Inspired by Clapton's then-unrequited love for Pattie Boyd, the wife of his friend and fellow musician George Harrison, "Layla" was unsuccessful on its initial release. The song has since experienced great critical and popular acclaim. It is often hailed as being among the greatest rock songs of all time. Two versions have achieved chart success, first in 1972 and again twenty years later. In 2004, it was ranked #27 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
The album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs opened to lackluster sales (the album never reached the charts in Britain) as with Clapton unmentioned except on the back it appeared to be a double album from an unknown band. In addition the song's length proved prohibitive for radio airplay; as a result an edited version of the song, trimmed to 2:43, was released as a single in March 1971 by Atco (U.S.). It peaked at only #51 on the Billboard Hot 100.
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the iconic guitar riff from Layla featured on a series of British TV adverts for Vauxhall cars. It also featured prominently in the 1990 film Goodfellas.
In 1992, Clapton was invited to play for the MTV Unplugged series. His subsequent album, Unplugged, featured a number of blues standards and his new "Tears in Heaven". It also featured an "unplugged" version of "Layla". The new arrangement slowed down and reworked the original riff and dispensed with the piano coda. This version climbed to number twelve on the U.S. charts but failed to chart in Britain. It would later win a Grammy Award in 1992 for Best Rock Song, beating out "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana. The win would later be named one of the 10 biggest upsets in Grammy history by Entertainment Weekly.[
"Layla" is featured on a number of "greatest ever" lists, including The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll, 27th place on Rolling Stone's The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and 16th place on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Rock and Roll. "Layla" also has had an effect on popular culture, with the piano coda featured in Martin Scorsese's film Goodfellas.
Layla
Eric Clapton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And nobody's waiting by your side?
You've been running and hiding much too long
You know it's just your foolish pride
Layla, you've got me on my knees
Layla, I'm begging, darling please
Layla, darling won't you ease my worried mind?
I tried to give you consolation
When your old man had let you down
Like a fool, I fell in love with you
Turned my whole world upside down
Layla, you've got me on my knees
Layla, I'm begging, darling please
Layla, darling won't you ease my worried mind?
Let's make the best of the situation
Before I finally go insane
Please don't say I'll never find a way
And tell me all my love's in vain
Layla, you've got me on my knees
Layla, I'm begging, darling please
Layla, darling won't you ease my worried mind?
Layla (Layla) you've got me on my knees
Layla, I'm begging, darling please
Layla (oh), darling won't you ease my worried mind?
The lyrics of Eric Clapton's Layla tell the story of unrequited love, heartbreak, and the foolishness of pride. The song addresses a woman named Layla who is lonely and struggling to find stability in her life. The lyrics suggest that Layla has been running and hiding from her issues for far too long, and that her pride is getting in the way of her finding love and happiness.
The singer, who is in love with Layla, seems to be offering her comfort and support after her previous romantic relationship had failed. He had fallen in love with her, and it had turned his world upside down. The chorus repeats his plea for Layla to ease his worried mind, but also his wish to help her through her lonely time.
Despite his efforts, he is feeling helpless and lost, acknowledging that he is on his knees begging for her to reciprocate his emotions. The chorus of the song repeats this plea, showcasing the despair that the singer feels. The song's final verse serves as a plea to make the best of the situation before he goes insane, acknowledging that his love may be in vain.
In summary, Eric Clapton's Layla is an emotional and raw depiction of the pain and heartbreak that come with unrequited love. It showcases the desperation and helplessness felt by someone in love with a person who cannot return those feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
What'll you do when you get lonely
Asking Layla how she'll cope with loneliness.
And nobody's waiting by your side?
Asking Layla how she'll feel when she's all by herself.
You've been running and hiding much too long
Layla's been avoiding love and the singer thinks it's been too long.
You know it's just your foolish pride
Layla's refusal to love is just because of pride, not a rational decision.
