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.
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
@Gablaus
What'll you do when you get lonely
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, you've got me on my knees
Layla, I'm begging, darling please
Layla, darling won't you ease my worried mind
@udeshya5392
Lyrics of Layla:
What will you do when you get lonely
No one waiting by your side?
You've been running, hiding much too long
You know it's just your foolish pride
Layla, got me on my knees
Layla, begging, darling, please Layla
Darling, won't you ease my worried mind?
Tried to give you consolation
Your old man had let you down
Like a fool, I fell in love with you
You turned my whole world upside down
Layla, got me on my knees
Layla, I'm begging, darling, please Layla
Darling, won't you ease my worried mind?
Make the best of the situation
Before I finally go insane
Please don't say we'll never find a way
Tell me all my love's in vain
Layla, got me on my knees
Layla, I'm begging, darling, please Layla
Darling, won't you ease my worried mind?
(Yeah, yeah)
Layla, got me on my knees
Layla, begging, darling, please Layla
Darling, won't you ease my worried mind?
(Music)
(Announcement)
Layla, got me on my knees
Layla, begging, darling, please Layla
Darling, won't you ease my worried mind?
Layla, got me on my knees
Layla, begging, darling, please Layla
Darling, won't you ease my worried mind?
@deborah2505
I play this version every night for my cat named Layla. She knows it's being played for her and always comes running.
@cristianviloaica3437
That is so sweet 🖤🐈
@sassycassie709
Awe 💕🥰
@rdg4575
Tabs? I try to figure it out but I get stuck. Any tips are welcome😄
@episodereading7752
omg so cutee
@animatedlegoherossweeney4077
Awwww I sing to my cat too....I know there incredible and love music her mam cat loved hard rock music...would pit her head actually on the speakers and pretend to sleep she loved music...aj prefers my singing? I cant sing at all....thank you for your post xxxx
@jackyeager695
In the company of the greatest guitar players of all time.... and such a nice guy. I have met him twice in the airport. The first time I had my daughter with me and he was so nice to her. She was 14 and a violinist. She had her instrument with her and when he saw the case he started to ask her thoughts on various music that she played. He was genuinely interested in her music. The second time I met him he was sitting across and one row up from me on a plane. I introduced myself and told him about how his meeting and talking to my daughter was so great for her. He remembered the occasion!!! God it is nice to see such a superstar behave like a gentleman and be so nice to a young fan. Thanks for so much great music....
@guitrich
My experience with EC was similar. I met him in an elevator in our hotel and he stayed on the SAME FLOOR. Imagine my shocking reaction. He talked with me the whole time from the first floor to our floor about his concert that I'm going to see that night. We talked as we walked down the hall way until he had to turn right to his room and I turned left to my room at the other end of the wing. I guess we were at the CROSSROAD. :) I was walking on cloud that afternoon and evening as I saw him in concert.
@Artenosik
Thanks for the most interesting story! What year was it? And how is your daughter's current progress?
@samoneill283
Year he special ok wish l born with his talent f fantastic no stress just great G J ONeill