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.
Golden Ring
Eric Clapton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It made you happy, it made you sing.
And I played for you on my guitar;
It didn't last long, we didn't go far.
And though the times have changed,
We're rearranged.
Will the ties that bind remain the same?
You came around after a while;
Everyone said that I made you smile.
It all went well, and suddenly then
You heard that he would marry again.
[Chorus: x3]
Well I know that I have been here before;
I've trod on your wings, I've opened the door.
If I gave to you a golden ring
Would I make you happy, would I make you sing?
The lyrics of Eric Clapton's song Golden Ring tell a story of a past love that never quite made it. The first verse describes how the singer's love interest had been given a golden ring by someone else, which made her happy and sing, but the relationship ultimately did not last. The singer had played guitar for her, but their connection was fleeting and they never got very far.
The chorus poses a question of whether the ties that once bound them remain the same, despite the passage of time and changing circumstances. The second verse describes how after some time had passed, the singer and his love interest reconnected and things went well. Yet just as quickly as it had begun, the relationship was cut short when she heard that her partner was going to marry someone else.
Overall, the lyrics of Golden Ring speak to the complexities of love and relationships, and how things don't always work out even if there is mutual interest and connection. It also speaks to the idea that love can be fleeting, and timing and circumstance can play a significant role in the outcomes of relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
He gave to you a golden ring;
He gave you an expensive, valuable ring and as a result, you were happy and delighted.
It made you happy, it made you sing.
The ring provided you immense happiness and joy that you could not resist singing songs in its praise.
And I played for you on my guitar;
When we were together, I played some sweet tunes on my guitar for you.
It didn't last long, we didn't go far.
Unfortunately, our relationship couldn't last long, and we didn't go as far as we thought we would.
And though the times have changed,
Even though time has passed and we have both evolved,
We're rearranged.
Our lives have undergone some changes and we're not the same people we once were.
Will the ties that bind remain the same?
I wonder if the bond that once held us together will continue to exist even after everything that has occurred.
You came around after a while;
After an extended period, you entered my life again.
Everyone said that I made you smile.
Our friends and family noticed and commented on how much I brought joy and happiness to your life.
It all went well, and suddenly then
At some point, everything was going well, but all of a sudden, something happened.
You heard that he would marry again.
You found out that the person you were with or interested in was planning to get married to someone else.
Well I know that I have been here before;
I have experienced this situation or feeling in the past, and I recognize the signs.
I've trod on your wings, I've opened the door.
I have hurt you and caused you pain by restricting your freedom and manipulating your choices.
If I gave to you a golden ring
If I were to present you with an expensive ring again,
Would I make you happy, would I make you sing?
Would that ring charm you and make you as happy as it did before? Would it produce the same result as the first time?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gmb858
Great to see EC's hands firm and fingers flexible on the frets; voice strong and clear, every note completed...I prayed for his recovery and I'm pleased to see that God's Blessing is still upon this man. It's a beautifully captured video, a tremendous production to a timeless song.... the Legacy continues... thankful for the joy and happiness this remarkable man has brought us.
@alphabeta86
Amen
@JJ-qq8tg
😊🙏🎸🎼
@jonathankahanovitch2839
I also prayed 🙏amen amen
@terrik7254
Amen!🙏❤️
@kathleenomeara9704
🙏 Loved his memoir
@patriceerickson5982
I love Eric his guitar brings me sweet peace and comfort
@gregoryalbert379
Thank you Eric for a gentle song, during a time when we can be strong. Your words and chords, simple they may be, awakens us all, with love and hope; soon you will see !
@PiagaBiblica89
I didn't want to watch/listen because I pre-ordered the album but I couldn't resist. Looking at these 4 old pals still there, enjoying being together on a stage and rocking a 40-years old song... man that's really something. God bless you guys
@Vivekaryayoutube
I'm blown away...he's a legend, he'll always remain 🙌🙌🙌♥️♥️♥️♥️