Layla, you've got me on my knees
Layla's refusal to love makes the artist very upset.
Layla, I'm begging, darling please
The singer is begging Layla to consider loving him.
Layla, darling won't you ease my worried mind?
The singer's love for Layla is causing him anxiety and he wants her to make it stop.
I tried to give you consolation
The artist has tried to comfort Layla in the past.
When your old man had let you down
The artist tried to comfort Layla when her father let her down emotionally.
Like a fool, I fell in love with you
The artist sees himself as foolish for falling in love with someone who won't reciprocate.
Turned my whole world upside down
The singer's love for Layla has had a significant impact on his life.
Let's make the best of the situation
The artist wants to find a way to enjoy life even if Layla won't love him.
Before I finally go insane
The singer worries that his unrequited love will cause him to lose his mind.
Please don't say I'll never find a way
The singer doesn't want Layla to tell him that he'll never find love.
And tell me all my love's in vain
The singer doesn't want Layla to tell him that his love for her has been a waste of time.
Layla (Layla) you've got me on my knees
Repeating the earlier lines to emphasize how strongly the artist feels.
Layla (oh), darling won't you ease my worried mind?
Desperately asking Layla to take away the artist's anxiety by loving him.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Eric Patrick Clapton, Jim Gordon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anonymous
01 Eric Clapton - I Feel Free Lyrics from the Album - 1995 - Eric Clapton - The Cream Of Clapton
Bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp
Bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp
I feel free
Bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp
I feel free
Bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp
I feel free
Bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp
I feel free
Bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp
I feel free
Bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp
I feel free
Bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp
I feel free
Bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp
I feel free
Bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp, bomp
I feel free
Feel when I dance with you,
We move like the sea.
You, you're all I want to know.
I feel free.
I feel free.
I feel free.
I can walk down the street, there's no one there
Though the pavements are one huge crowd.
I can drive down the road
My eyes don't see,
For my mind wants to cry out loud.
I, I, I, I feel free.
I feel free.
I feel free.
I can walk down the street, there's no one there
Though the pavements are one huge crowd.
I can drive down the road; my eyes don't see,
Though my mind wants to cry out loud,
Though my mind wants to cry out loud.
Dance floor is like the sea,
Ceiling is the sky.
You're the sun and as you shine on me,
I feel free.
I feel free.
I feel free.
Aye
Aye
Aye
Aye
Anonymous
02 Eric Clapton - Sunshine Of Your Love Lyrics from the Album - 1995 - Eric Clapton - The Cream Of Clapton
Well it's getting near dawn
When lights close their tired eyes
I'll soon be with you my love
Give you my dawn surprise
I'll be with you darling soon
I'll be with you when the stars stop falling
I've been waiting so long
To be where I'm going
In the sunshine of your love
I’ll make you my love
Light's shining through on you
Yes, I'm with you my love
It's the morning and just we two
I'll stay with you darling now
I'll stay with you till my seas are dried up
I've been waiting so long
To be where I'm going
In the sunshine of your love
Musical Interlude
I'm with you my love
The light shinning through on you
Yes, I'm with you my love
It's the morning and just we two
I'll stay with you darling now
I'll stay with you till my seas are dried up
I've been waiting so long
I've been waiting so long
I've been waiting so long
To be where I'm going
In the sunshine of your love
Musical Outro
Anonymous
03 Eric Clapton - White Room Lyrics from the Album - 1995 - Eric Clapton - The Cream Of Clapton
In the white room with black curtains in the station
Black roof country,
No gold pavements, tired starlings
Silver horses ran down moonbeams in your dark eyes
Dawn light smiles on you leaving, My contentment
I'll wait in this place where the sun never shines
Wait in this place where the shadows run from themselves
You said no strings
Could secure you at the station
Platform ticket, restless diesels, goodbye windows
I walked into such a sad time at the station
Been I walked out, felt my own need just beginning
I'll wait in the queue when the trains come back
Lie with you where the shadows run from themselves
At the party she was kindness in the hard crowd
Consolation for the old wound now forgotten
Yellow tigers crouched in jungles in her dark eyes
She's just dressing, goodbye windows, tired starlings
How sweet in this place with the lowly cry
Lie in the dark where the shadows
run from themselves
Musical Outro
Anonymous
04 Eric Clapton - Crossroads Lyrics from the Album - 1995 - Eric Clapton - The Cream Of Clapton
I went down to the crossroads, fell down on my knees.
