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.
Promises
Eric Clapton Lyrics
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I don't mind if you just keep on rowin' away on a distant sea
'Cause I don't love you and you don't love me
You cause a commotion when you come to town
You give 'em a smile and they melt
And your lovers and friends is all good and fine
But I don't like yours and you don't like mine
La la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
I don't care what you do at night
Oh, I don't care how you get you delites
We'll leave it alone and just let it be
I don't love you and you don't love me
I got a problem, can you relate
I got a woman callin' love hate
We made a vow we'd always be friends
How could we know that promises end
La la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
I tried to love for years upon years
You refuse to take me for real
It's time you saw what I want you to see
I'd still love you if you'd just love me
I got a problem, can you relate
I got a woman callin' love hate
We made a vow we'd always be friends
How could we know that promises end
La la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
Wohoo, la la la la la la la
The song "Promises" by Eric Clapton is a poignant representation of a relationship that has run its course. The singer declares that he doesn't care if his partner never comes home or leaves town, as their love for each other has died. The relationship has become toxic and both parties have become indifferent towards each other. However, despite this, they are still bound by the promises they made and try to keep up appearances for the sake of their friends and family.
The verse "You cause a commotion when you come to town, You give 'em a smile and they melt" highlights the social appeal of the partner, and how they have the power to charm those around them. This can make it difficult for the singer to move on, as they constantly see others fall for the allure of their partner. The chorus "La la la la la la" is a reflection of the emotional numbing experienced when a relationship has ended.
The bridge "I tried to love for years upon years, You refuse to take me for real" depicts the singer's frustration and desperation to salvage the relationship, but their partner remained emotionally distant. The final plea "I'd still love you if you'd just love me" shows how broken the singer is and how much they still yearn for their partner's love, despite the toxicity of their relationship.
Interesting facts about the song:
Interesting Facts
Note: This section uses generative AI, which can be inaccurate.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't care if you never come home
I have no emotional attachment to you whatsoever.
I don't mind if you just keep on rowin' away on a distant sea
You can go ahead and leave because it doesn't make any difference to me.
'Cause I don't love you and you don't love me
There is no love between us.
You cause a commotion when you come to town
You attract a lot of attention when you're around.
You give 'em a smile and they melt
Your smile has a mesmerizing effect on people.
And your lovers and friends is all good and fine
Your romantic and platonic relationships are not my concern.
But I don't like yours and you don't like mine
We have no interest in each other's partners or friends.
I don't care what you do at night
Your activities at night are none of my business.
Oh, I don't care how you get you delites
I am indifferent to your methods of obtaining pleasure.
We'll leave it alone and just let it be
It's better to avoid discussing our personal lives.
I don't love you and you don't love me
Our relationship lacks any love or affection.
I got a problem, can you relate
I'm facing an issue, can you empathize?
I got a woman callin' love hate
I'm in a complicated relationship where love and hate coexist.
We made a vow we'd always be friends
We promised to remain friends no matter what.
How could we know that promises end
We never anticipated that our friendship would come to an end.
I tried to love for years upon years
I made numerous attempts to love you throughout the years.
You refuse to take me for real
You never took my feelings seriously.
It's time you saw what I want you to see
I want you to understand my perspective on our relationship.
I'd still love you if you'd just love me
I'm willing to love you only if you reciprocate that love.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Spirit Music Group, Songtrust Ave
Written by: BRANDON CASEY, BRANDON D CASEY, BRIAN CASEY, BRIAN D CASEY, BRYAN MICHAEL PAUL COX, JERMAINE DUPRI, GARY SMITH, BERT YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ROBERTO HORTALA
Não importa se você nunca vem em casa.
Não me importo se você apenas...
Manter-se na rowin'away em um mar distante
pq eu não te amo e você não me ama.
Você causa uma comoção quando você vem para a cidade
Dar-lhes um sorriso e derretem
Ter amantes e amigos é muito bom e bem
Mas não gostei do seu e você não gosta de mina.
La la la...
Não me importo com o que você faz à noite Ah
Não me importo como você obter suas delícias
Vamos deixar isso em paz
Só deixaremos ser
Eu não te amo e você não me ama.
Eu tenho um problema
Você pode relacionar?
Tenho uma mulher
Chamando amor ódio.
Fizemos um juramento
seríamos sempre amigos.
Como poderíamos saber que promete final.
La la la...
Eu tentei te amar por anos após anos
Mas você se recusa a me levar a sério
Está na hora, que você viu o que eu quero ver
Que ainda te amaria se você me ama.
Eu tenho um problema
Você pode relacionar?
Tenho uma mulher
Chamando amor ódio.
Fizemos um juramento
seríamos sempre amigos.
Como poderíamos saber que promete final
lefkytheshin
Man, those vocals give me goosebumps. EC and the female singer together is pure magic.
trfesok
Marcy Levy. Check out a song called "The Core".
Muffs 55mercury
yes the ladies really do spice it up.
Craig Jackson
It's Marcy Levy , she cowrote some good tunes with Eric including Lay Down Sally 😎😎😎
Mike Maloney
@Craig Jackson And let's not forget her incredible work in Shakespears Sister under the name Marcella Detroit
Craig Jackson
@Mike Maloney
Yes !!! In a genius move , she rebranded herself with her birth name and place of birth , and she managed to enjoy a whole new career with Shakespeare's Sister 😎😎😎😎
Maureen Metcalfe
My absolute favorite song from Eric. Takes me back to my teenage years. Playing on the radio under the night sky.
Kit Richardson
One of my favorite Clapton songs. It’s amazing how powerful it is for such an understated song
Hope Lines
What a gem of a song - leaves ya feelin' slightly mellow and a whole lot happier!
Janine Casillo
More like sad 😢