lord