I went down to the crossroads, fell down on my knees.
Asked the Lord above for mercy, Save me if you please.
I went down to the crossroads, tried to flag a ride.
I went down to the crossroads, tried to flag a ride.
Nobody seemed to know me, Everybody passed me by.
When I'm going down to Rosedale, Take my rider by my side.
I'm going down to Rosedale,
Take my rider by my side.
You can still barrelhouse,
Baby, on the riverside.
Musical Interlude
Going down to Rosedale,
Take my rider by my side.
Going down to Rosedale,
Take my rider by my side.
You can still barrelhouse,
Baby, on the riverside.
Musical Interlude
You can run, you can run,
Tell my friend-boy baldy Brown.
Run, you can run, tell my friend-boy baldy Brown.
And I'm standing at the crossroads, believe I'm sinking down.
Anonymous
05 Eric Clapton - Badge Lyrics from the Album - 1995 - Eric Clapton - The Cream Of Clapton
Thinkin' 'bout the times you drove in my car
Thinkin' that I might have drove you too far
And I'm thinkin' 'bout the love that you laid on my table
I told you not to wander 'round in the dark
I told you 'bout the swans, that they live in the park
Then I told you 'bout our kid, now he's married to Mabel
Yes, I told you that the light goes up and down
Don't you notice how the wheel goes 'round?
And you'd better pick yourself up from the ground
Before they bring the curtain down
Yes, before they bring the curtain down
Oh oh
Musical Interlude
Talkin' 'bout a girl that looks quite like you
She didn't have the time to wait in the queue
She cried away her life since she fell off the cradle
Anonymous
06 Eric Clapton - Presence Of The Lord Lyrics from the Album - 1995 - Eric Clapton - The Cream Of Clapton
I have finally found a way to live
Just like I never could before
I know that I don't have much to give,
But I can open any door
Everybody knows the secret,
Oh everybody knows the score, yes, yeah, yeah
I have finally found a way to live
In the colour of the Lord
I have finally found a place to live Just like I never could before
And I know I don't have much to give,
But soon I'll open any door
Everybody knows the secret,
Oh everybody knows the score
I have finally found a place to live, Oh, in the presence of the Lord
In the presence of the Lord
Musical Interlude
I have finally found a way to live, Just like I never could before
And I know I don't have much to give,
But I can open any door
Everybody knows the secret,
I said everybody knows the score
I have finally found a way to live
Oh in the colour of the Lord
In the colour of the Lord
Anonymous
07 Eric Clapton - Blues Power Lyrics from the Album - 1995 - Eric Clapton - The Cream Of Clapton
Bet you didn't think I knew how to rock 'n' roll
Lord, I got the boogie-woogie right down in my very soul
There ain't no need for me to be a wallflower
'Cause now I'm living on blues power
I knew all the time but now I'm gonna let you know
I'm gonna keep on rocking, no matter if it's fast or slow
Ain't gonna stop until the twenty-fifth hour
'Cause now I'm living on blues power
Well bet you didn't think I knew how to rock 'n' roll
Lord, I got the boogie-woogie right down in my very soul
There ain't no need for me to be a wallflower
'Cause now I'm living on blues power
Musical Outro
Talking to you now
The blues is going to boogie too
Keep on, keep on, keep on……
Anonymous
08 Eric Clapton - After Midnight Lyrics from the Album - 1995 - Eric Clapton - The Cream Of Clapton
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang down
After midnight, we're gonna chug-a-lug and shout
We're gonna stimulate some action
We're gonna get some satisfaction
We're gonna find out what it is all about
(What it is all about, what it is all about)
Wow
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang down
(After midnight, after midnight)
After midnight, we're gonna shake your tambourine
(After midnight, after midnight)
After midnight, it's all gonna be peaches and cream
(After midnight, after midnight)
