Magnolia
In a sense, nearly every album Eric Clapton recorded after 1970 has been a … Read Full Bio ↴In a sense, nearly every album Eric Clapton recorded after 1970 has been a tribute to J.J. Cale. On that first solo album, Clapton cut a cover of Cale's "After Midnight" and while he was under the spell of Delaney Bramlett for that album, soon enough Slowhand began drifting toward the laconic shuffle that was Cale's stock in trade. Clapton never hesitated to credit Cale, dropping his name in interviews, turning "Cocaine" into a modern standard, even going so far as to record an entire duet album with the Oklahoma troubadour called The Road to Escondido in 2006. In other words, E.C. owed J.J. little but after Cale passed at the age of 74, the guitarist decided to pay a full-scale tribute in the form of the 2014 LP The Breeze: An Appreciation of J.J. Cale. Working with most of his regular band, Clapton also invited a host of friends who share a soft spot for Cale, including Tom Petty, Mark Knopfler, John Mayer, Willie Nelson, and the Oklahoma-based singer Don White, whose vocals are within the range of the departed Cale. All of these musicians don't distract from E.C.'s version of J.J.: everybody slides into an exceedingly laid-back, pristine roots groove, one that barely rises above a steady simmer -- only "I'll Be There (If You Ever Want Me)" boogies, but "Cajun Moon" skips along, too -- and one that's executed with the precision of old pros. Occasionally, a personal stylistic quirk stamps a track with a signature -- there's no mistaking Willie's idiosyncratic phrasing or Knopfler's Strat -- but otherwise, everybody is operating at the same relaxed pace, differences between the musicians disappearing alongside the distinctions between songs. It's all perfectly pleasant and a convincing testament to what Clapton learned from Cale, although its silvery monochromatic shuffles suggest J.J. was a little more one-dimensional than he actually was.

Magnolia
Eric Clapton & Friends Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Whippoorwill's singing
Soft summer breeze
Makes me think of my baby
I left down in New Orleans
I left down in New Orleans

Magnolia, you sweet thing
You're driving me mad
Gotta get back to you, babe
You're the best I ever had
You're the best I ever had
You whisper "Good morning"
So gently in my ear
I'm coming home to you, baby
I'll soon be there
I'll soon be there

Magnolia, you sweet thing
You're driving me mad
I've gotta get back to you, babe

You're the best I ever had
You're the best I ever had
You're the best I ever had
You're the best I ever had




You're the best I ever had
You're the best I ever had

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Eric Clapton & Friends' song "Magnolia" depict a man's longing to return to the woman he loves in New Orleans. The soft summer breeze and singing of the whippoorwills remind him of her and he can't wait to be reunited with her. The repetition of the phrase "Magnolia, you sweet thing" emphasizes the man's affection for his lover and how she has captured his heart. He describes her as the best he ever had, indicating that their relationship is strong and fulfilling.


The song is a classic example of a love ballad and showcases Eric Clapton's exceptional guitar skills. The melody and rhythm of the song are gentle and simple, allowing the lyrics to be the focal point. The chorus is particularly catchy and memorable, making it a popular choice for couples to dance to at weddings and other romantic occasions. Overall, "Magnolia" is a charming and sweet song that captures the essence of true love and the desire to be with the person who completes you.


Line by Line Meaning

Whippoorwill's singing
The sound of the whippoorwill singing reminds me of a peaceful and happy time and place.


Soft summer breeze
The gentle summer breeze creates a calming and soothing atmosphere around me.


Makes me think of my baby
The environment around me brings back memories of my significant other who I left back in New Orleans.


I left down in New Orleans
I had to leave my lover in New Orleans for uncertain reasons.


Magnolia, you sweet thing
Addressing his lover, he refers to her as a sweet and beautiful person.


You're driving me mad
Being away from her lover and not being able to see her is taking a toll on him psychologically.


Gotta get back to you, babe
He is determined to return to her lover as soon as possible.


You're the best I ever had
He believes that his lover is the best thing that ever happened to him.


You whisper "Good morning"
He remembers how sweetly his lover whispered a good morning greeting to him and thinks about how much he missed hearing it every day.


So gently in my ear
He recalls the tenderness his lover displayed when whispering to him every morning.


I'm coming home to you, baby
He reassures his lover that he is coming back home to her soon.


I'll soon be there
He wants to be with his lover as soon as possible and is certain he will reach her soon.


You're the best I ever had
He reiterates that his lover is the best thing that ever happened to him in his life.


You're the best I ever had
He repeats that his lover is the most precious and valuable person to him.


You're the best I ever had
Once again, he confirms that his lover is the most significant and meaningful person for him.


You're the best I ever had
He repeats how deeply he feels about his lover, who he believes is the best partner any person could ask for.


You're the best I ever had
He expresses his love and admiration for his lover in the most unequivocal and straightforward way possible.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John J Cale

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@alexpowell1556

‘His facility is phenomenal’ thats got to be the highest praise one guitarist can give to another, especially coming from Clapton...

@royelmo38

Mayer is a master of melody. He keeps a lightness to his playing that makes it almost surreal.

@gregchrest302

Our wedding song for Feb 8, 2020 in New Orleans

@aaj8549

Eyy congratulations!

@RhodaOmenyaNyako

How did the wedding go?

@harishchandani1101

If you happened to marry amidst this lockdown ?

@markyeeee

Congratulations!! Sweet song...wishing many years of happiness

@francescafalchi9803

Congratulazioni 💗

11 More Replies...

@andrewdeetz7463

John Mayer laid it down on this one. Actual perfection

@joshuaanderson743

I’m only here because Eric Clapton said so

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