Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE (born 30 March 1945), is an English rock and blue… Read Full Bio ↴Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE (born 30 March 1945), is an English rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and of Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and influential guitarists of all time. Clapton ranked second in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and fourth in Gibson's "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time". He was also named number five in Time magazine's list of "The 10 Best Electric Guitar Players" in 2009.

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.

I'm Tore Down
Eric Clapton Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Chorus:]
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."

Well, 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 evening too.
Every time you leave me I get mad with you.

[Chorus]

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.

[Chorus]

I'm tore down, I'm almost level with the ground.

Well, I'm tore down, I'm almost level with the ground.
Well, I feel like this when my baby can't be found.

Overall Meaning

"I'm Tore Down" is a classic blues song by Eric Clapton about being heartbroken and in turmoil. The singer is devastated because he can't find his lover, and the pain he feels is so intense that he feels like he's being pulled to the ground. He's so sorrowful that he wants to jump into the river and end it all, but his baby shows up and says she will return when she's ready. The lyrics talk about how much he loves her and how his love will never grow old. But every time she leaves him, he gets mad and is left feeling torn down.

The chorus of the song is repeated multiple times, indicating that the singer feels like he's close to the ground, perhaps indicating that he's at his lowest point. He can barely keep himself together because his heart is broken. The verse about going to the river and wanting to jump in refers to the commonly known metaphorical link between water and emotions. The river is a symbol of the singer’s emotional state, and he is willing to do anything to end his pain.

The verses show how the singer obsesses over his relationship with his lover. He loves her with all his heart, and he's willing to lie for her and do anything to make her happy. But he still doubts her love for him, and this leaves him feeling robbed, cheated on, and vulnerable, so much so that he is almost level with the ground, torn down.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm tore down, I'm almost level with the ground.
I feel completely defeated and low to the point of being almost below the surface of the earth.

Well, I feel like this when my baby can't be found.
The absence of my significant other causes me to feel hopeless and at rock bottom.

I went to the river to jump in.
I contemplated taking my own life to escape my feelings of despair.

My baby showed up and said, 'I will tell you when.'
My partner arrived and provided a slight glimmer of hope that we could work things out, but they were not ready to commit or offer a solution at that moment.

I love you babe with all my heart and soul;
I have a deep and meaningful affection for my significant other.

Love like mine will never grow old.
Our love is timeless and true, and will never fade with age.

Love you in the morning and in the evening too.
My love is present and constant throughout the day, every day.

Every time you leave me I get mad with you.
When my partner is absent or distant, it causes frustration and anger within me.

I love you baby with all my might;
My love for my partner is strong and powerful.

Love like mine is out of sight.
Our love is something special and beyond what others may experience.

I'll lie for you if you want me to.
I am willing to deceive others for the sake of my partner's happiness or benefit.

I really don't believe that your love is true.
I have doubts and insecurities about the authenticity of my partner's love for me.

I'm tore down, I'm almost level with the ground.
I am feeling extremely low and dejected.

Well, I feel like this when my baby can't be found.
The absence or distance of my partner has a profound effect on my emotional state.

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Sonny Thompson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Kosi's catharsis

40w↑1

Well, I'm tore down
I'm almost level with the ground
Well, I'm tore down
I'm almost level with the ground
Well, I feel like this
When my baby can't be found
Well, I went to the river
To jump in
My baby showed up and said
'I will tell you when'
Well, 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 baby
With all my heart an' soul
A love like mine will never grow old
I love you in the mornin'
And in the evenin', too
But ev'rytime you leave me
I get mad with you
Well, 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, baby with all my might
A love like mine is out of sight
I'll lie for you if you want me to
I really don't believe your love is true
Well, I'm tore down
I'm almost level with the ground
Well, I feel like this
When my baby can't be found
A-well I'm tore down
I'm almost level with the ground
Well, I'm tore down
I'm almost level with the ground
Well, I feel like this
When my baby can't be found

Sandra Virgínia

2y↑4

I'm tore down, almost level with the ground
I'm tore down 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"

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.

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