Please Be With Me
Eric Clapton feat. Yvonne Elliman Lyrics
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Is it love or is it me
That makes me change so suddenly?
Looking out, feeling free.
Sit here lying in my bed,
Wondering what it was I'd said
That made me think I'd lost my head,
[Chorus:]
Won't you please read my signs, be a gypsy.
Tell me what I hope to find deep within me.
Because you can find my mind, please be with me.
Of all the better things I've heard,
Loving you has made the words
And all the rest seem so absurd,
'Cause in the end it all comes out unsure.
[Chorus]
The song Please Be With Me, originally written by Charles Scott Boyer, and later adapted by Eric Clapton for his 1974 album, 461 Ocean Boulevard, is a track that speaks of the nervousness that comes with falling in love. Clapton's version of the song features Yvonne Elliman's beautiful backup vocals, giving the song a velvety texture.
The lyrics of the song speak of confusion and uncertainty, "oh my word, what does it mean? Is it love or is it me, that makes me change so suddenly?" It represents a person trying to understand their feelings for someone and trying to differentiate between what is real and what they are imagining. The person is unsure if it is love, desire, or the changes within that are causing them to feel differently. The chorus represents the person's plea to the person they love to understand and help them make sense of their emotions "Won't you please read my signs, be a gypsy. Tell me what I hope to find deep within me. Because you can find my mind, please be with me."
Line by Line Meaning
Oh my word, what does it mean?
Expressing confusion and a lack of understanding about the situation or feeling at hand.
Is it love or is it me
Questioning whether the intense emotional experience is a result of love or a personal issue.
That makes me change so suddenly?
Wondering what is causing the sudden shifts in emotions and behavior.
Looking out, feeling free.
Feeling liberated and unburdened by the weight of the emotions being experienced.
Sit here lying in my bed,
Reflecting on the situation and pondering what happened.
Wondering what it was I'd said
Questioning one's own words and actions and trying to understand their impact.
That made me think I'd lost my head,
Feeling confused and overwhelmed by the intensity of the emotions being experienced.
When I knew I lost my heart instead.
Realizing that the experience is a result of a deeper emotional connection.
Won't you please read my signs, be a gypsy.
Asking for insight and guidance in understanding the emotions being experienced.
Tell me what I hope to find deep within me.
Requesting assistance in discovering what is driving these intense emotions.
Because you can find my mind, please be with me.
Referring to the person as having a deep understanding of the emotional landscape and asking them to stay close for support and guidance.
Of all the better things I've heard,
Comparing the current situation, specifically the emotional intensity, to other things experienced in life.
Loving you has made the words
Implying that the emotions experienced in this moment have been brought on by the relationship with the other person.
And all the rest seem so absurd,
Feeling that other experiences and thoughts are unimportant in comparison to the intensity of the relationship and emotions being experienced.
'Cause in the end it all comes out unsure.
Expressing uncertainty about the outcome of the relationship or the emotions being experienced.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHARLES SCOTT BOYER, CHARLES SCOTT, JR. BOYER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind