After playing in a number of different local bands, Clapton joined the Yardbirds from 1963 to 1965, and John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers from 1965 to 1966. After leaving Mayall, he formed the power trio Cream with drummer Ginger Baker and bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, in which Clapton played sustained blues improvisations and "arty, blues-based psychedelic pop". After four successful albums, Cream broke up in November 1968. Clapton then formed the blues rock band Blind Faith with Baker, Steve Winwood, and Ric Grech, recording one album and performing on one tour before they broke up. Clapton then toured with Delaney & Bonnie and recorded his first solo album in 1970, before forming Derek and the Dominos with Bobby Whitlock, Carl Radle and Jim Gordon. Like Blind Faith, the band only lasted one album, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, which includes "Layla", one of Clapton's signature songs.
Clapton continued to record a number of successful solo albums and songs over the next several decades, including a 1974 cover of Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff" (which helped reggae reach a mass market), the country-infused Slowhand album (1977) and the pop rock of 1986's August. Following the death of his son Conor in 1991, Clapton's grief was expressed in the song "Tears in Heaven", which appeared on his Unplugged album. In 1996 he had another top-40 hit with the R&B crossover "Change the World". In 1998, he released the Grammy award-winning "My Father's Eyes". Since 1999, he has recorded a number of traditional blues and blues rock albums and hosted the periodic Crossroads Guitar Festival. His most recent studio album is Happy Xmas (2018).
Clapton has received 18 Grammy Awards as well as the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. In 2004, he was awarded a CBE 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. 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. In his solo career, he has sold more than 280 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 those recovering from substance abuse.
Promises
Eric Clapton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
Having 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
I don't care what you do at night
Oh, and I don't care how you get you delights
I'll leave you alone, I'll 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
I tried to love you for years upon years
You refuse to take me for real
It's time you saw what I want you to see
And 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
Woah-oh-oh-oh, la, la-la-la-la
Woah-oh-oh-oh, 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.
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
Written by: Roger Linn, Richard G. Feldman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@michaelkentbaker6882
I feel every word of this song…sometimes. Anybody else?
@mikesears8646
For sure,,,
@mikesears8646
I'm amateur musician,,,giving sometimes,,, this song is on my radar for sure😊
@mikesears8646
Gig ing sometimes,,,,
@rescue270
Yep
@caroaber
Yes 😢.
@frankbartoszak7637
The female background singer really adds something to this song
@kirkkelley3791
Marcy Levy, Great prolific Artist/Songwriter!
@owenmartin1509
@@kirkkelley3791 AKA Marcella Detroit, Shakespeare's Sister. She is wonderful
@redskinsnut
My favorite Clapton song. So brutality honest, raw and self aware.