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.
Worried Life Blues
Eric Clapton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It hurts me so bad for us to part.
But someday baby,
I ain't gonna worry my life any more.
You're on my mind every place I go.
How much I love you, nobody know.
Yeah, someday babe,
So many days since you went away.
I've had to worry both night and day.
Yeah, but someday babe,
I ain't gonna worry my life any more.
So many nights since you've been gone.
I've been worried, grieving my life alone.
Yeah, but someday babe,
I ain't gonna worry my life any more.
So that's my story and this is all I've got to say to you:
Bye bye, baby, I don't care what you do.
'Cause someday darling,
I won't have to worry my life any more.
Oh lordy lord, oh lordy lord.
It hurts me so bad for us to part.
Oh, but someday baby,
I ain't gonna worry my life any more.
In "Worried Life Blues," Eric Clapton sings about heartbreak and the pain that comes with the end of a relationship. The lyrics express the singer's anguish and how he struggles to deal with the separation. He can't stop thinking about his former lover, who continues to occupy his thoughts wherever he goes. The line "How much I love you, nobody know" conveys the depth of his emotion and how impossible it is for him to move on.
The song's overarching message, however, is one of hope. The line "someday babe, I ain't gonna worry my life any more" suggests that the singer is gradually coming to terms with the situation and that he will eventually learn to let go of his pain. The repetition of the chorus throughout the song reinforces this idea of acceptance and release from the past. As the song comes to an end, the singer bids farewell to his lover, declaring that he no longer cares what she does; he has finally found peace.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh lordy lord, oh lordy lord.
Beginning of the song, expressing pain and sadness over a breakup.
It hurts me so bad for us to part.
The pain of separation is deep and profound.
But someday baby, I ain't gonna worry my life any more.
One day, the pain and worry caused by the breakup will fade away.
You're on my mind every place I go.
The person is always thinking about their ex, no matter where they are.
How much I love you, nobody know.
The singer's love for their ex is strong and deep, but the other person may not understand its depth.
Yeah, someday babe, I ain't gonna worry my life any more.
Repeating the idea that one day the singer will not have to worry about the pain of the breakup anymore.
So many days since you went away.
Time has passed since the breakup.
I've had to worry both night and day.
The singer has been consumed with worry and sadness about the separation.
So many nights since you've been gone.
More emphasis on the passage of time without the ex.
I've been worried, grieving my life alone.
The singer has been struggling with their emotions and processing the loss of the relationship on their own.
So that's my story and this is all I've got to say to you:
The singer is ending their message to their ex.
Bye bye, baby, I don't care what you do.
The singer is saying goodbye and indicating that they are moving on.
'Cause someday darling, I won't have to worry my life any more.
Final repetition of the idea that one day the singer will be free from the pain of the breakup.
Oh lordy lord, oh lordy lord.
Repeating the opening lines as a way to close the song.
It hurts me so bad for us to part.
Final repetition of the pain that the separation has caused.
Oh, but someday baby, I ain't gonna worry my life any more.
Final repetition of the idea that one day the singer will be free of the worry and pain of the breakup.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MACEO MERRIWEATHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anonymous
Eric Clapton - Worried Life Blues - Lyrics
Oh Lordy Lord, oh Lordy Lord
It hurts me so bad for us to part
But someday baby
I ain’t go worry my life any more
You're on my mind every place I go
How much I love you, nobody know
Yeah, someday babe
I ain’t go worry my life any more
So many days since you went away
I've had to worry both night and day
Yeah, but someday babe
I ain’t worry my life any more
So many nights since you've been gone
I've been worried, grieving my life alone
Yeah, but someday babe
I ain’t go worry my life any more
Musical Interlude
So that's my story and this is all I've got to say to you
Bye bye, baby, I don't care what you do
Because someday, darling
I ain’t go worry my life any more
Oh Lordy Lord, oh Lordy Lord
It hurts me so bad for us to part
Oh but someday baby
I ain’t go worry my life any more
Srgbuffalo Buffalo NY
He is a leader, mentor, talent and genius.
Mick T.
Never get tired of this video, Johnny Johnson is incredible. Clapton at his best.
Moises Peres Ramos
Clapton é foda. Toca prá caralho. Expressa o Blues de forma verdadeira e apaixonada.
the end heh
It always feels that it's right amount of notes.. and that ending motive is so great.. damn
DJ Gene
Why is it, when my heart aches, I find myself listening to Eric Clapton playing these blues?
The Dutch Fisherman
Clapton, Knopfler, Gilmour, we never see the likes of them again. One of a kind and unmatched!
Robert Schmitt
Extraordinary vocals and guitar phrasing.
ISTVÁN VINCZE
Mr Clapton at his best ! Thx man !
oicsaywhat
So authentic! The man studied the blues like no other , simply amazing singing, feel, emotional, phasing and beautiful lead. And let’s not forget the amazing Johnnie Johnson and the rest of the band, listening to this now just realized Jamie Oldaker just passed on, amazing drummer such a feel and deep pocket. This one hits home for me.