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.
Traveling Riverside Blues
Eric Clapton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Want you to have your fun.
If your man gets personal,
Want you to have your fun.
Well, come on back to Friar's Point, mama,
Barrelhouse all night long.
I got women's in Vicksburg,
I got women's in Vicksburg,
Clean on into Tennessee.
But my Friar's Point rider, now,
Hops all over me.
I ain't gonna state no color but
Her front teeth is crowned with gold.
I ain't gonna state no color but
Her front teeth is crowned with gold.
She got a mortgage on my body, Lord,
A lien on my soul.
Well, I'm going down to Rosedale,
Rider by my side.
Lord, I'm going down to Rosedale,
Rider by my side.
Well, we can still barrelhouse, babe,
On the riverside.
You can squeeze my lemon till
Juice run down my leg.
You can squeeze my lemon till
Juice run down my leg.
That's what I'm talking about!
But I'll be going back to Friar's Point, mama,
Rocking to my head.
Eric Clapton's "Traveling Riverside Blues" is a traditional Delta blues song that tells the story of a man who travels along the Mississippi River in search of fun and adventure. The song's lyrics are filled with double entendres and metaphors, which were common in blues music at the time. The opening lines encourage women to have fun when their men become too personal or demanding. The singer then talks about the women he has met in his travels, including a woman with a gold crown on her front teeth, who has a mortgage on his body and a lien on his soul.
The song's chorus urges the listener to come to Friar's Point, where the barrelhouse is open all night long. The singer's Friar's Point rider is someone who keeps coming back to him, even though he has other women in other places. Although the song is filled with sexual innuendo, it ultimately celebrates the joy of music and the freedom it can give.
Line by Line Meaning
If your man gets personal,
If your man gets nosey, try to enjoy your life.
Want you to have your fun.
Have fun and enjoy your life.
Well, come on back to Friar's Point, mama,
Hey, come back to Friar's Point, woman.
Barrelhouse all night long.
Let's go to the Barrelhouse and party all night.
I got women's in Vicksburg,
I've got women in Vicksburg.
Clean on into Tennessee.
And right on through Tennessee.
But my Friar's Point rider, now,
But my girl from Friar's Point rides me hard.
Hops all over me.
She's all over me, man.
I ain't gonna state no color but
I'm not going to talk about their skin color, but
Her front teeth is crowned with gold.
Their front teeth are crowned with gold.
She got a mortgage on my body, Lord,
She owns my body, Lord.
A lien on my soul.
My soul is in debt to her.
Well, I'm going down to Rosedale,
I'm headed down to Rosedale.
Rider by my side.
With my girl by my side.
Well, we can still barrelhouse, babe,
We can still party and have fun, babe.
On the riverside.
Right beside the river.
You can squeeze my lemon till
You can tease me till
Juice run down my leg.
I'm at my breaking point.
That's what I'm talking about!
That's what I'm saying, man!
But I'll be going back to Friar's Point, mama,
But I'm gonna head back to Friar's Point, lady.
Rocking to my head.
To dance and have fun.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ROBERT LEROY JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tattyshoes Shigure
Been rediscovering the great ‘me & mr Johnson’ album over the last few days… Eric is a true craftsman musician!
Billy Yates
The whole album was brilliantly observed.
Lourdes Barrio Manning
Amazing. Clapton just can’t be beat. I’ve been a fan since the beginning but his blues are beyond compare. He sings and plays with his soul!
Dan White
Legendary Mississippi blues artist Robert Johnson first recorded this song. Eric Clapton covered it.
The Killer
I'm a die hard Zepp and Clapton fan, and although they both do the song really differently they are both equally as good.
Long live Eric and Jimmy!!
NL
Robert Johnson. He wrote the song
Alfie 02
@NL that's got nothing to do with it. Johnson wrote the lyrics which were carried over by led Zep but the instrumentals are near completely different. Johnson can't take credit for the instrumentals but he could for the lyrics, which in my opinion are sang better by plant
kelvyquayo
@Alfie 02 He also composed the rhythm that I can hear throughout this whole song here.
Barbara VanWhy
He also has top-notch musicians with him
fruitcake4t
Clapton is famous for being a guitarist, but he's a great vocalist too i think