* Eric Clapton (April–August 1965, November 1965–July 1966) and Jack Bruce, who both left to form Cream,
* Peter Green, who had replaced Clapton, played until August 1967, when he departed with Mick Fleetwood and then also enticed Bluesbreaker John McVie a few weeks later to form Fleetwood Mac
* Mick Taylor (August 1967–July 1969) who later joined The Rolling Stones, and reunion tours in 1982–83 and 2004,
* Harvey Mandel, Walter Trout, Larry Taylor (later in Canned Heat),
* Don "Sugarcane" Harris, Randy Resnick, Aynsley Dunbar, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Andy Fraser (Free), Chris Mercer, Henry Lowther, Johnny Almond and Jon Mark (later of Mark-Almond).
The Bluesbreakers were formed in January 1963 and became an ever-evolving lineup of more than 100 different combinations of musicians performing under that name. Eric Clapton joined in 1965 just a few months after the release of their first album. Clapton brought the blues influences to the forefront of the group, as he had left The Yardbirds in order to play the blues.
The group lost their record contract with Decca that year, which also saw the release of a single called "I'm Your Witchdoctor" (produced by Jimmy Page), followed by a return to Decca in 1966. The album Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton (also known as The Beano Album because Clapton is shown on the cover photo reading a copy of the comic) was released later that year; it reached the Top Ten in the UK.
Clapton and Jack Bruce left the group that year to form Cream. Clapton was replaced by Peter Green for A Hard Road, after which he left to form Fleetwood Mac. Finally, in 1969, the third Bluesbreaker-guitarist departed when Mick Taylor joined the Rolling Stones.
By the time the 1960s were over, the Bluesbreakers had finally achieved some success in the United States.
With some interruptions, the Bluesbreakers have continued to tour and release albums (over 50 to date), though they never achieved the critical or popular acclaim of their earlier material. In 2003, Eric Clapton, Mick Taylor and Chris Barber reunited with the band for John Mayall's 70th Birthday Concert in Liverpool — the concert was later released on CD and DVD. In 2004, their line up included Buddy Whittington, Joe Yuele, Hank Van Sickle and Tom Canning, and the band toured the UK with Mick Taylor as a guest musician.
In November 2008 Mayall announced on his website he was disbanding the Bluesbreakers to cut back on his heavy workload and give himself freedom to work with other musicians.
All my life
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All my life I wanted someone just like you
I did all I could to try and get along with you
I lie for you I cry for you baby what more can I do?
I lie for you I cry for you baby what more can I do?
I did all I could to try and get along with you
I can't go on this way
I can't go on this way
What you mean to me
The lyrics to John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers's song All My Life express a deep yearning for the presence of someone special. The singer expresses that they have been searching for someone just like the addressee all their life. They have done everything in their power to get along with this person; they have lied and even shed tears for them. The singer seems to be at a loss as to what more they can do to impress and gain the affection of the addressee.
At the same time, the lyrics also express frustration and disappointment. The singer seems to be aware that despite their efforts, the addressee has left them. They can no longer continue living this way without the one they care for. The final two lines of the song, "You went away and left me, What you mean to me" suggest that the loss of the addressee has left the singer feeling a great sense of emptiness and confusion.
Overall, these lyrics depict a sense of longing for someone special, as well as the difficulty of holding onto them. The singer has done everything they can to make things work but ultimately finds themselves abandoned and uncertain.
Line by Line Meaning
All my life I wanted someone just like you
Throughout my entire existence, I have yearned for a person who matches your qualities.
I did all I could to try and get along with you
I exhausted all efforts to create a harmonious relationship with you.
I lie for you I cry for you baby what more can I do?
I am willing to deceive and shed tears for you, my darling, but what else can I possibly do to gain your affection?
I can't go on this way
I cannot continue living in this state of emotional distress.
You went away and left me
Your departure caused me immense pain and sadness.
What you mean to me
The value and significance you hold in my life.
Contributed by Maria V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.