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.
Have You Ever Loved a Woman
Eric Clapton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So much it hurts to be alone.
Have you ever loved a woman
So much it hurts to be alone.
And all the time you know that little girl will do you wrong.
But you just love that woman
So much that you tremble in pain.
So much you tremble in pain.
And the part that hurts so bad
Is you know ya never gonna see her again.
Have you ever loved a woman
So much that it hurts to be alone.
Have you ever loved a woman
So much that it hurts to be alone.
While all the time you know
You don't wanna break up your happy home.
Eric Clapton's song Have You Ever Loved a Woman speaks about the pain and intensity of loving someone deeply, even when you know they may not be good for you. The song repeats the same lyrics three times, emphasizing the message of the lyrics.
The first stanza talks about the loneliness and pain that one may feel when they love a woman deeply, but can't be with her. This love is so strong that it hurts to be alone. The second stanza emphasizes the physical pain that this love causes, so much so that it makes you tremble. The pain of this kind of love is compounded by the knowledge that you will never see her again, adding a sense of finality to the emotions being expressed in the song. The last stanza talks about the dilemma of loving someone who may not be good for you, despite the love you feel. It is a bittersweet feeling, as you don't want to break up your happy home but still feel drawn to the object of your affection.
Overall, this song captures the complex emotions of love - the joy, pain, longing and heartache that can accompany it. Eric Clapton's emotive rocker style helps in delivering the passion in the lyrics to the hearts of the listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you ever loved a woman
Have you experienced loving a woman?
So much it hurts to be alone.
Have you ever felt so much love that being apart from her causes you pain?
Have you ever loved a woman
Do you recall the feeling of loving a woman?
So much it hurts to be alone.
The love being so strong that her absence causes physical pain?
And all the time you know that little girl will do you wrong.
Despite knowing that the woman you love might betray you; you are unable to stop loving her.
But you just love that woman
You accept the pain and continue to love her.
So much that you tremble in pain.
The love being so intense that it causes physical sensations such as trembling.
When you just love that woman
When loving that woman is all you know.
So much you tremble in pain.
The pain of being unable to have her being so strong that it causes physical sensations.
And the part that hurts so bad
The most painful part of the situation is
Is you know ya never gonna see her again.
Knowing that you will never be able to see her again.
Have you ever loved a woman
Have you experienced loving a woman?
So much that it hurts to be alone.
Have you ever felt so much love that being apart from her causes you pain?
Have you ever loved a woman
Do you recall the feeling of loving a woman?
So much that it hurts to be alone.
The love being so strong that her absence causes physical pain?
While all the time you know
Even though you know
You don't wanna break up your happy home.
You do not want to destroy a happy relationship to pursue your love.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Billy Myles
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
calbassas87
I don’t care what anyone says about his Cream or Derek years. Clapton was at his absolute virtuosic peak in the late 80s-mid 90s. He got off drugs, dusted off his 335, and just let it freakin fly. Some of the best guitar playing you’ll ever hear.
Luigggye
Thanks You....
John Doole
I’m inclined to agree. It was his last, finest peak.
T W
lotta accuracy in this comment. he peaked more than once and most peope do NOT do that. id say 68’ (you cant deny the final year of Cream), Layla Sessions, around 78’ and then again around 89’-95’. hes a virtuoso through and through
T W
@John Doole yes!! last peak!! i read this after my comment. so glad someone else agrees
BBQDad463
I heard EC in Pittsburgh in 2013. When I tell people I heard Clapton in his prime, they invariably ask, "When, in the Late Sixties?" My response is, "No, in Clapton's late 60's."
As another poster said, EC has peaked several times.
He may not be God, but his playing is divine.
Jon Shepherd
No one mentions his voice. He has a superb tone! Such a wonderful voice and yes he is an insanely good guitarist
Pablo Pérez
His voice is out of words
Ann Pommer
🎑👁️👁️❤️✨⛵✨🌅✨🎶
Starman - o retorno
1:51. 2:23