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.
Sleeping In The Ground
Eric Clapton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sleeping in the ground
I would rather see you
Sleeping in the ground
Than to stay around here
If you're gonna put me down
Well, I give you all my money
Well, I give you all my money
Everything I own
Well, some day I'm gonna get lucky
And down the road you know I'm goin'
Well, I would rather see you
Sleeping in the ground
Well, I would rather see you
Sleeping in the ground
Than to stay around here
If you're gonna put me down
You know I give you all my money
Yeah little girl, everything I own
Well, I give you all my money
Everything I own
Well, today I'm gonna get lucky
And down the road you know I'm goin'
The lyrics to Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood's "Sleeping in the Ground" express the singer's deep hurt and frustration at a relationship that has gone sour. The repeated refrain, "I would rather see you sleeping in the ground" is a stark and powerful image that underscores the level of disappointment that the singer is feeling. The message of the lyrics is clear- the singer cannot continue to be in this relationship if he is going to be treated poorly.
In the first two verses, the singer describes how he has given everything he has to the relationship, including his money and possessions. Despite his efforts, he feels that he is being put down and disrespected. The third verse repeats the earlier sentiment of preferring to see the other person sleeping in the ground rather than stay in the relationship, while the fourth verse repeats the idea of giving everything he has but this time with the added hope of finding luck down the road.
The song is a powerful representation of the pain and disappointment of a relationship that has collapsed, and the heavy blues-inspired sound of Clapton and Winwood's playing adds to the overall sense of melancholy that permeates the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I would rather see you
The singer wants to witness the end of the relationship
Sleeping in the ground
The singer would rather the person be dead than remain in the relationship
Than to stay around here
The singer wants to leave the relationship
If you're gonna put me down
The artist is tired of being disrespected and mistreated by the other person
Well, I give you all my money
The artist has given the other person all their possessions and resources
Everything I own
This includes everything important to the singer
Well, some day I'm gonna get lucky
The singer hopes to find success and happiness in the future
And down the road you know I'm goin'
The artist plans to leave the relationship in search of something better
Yeah little girl
The artist is addressing the other person
Today I'm gonna get lucky
The artist believes that they will find happiness and success soon
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: SAM MYERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@evanhowell7429
Great tune. How come this isn't getting more likes cause it definitely doesn't suck. Real respectable legendary musicians playing real instruments.
@salvator-fh7hl
Eric & Steve 🤗
@kellythornton6583
Perfect together.
@shaykatz5648
Pretty darned great together.
@miriamgreen3973
I like Mr Winwood on piano more than on the Hammond organ.
@thedynamicsolo4232
BUY THIS DVD, I did and was fully satisfied. I did it on Itunes in the store. So unhappy with Apples Ipod system now. Scrubbed it and I have to DL it AGAIN. This time I'm going to find out how to put it on another drive. Worth every dollar to have it seen on a big screen TV with the right speakers and your EQ set on "Reggae" it pulls the fuzz and pop and Wahhh's out of EC's guitar. You also hear the piano better.