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.
Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
Eric Clapton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell me lies, but hold me tight
Save your good-byes for the morning light
But don't let me be lonely tonight
Say good-bye and say hello
Sure 'nough good to see you
But it's time to go
Don't say no
I don't want to be lonely tonight
Go away then, damn you
Go on and do as you please, yeah
You ain't gonna see me getting down on my knees
I'm undecided and your heart's been divided
You've been turning my world upside down
Do me wrong, do me right, right now baby
Go on and tell me lies, but hold me tight
Save your good-byes for the morning light, morning light
But don't let me be lonely tonight
I don't want to be lonely tonight
No, no, I don't want to be lonely tonight
I don't want to be lonely tonight
In Eric Clapton's song "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight", the singer is torn between wanting to be with someone and not wanting to be lonely, but also not wanting to be mistreated. The lyrics convey a sense of desperation and uncertainty as the singer asks to be held tight and told lies if need be, just so he isn't alone. He begs the person not to say goodbye until morning and not to offer him any definitive answer to their relationship. The singer realizes the other person is playing with his emotions but he still pleads with them not to leave him alone.
The second stanza of the song shows the singer's internal struggles as he vacillates between wanting to be alone and wanting the company of the other person. He acknowledges that they must part ways but still encourages them to stay. He doesn't want to be alone and is willing to accept any form of interaction to keep them together. The final stanza conveys a sense of frustration and anger as the singer acknowledges he cannot keep begging the person to stay. He tells them to go away and do whatever they want, but he's not going to beg and plead for them to stay.
Line by Line Meaning
Do me wrong, do me right
Do whatever you want to me, even if it's wrong, as long as you also do right by me.
Tell me lies, but hold me tight
Lie to me if you must, but please still give me comfort and affection.
Save your good-byes for the morning light
Do not say goodbye to me now, wait until a more hopeful time.
But don't let me be lonely tonight
I am afraid of being alone, so please stay with me for the time being.
Say good-bye and say hello
It's nice to see you again, but it's also time for you to leave.
Sure 'nough good to see you
I am happy to see you, but it also makes me sad that you will eventually leave.
But it's time to go
It is inevitable that you must leave now.
Don't say yes, but please
I don't want to be rejected, so please don't definitively say yes or no to me.
Don't say no
I am afraid of being rejected, so please do not say no to me.
I don't want to be lonely tonight
I am afraid of being alone, so please stay with me for the time being.
Go away then, damn you
I am angry and resentful that you are leaving, but I know I cannot stop you.
Go on and do as you please, yeah
I know you will do what you want, regardless of my feelings.
You ain't gonna see me getting down on my knees
I will not beg you to stay, even though I want you to.
I'm undecided and your heart's been divided
I am uncertain about my feelings, while you seem to be torn between two options.
You've been turning my world upside down
Your presence in my life has caused me great emotional turmoil.
Do me wrong, do me right, right now baby
I don't care what you do to me, as long as you do something to me now to make me feel less alone.
Save your good-byes for the morning light, morning light
Please wait until tomorrow to say goodbye, as maybe things will look brighter then.
No, no, I don't want to be lonely tonight
I am desperate for companionship, and I cannot stand the thought of being alone tonight.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: James Taylor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Foster Ibarra
Do me wrong, do me right, do me right baby.
Tell me lies but hold, hold me tight.
Save your goodbyes till the morning light,
But don't let me be lonely tonight.
Say goodbye, woman say hello, say hello.
It's sure enough good to see you, but it's time to go,
And don't say yes, but please don't say no.
I don't want to be lonely tonight.
Go away then, damn you, go on and do as you please, do as you please,
But you ain't going to see me getting down on my knees,
'Cause I'm undecided and your heart's been divided.
You've been turning my world upside down.
Do me wrong, do me right, do me right baby.
Go on and tell me lies but hold, hold me tight.
And save your goodbyes till the morning light,
But don't let me be lonely tonight.
Save your goodbyes till the morning light,
But don't let me be lonely tonight.
'Cause I don't want to be lonely tonight.
I don't want to be lonely.
Don't do it, don't do it, don't do it, don't do it
D G
EPC SUPER! Эрик это музыка для Души. Великая и неповторимая. Фантастическая!
Patrick Britton
Absolutely love this version. Eric is incredible talent.
ronald goebel
He is pouring out his heart and soul for us as he has done for all these years. Clapton is the best of the best in my book. God has a special place for people like this that make such beautiful music for all of us to enjoy and cherish forever. It will never die. This will be playing way after all of us here are gone bank on it!
Sotiris Tsamandanis
So true. His feel from the soul is unrivalled. I Love Beck and Santana but Erics emotional playing moves me more than any other player,regardless of the so called repetitive pentatonic,his feel is sublime
Happy Spirit07
Goosebumps and tears..... I'm just..... reeling in awe. I will never feel as lonely nights with this song from the maestro playing the guitar the way only he does and singing a JT classic like this one and making it all his own.
Dwight Gaston
Amazing cover; amazing vocals by Clapton. I'm surprised he doesn't play this live more often.
Tommaso Polidoro
Magico e grande Eric Clapton...come sempre spettacolare
Jean côme
UNIQUE SIR CLAPTON!!!!
Dick Vandijk
clapton is able to put the emotions in the strings here. what a gifted musician he was and is
toto kim
thank u a lot …!!!!
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