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.
The Shape You're In
Eric Clapton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She was telling me she didn't want to go.
I said, "Come on girl, what's the matter with you?"
But I could tell by the smell that she'd had a few.
[Chorus:]
I said hold on girl don't get too tight,
You started early and we've got all night.
We don't want the whole world to know
About the shape you're in.
Well, my little girl really loves that wine.
Wine will do it to her most everytime.
If it's red or it's white or it's in between,
She can drink more wine than I've ever seen.
[Chorus]
Now I'm not trying to get heavy with you.
I'll mind my own business if you want me to.
But I love you girl, I don't love no one else.
I'm just telling you baby 'cause I've been there myself.
[Chorus]
The lyrics of Eric Clapton's song, "The Shape You're In," is a warning to his partner about her overindulgence in alcohol. The song portrays Eric trying to get his girlfriend to attend a show, but she's reluctant to go. He suspects that she has already had too much to drink because of the scent of alcohol in her breath. The chorus signifies his pleading with her to take it easy, slow down, and not attract too much attention to herself since they have the entire night planned out. He tells her that she's already drunk and may be susceptible to doing things that she might later regret.
The second verse confirms his suspicion that his girlfriend has a problem with wine. Eric admits that his girlfriend can drink more wine than he has ever seen. The lyrics portray Clapton trying to be non-confrontational, letting her know that he loves her and he's not trying to get "heavy" on her. He expresses his concern for her well-being by telling her that he's been there himself, thereby empathizing with her situation.
In summary, the song is about a man who is asking his girlfriend to take it easy on the alcohol and not attract the sort of attention that would cause her regret. He's trying to be compassionate in his warning, and he uses his experience to empathize with her situation.
Line by Line Meaning
I took my baby to see a show.
I went with my girlfriend to watch a performance.
She was telling me she didn't want to go.
My girlfriend was reluctant to attend the show.
I said, "Come on girl, what's the matter with you?"
I persuaded my girlfriend to come along with me and asked why she was hesitant.
But I could tell by the smell that she'd had a few.
I knew she had consumed alcohol because of the smell.
I said hold on girl don't get too tight,
I advised her not to lose control.
You started early and we've got all night.
We have plenty of time to enjoy the night.
You've got to take it easy, take it slow.
She should relax and not be too aggressive.
We don't want the whole world to know
We don't want others to learn about her situation.
About the shape you're in.
About the Bad and negative condition she's in.
Well, my little girl really loves that wine.
My girlfriend enjoys drinking wine.
Wine will do it to her most everytime.
Drinking wine usually has a considerable effect on her.
If it's red or it's white or it's in between,
She consumes all types of wine.
She can drink more wine than I've ever seen.
She can consume more wine than I imagined.
Now I'm not trying to get heavy with you.
I don't want to impose anything upon you.
I'll mind my own business if you want me to.
I'll refrain from interfering if you want.
But I love you girl, I don't love no one else.
I'm committed to her and love only her.
I'm just telling you baby 'cause I've been there myself.
I'm only sharing my experience so that she won't face similar problems.
[Chorus]
These lines are the chorus of the song that repeats throughout.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ERIC PATRICK CLAPTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@halfaday1
I took my baby to see a show.
She was telling me she didn't want to go.
I said, "Come on girl, what's the matter with you?"
But I could tell by the smell that she'd had a few.
I said hold on girl don't get too tight,
You started early and we've got all night.
You've got to take it easy, take it slow.
We don't want the whole world to know
About the shape you're in.
Well, my little girl really loves that wine.
Wine will do it to her most everytime.
If it's red or it's white or it's in between,
She can drink more wine than I've ever seen.
I said hold on girl don't get too tight,
You started early and we've got all night.
You've got to take it easy, take it slow.
We don't want the whole world to know
About the shape you're in.
Now I'm not trying to get heavy with you.
I'll mind my own business if you want me to.
But I love you girl, I don't love no one else.
I'm just telling you baby 'cause I've been there myself.
I said hold on girl don't get too tight,
You started early and we've got all night.
You've got to take it easy, take it slow.
We don't want the whole world to know
About the shape you're in.
@somethingsmooth
Money and cigarettes is one of his most underrated works. That's just too bad, it's a masterpiece.
@gianpearls8031
Yes❤️
@31Y8B1984
one of the greatest from clapton
@jefvancleynenbreugel9846
This album is the most underrated album in the world
@CarlosJaramillo-Caveat
This is definitely a hidden gem that has been forgotten. Listen to EC for his mastery of the sound he was searching for.
@Ade4fish
Never hidden to me but yes I agree :)
@nickbeauty3211
Back ‘n Forth in the solo: Albert Lee, Eric Clapton, Albert Lee, Eric Clapton, Albert Lee, Eric Clapton... 😎
@pabloperez4063
This song live in 1983 was always epic
@kaushikganguli1091
Awesome is not the word for this song! It had huge airplay on BBC in the mid 80s and I remember digging the songs as a teen.
@grimble6261
Love the whole album "Money and Cigarettes". It's a very underrated album in my opinion. It's not made up wild explorative soloing, but it is very tight and kind of minimalistic in approach. It's like Clapton on the cover, it's about style.