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.
Mustang Sally
Eric Clapton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Guess you better slow your mustang down
Mustang Sally, baby,
I guess you better slow your mustang down
You been a runnin' all over town,
I guess I'll better put your big feet on the ground,
Oh yes, I will
All you wanna do is ride around, Sally (ride Sally ride)
All you wanna do is ride around, Sally (ride Sally ride)
All you wanna do is ride around, Sally (ride Sally ride)
All you wanna do is ride around, Sally (ride Sally ride)
One of these early mornings,
You gonna be wipin' your weepin' eyes,
Yes you will
I bought you a vintage mustang,
Of nineteen sixty-five
Now you comin' right signifyin' woman, no,
You don't wanna let me ride
Mustang Sally, baby, yeah,
I guess you better slow your mustang down,
Yes you will darling,
I hope you will
Going around running' all over town,
I'm gonna put your big fat feet on the ground,
Oh yes Sally,
Well, look at here
All you wanna do is ride around, Sally (ride Sally ride)
All you wanna do is just ride around, Sally (ride Sally ride)
All you wanna do is just ride around, Sally (ride Sally ride)
All you wanna do is ride around, Sally (ride Sally ride)
One of these early mornings
You gonna put your bad bad feet on the ground,
Oh yes I will, Sally
Sally (ride Sally ride)
Sally (ride Sally ride)
(ride Sally ride)
(ride Sally ride)
(ride Sally ride)
(ride Sally ride)
The song Mustang Sally by Eric Clapton is a cautionary tale about a woman named Sally who is always on the move, never settling down. Clapton warns her that she needs to slow down her Mustang and put her feet on the ground because she has been running all over town. Despite buying her a vintage Mustang of 1965, Sally still wants to go out and ride around. Clapton predicts that one of these early mornings, Sally will be crying and regretting her unsteady ways.
The repeated chorus of "ride Sally ride" emphasizes how Sally is always on the move, never staying in one place for long. The lyrics suggest that Sally is a free spirit who doesn't want to be tied down to any one person or place. Clapton's use of the vintage Mustang emphasizes Sally's desire for adventure and thrill-seeking.
Overall, Mustang Sally is a warning to those who refuse to slow down and appreciate the present moment. Sally's constant need for motion and excitement will eventually catch up with her, as Clapton predicts, and she will be left with regret.
Line by Line Meaning
Mustang Sally,
Addressing the girl known as Mustang Sally
Guess you better slow your mustang down
Implying that Sally should stop her reckless behavior
You been a runnin' all over town,
Pointing out Sally's promiscuous behavior
I guess I'll better put your big feet on the ground,
Suggesting that Sally needs to be grounded and taught a lesson
All you wanna do is ride around, Sally (ride Sally ride)
Repeating Sally's tendency to be on the go and never settle down
One of these early mornings,
Warning Sally of what's to come
You gonna be wipin' your weepin' eyes,
Implying that Sally will regret her actions and cry about it
I bought you a vintage mustang,
Referencing the gift of a car given to Sally by the artist
Of nineteen sixty-five
Detailing the specific year and model of car given to Sally
Now you comin' right signifyin' woman, no,
Suggesting that Sally is unappreciative and dismissive of the gift
You don't wanna let me ride
Indicating that Sally is possessive of the car and won't let the singer enjoy it
Mustang Sally, baby, yeah,
Addressing Sally again
Yes you will darling,
Asserting the singer's authority over Sally
I hope you will
Expressing a desire for Sally to change her ways
Going around running' all over town,
Reiterating Sally's constant movement and activity
I'm gonna put your big fat feet on the ground,
Threatening Sally with consequences for her actions
Oh yes Sally,
Addressing Sally one last time
Well, look at here
Showing that the singer has had enough of Sally's behavior
All you wanna do is ride around, Sally (ride Sally ride)
Repeating Sally's tendency to be on the go and never settle down
One of these early mornings
Reiterating the warning to Sally
You gonna put your bad bad feet on the ground,
Implying that Sally will face consequences for her actions
Oh yes I will, Sally
Asserting the artist's authority over Sally once again
Sally (ride Sally ride)
Ending with a repetition of Sally's name and her tendency to run away
Contributed by Aaron C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@iamsamdearie
There is nothing that is wrong
In wanting you to stay here with me
I know you've got somewhere to go
But won't you make yourself at home and stay with me?
And don't you ever leave
Lay down, Sally, and rest here in my arms
Don't you think you want someone to talk to?
Lay down, Sally, no need to leave so soon
I've been trying all night long just to talk to you
Sun ain't nearly on the rise
We still got the moon and stars above
Underneath the velvet skies, love is all that matters
Won't you stay with me? Don't you ever leave
Lay down, Sally, and rest here in my arms
Don't you think you want someone to talk to?
Lay down, Sally, and no need to leave so soon
I've been trying all night long just to talk to you
I long to see the morning light
Color in your face so dreamily
So don't you go and say goodbye
You can lay your worries down and stay with me
And don't you ever leave
Lay down, Sally, and rest here in my arms
Don't you think you want someone to talk to?
Lay down, Sally, there's no need to leave so soon
I've been trying all night long just to talk to you
Lay down, Sally, and rest here in my arms
Don't you think you want someone to talk to?
Lay down, Sally, there's no need to leave so soon
I've been trying all night long just to talk to you
@lauryliepolito52
"Lay Down Sally"
There is nothing that is wrong
In wanting you to stay here with me.
I know you've got somewhere to go,
But won't you make yourself at home and stay with me?
And don't you ever leave.
[Chorus:]
Lay down, Sally, and rest you in my arms.
Don't you think you want someone to talk to?
Lay down, Sally, no need to leave so soon.
I've been trying all night long just to talk to you.
The sun ain't nearly on the rise
And we still got the moon and stars above.
Underneath the velvet skies,
Love is all that matters. Won't you stay with me?
And don't you ever leave.
[Chorus]
I long to see the morning light
Coloring your face so dreamily.
So don't you go and say goodbye,
You can lay your worries down and stay with me.
And don't you ever leave.
[Chorus 2x]
@TerryOlinger
Awesome! I'm 60 yrs old and have only recently discovered Youtube. Now all I want to do is sit here and watch these videos. I have been grinning from ear to ear, filled with beautiful memories. All of you, keep 'em coming!
@rhondaboncutter5812
Me, too! Love this music!
@Michaelkansas2korea
Music is happiness
@jasonrrivera1284
If you can afford it-- the youtube red is worth the 20 bucks a month- No ads. Enjoy!
@kathnh6795
Welcome! I have some of these songs on CD's- and before that on vinyl! - but there's something so special about just listening to a song you like and sharing comments with other music lovers. I'm seventy and I find myself sometimes (nicely) correcting something someone has said about a song that came out in the '60s. I've always been a music lover! Hope you enjoy yourself! Woops - you've been here for twelve years - hope you're still listening!
@Nicks_Pix
@G M Blow it out your @$$
@susankotchea3046
Another of Eric Clapton's music I love listening to. It's a beautiful funky happy song. 😊🎶 Thk u Eric.
@Kbrzfkgyhg68539bjfdvku
In memory of my dad. One of his favorite bands. 1948-2020
@stevan1023
Sorry for your loss. My dad was born in 1964 and passed March 2020. He loved music with a passion.
@manuelmartinez480
Sorry for your loss