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.
Stormy Monday
Eric Clapton Lyrics
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They call it stormy Monday, yes but Tuesday's just as bad.
Wednesday's even worse; Thursday's awful sad.
The eagle flies on Friday, Saturday I go out to play.
The eagle flies on Friday, but Saturday I go out to play.
Sunday I go to church where I kneel down and pray.
Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy on me.
Just trying to find my baby, won't you please send her on back to me."
The eagle flies on Friday, on Saturday I go out to play.
The eagle flies on Friday, on Saturday I go out to play.
Sunday I go to church, where I kneel down, Lord and I pray.
Then I say, "Lord have mercy, won't you please have mercy on me.
Lord, oh Lord have mercy, yeah, won't you please, please have mercy on me.
I'm just a-lookin' for my sweet babe,
So won't you please send him home, send him on home to me."
The lyrics of Eric Clapton's song "Stormy Monday" express the singer's sense of despair, as he reflects on the passing of time and his search for a lost love. The repetition of the phrase "They call it stormy Monday, but Tuesday's just as bad" underscores the sense of hopelessness that characterizes the song. Despite the fact that each day of the week is progressively worse than the previous one, the singer continues to try to find his lost love, a search that ultimately leads him to church on Sunday.
The reference to the eagle flying on Friday underscores the singer's sense of detachment from the world around him. Rather than engaging with others, he chooses to seek out distractions on Saturday, but ultimately finds himself alone on Sunday, seeking solace in prayer. The song's repetition of the phrase "Lord have mercy" mirrors the singer's sense of helplessness, as he pleads for mercy from a higher power in his search for his lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
They call it stormy Monday, yes but Tuesday's just as bad.
Even when Monday is bad, Tuesday is not better at all.
Wednesday's even worse; Thursday's awful sad.
The days after Monday and Tuesday are getting progressively more depressing.
The eagle flies on Friday, but Saturday I go out to play.
On Friday, the end of the working week, freedom is close. On Saturday, the singer can finally enjoy leisure time.
Sunday I go to church where I kneel down and pray.
On Sunday, the artist seeks solace in religion.
Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy on me.
The artist is begging for divine intervention and help.
Just trying to find my baby, won't you please send her on back to me.
The singer misses and longs for their loved one, asking for them to be returned.
Then I say, Lord have mercy, won't you please have mercy on me.
The singer repeats their plea for mercy from a higher power.
I'm just a-lookin' for my sweet babe, So won't you please send him home, send him on home to me.
The artist is still searching for their missing loved one and praying for their safe return.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, MUSIC ASSET MANAGEMENT (MAM), Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Aaron T-Bone Walker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Telly Rojo
Cannot even begin to get enough of this one. Eric is an absolute indescribable phenom. His playing, his tone, & that band are beyond words.
UlloMark
Great comment: AMEN...!
ClaptonMusicLover
Appropriate for today. I’ll never tire of this song by the great Eric Clapton!💕
Michelle C.
Perfect song for this rainy, dark Monday! Mr. Eric Clapton, I thank you and love you!!
Barry Sobel
I have to agree...I admit I am a fan but this was one of the best performances I've seen from Mr. Clapton. But it sure doesn't hurt that he has the "A Team" - Andy Fairweather Low, Steve Gadd, David Sancious, Nathan East and Greg Phillinganes - behind him!
Ken Musto
yes he gets to hand pick the best players !
Stephanie Jackson
Real guitar played with real soul.. Just what I needed.
tuxguys
Revisiting his epochal performance of this tune with John Mayall in 1966, he enters both B. B. King territory, and then Buddy Guy territory, and makes them both his own.
Slowhand will be the Gold Standard for this kind of Playing/Singing for a long time to come.
Pablo Pérez
I wish there was more of that 66 gig
John Tiger
T-Bone Walker territory.