We're gonna cause talk and suspicion
We're gonna give an exhibition
We're gonna find out what it is all about
(What it is all about, what it is all about)
Wow
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang down
(We'll let it all hang down, we'll let it all hang down)
Music Interlude
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang down
(Gonna let it all hang down, gonna let it all hang down)
After midnight, we're gonna shake your tambourine
(Gonna shake your tambourine, gonna shake your tambourine)
After midnight, it's all going to be peaches and cream
(Gonna shake your tambourine, gonna shake your tambourine)
We're gonna cause talk and suspicion
We're gonna give an exhibition
We're gonna find out what it is all about
(What it is all about, what it is all about)
Wow
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang down
(After midnight, after midnight)
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang down
(Gonna let it all hang down, gonna let it all hang down)
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang down
(Gonna let it all hang down, gonna let it all hang down)
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang down
(Gonna let it all hang down, gonna let it all hang down)
After midnight, we're gonna let it all hang down
(Gonna let it all hang down, gonna let it all hang down)
Anonymous
09 Eric Clapton - Let It Rain Lyrics from the Album - 1995 - Eric Clapton - The Cream Of Clapton
The rain is falling through the mist of sorrow that surrounded me
The sun could never thaw away the bliss that lays around me
Let it rain, let it rain,
Let your love rain down on me
Let it rain, let it rain,
Let it rain, rain, rain
Her life was like a desert flower burning in the sun
Until I found the way to love, it's harder said than done
Let it rain, let it rain,
Let your love rain down on me
Let it rain, let it rain,
Let it rain, rain, rain
Musical Interlude
How I know the secret there is nothing that I lack
If I give my love to you, you'll surely give it back
Let it rain, let it rain,
Let your love rain down on me
Let it rain, let it rain,
Let it rain, rain, rain
Let it rain, let it rain,
Let your love rain down on me
Let it rain, let it rain,
Let it rain, rain, rain
Musical Outro
Anonymous
10 Eric Clapton - Bell Bottom Blues Lyrics from the Album - 1995 - Eric Clapton - The Cream Of Clapton
Bell bottom blues, you made me cry
I don't want to lose this feeling
If I could choose a place to die
It would be in your arms
Do you want to see me crawl across the floor in a while
Do you want to hear me beg you to take me back
I'd gladly do it because
I don't want to fade away
Give me one more day, please
I don't want to fade away
In your heart I want to stay
It's all wrong, but it's all right
The way that you treat me baby
Uh
Once I was strong but I lost the fight
You won't find a better loser
Do you want to see me crawl across the floor in a while
Do you want to hear me beg you to take me back
I'd gladly do it because
I don't want to fade away
Give me one more day, please
I don't want to fade away
In your heart I want to stay
Musical Interlude
Do you want to see me crawl across the floor for you
Do you want to hear me beg you to take me back
I'd gladly do it because
I don't want to fade away
Give me one more day, please
I don't want to fade away
In your heart I want to stay
Bell bottom blues, don't you say goodbye
Surely gonna meet again
And if we do, don't you be surprised
If you find me with another lover
Oh
Do you want to see me crawl across the floor to you
Do you want to hear me beg you to take me back
I'd gladly do it because
I don't want to fade away
Give me one more day, please
I don't want to fade away
In your heart I want to stay
I don't want to fade away
Give me one more day please
I don't want to fade away
In your heart I wanna to stay
I don't want to fade away
Give me one more day please
I don't want to fade away
I'm in your heart and that's where I long to stay