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.
Tales of Brave Ulysses
Eric Clapton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But you rode upon a steamer to the violence of the sun.
And the colors of the sea blind your eyes with trembling mermaids,
And you touch the distant beaches with tales of brave Ulysses:
How his naked ears were tortured by the sirens sweetly singing,
For the sparkling waves are calling you to kiss their white laced lips.
And her footprints make you follow where the sky loves the sea.
And when your fingers find her, she drowns you in her body,
Carving deep blue ripples in the tissues of your mind.
The tiny purple fishes run laughing through your fingers,
And you want to take her with you to the hard land of the winter.
Her name is Aphrodite and she rides a crimson shell,
And you know you cannot leave her for you touched the distant sands
With tales of brave Ulysses; how his naked ears were tortured
By the sirens sweetly singing.
The tiny purple fishes run lauging through your fingers,
And you want to take her with you to the hard land of the winter.
The lyrics of Eric Clapton's "Tales of Brave Ulysses" depict a journey of discovery, both physical and metaphorical. The lead singer tells the story of a traveler who sets sail in the winter and finds himself transported to a world of color and sun, where the sea and sky blend into each other. As he travels, he encounters a host of fascinating creatures, from mermaids to tiny purple fish, and his senses come alive.
The story builds around the legend of Ulysses, the hero of Homer's epic Odyssey, and the temptation and danger he faced while traveling the seas. The traveler in the song is drawn to these tales, fascinated by the way Ulysses was able to resist the lure of the sirens' song, while still being drawn to the beauty of the sea. The song also tells the story of a woman named Aphrodite, who becomes the traveler's muse, inspiring him to see the world in a new way.
Line by Line Meaning
You thought the leaden winter would bring you down forever
You believed that the dull, gloomy winter season would permanently bring you down and make you unhappy
But you rode upon a steamer to the violence of the sun
Instead, you traveled on a ship towards the intense, powerful heat of the sun
And the colors of the sea blind your eyes with trembling mermaids
The vibrant colors of the ocean overwhelm your vision with shaking, alluring mermaids
And you touch the distant beaches with tales of brave Ulysses
You arrive at faraway shores and share the stories of the courageous Ulysses
How his naked ears were tortured by the sirens sweetly singing
You describe the harrowing tale of how the alluring yet dangerous sirens caused Ulysses immense auditory anguish
For the sparkling waves are calling you to kiss their white laced lips
The gleaming waves beckon you to embrace their frothy, enchanting crests
And you see a girl's brown body dancing through the turquoise
You observe a young woman's tawny, swaying form amid the turquoise waters
And her footprints make you follow where the sky loves the sea
Her footsteps entice you to pursue her path where the sky adorns the sea
And when your fingers find her, she drowns you in her body
When you reach out to touch her, she figuratively engulfs you with her physical presence
Carving deep blue ripples in the tissues of your mind
She leaves a lasting mental imprint, causing profound and affecting emotions to echo within you
The tiny purple fishes run laughing through your fingers
You play with and try to catch the small, delighted purple fish gliding through your grasp
And you want to take her with you to the hard land of the winter
You desire to take her with you to the harsh, wintry terrain where you initially felt so downtrodden
Her name is Aphrodite and she rides a crimson shell
This particular woman is named Aphrodite and visualized riding atop an eye-catching crimson shell
And you know you cannot leave her for you touched the distant sands
You realize you cannot separate from this woman as you have embarked on a journey far from your starting point
With tales of brave Ulysses; how his naked ears were tortured by the sirens sweetly singing
Once more, you recount the story of Ulysses being distressed by the beguiling song of the sirens
The tiny purple fishes run lauging through your fingers
Again, you playfully try to catch the gleeful purple fish slipping through your fingers
And you want to take her with you to the hard land of the winter
You still ardently wish to take this woman with you back to the cold, harsh winter environment you were previously in
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@aprendizdebrujo100
For me, the best song of Cream. I'm sorry for Sunshine of your Love. Tales of Brave Ulysses is the perfect combination between great music, and Deep psychedelic poetry.
@lucapasseroni6371
much better than sunshine !
@alexiadylon6142
Great song, but I love We're Going Wrong, such brilliance.
@Anthus.
Gustavo De la Camara Montes I couldn't agree more. This is the best song Cream ever did. For me it's because it never got the radio play that songs like "White Room" or "Sunshine of Your Love" got through the years so I'm not burned out on it. Plus it is truly a kick ass song.
@GeoffEustice
1rst Heavy Metal Song....IMO...The greatest band ever...
@tigerarmyrule
Tales of Brave Ulysses is the perfect 3 minute rock song. The guitar is gorgeous, the song is perfect.
@matthewburgar2626
The lyrics are just so darn clever. Super trippy and so psychedelic.
@jeffparsons3188
Pete Brown I believe
@patrickhorvath2684
@@jeffparsons3188
Homer too.
Excerpts from "The Oddesey"
@LindaMerchant-bq2hp
Greek mythology meets 60s psychedelic