His albums include: "Prussian Blue" (1973)"Girls on the Avenue" (1975) "Main Street Jive" 1976 "Goodbye Tiger" 1977, "Past Hits and Previews" 1978 "Hearts on the Nightline" 1979 "Dark Spaces" 1980 "The Great Escape" 1982 "Solidarity" 1984 "Glory Road" 1987 "The Best Years of Our Lives" 1989 "Distant Thunder" 1993 "Angeltown" 1995, "Diamond Mine" 2004 and "Rewired" 2006.
Although not well-known outside Australia, a number of his songs such as "Girls On The Avenue", "Capricorn Dancer", "Deep Water", "Lucky Country", "The Best Years of Our Lives", and "I Am an Island" are staples of FM radio playlists in Australia.
The early 1970s are often regarded as a stagnant time for Australian rock music. In this context, the emergence of Richard Clapton as a talented and ambitious songwriter in the "troubadour" tradition of, for instance, Neil Young and Jackson Browne (both of whom later expressed their admiration for Clapton) was refreshing. Although no hit singles were on his first album, "Prussian Blue", by the time of his second album, "Girls on the Avenue," Clapton enjoyed a reasonable amount of mainstream success, with the title song from the album reaching #2 spot on the Australian top 40 charts. Clapton's first five albums were produced by Richard Batchens.
At the times of its release, "Goodbye Tiger" was one of the most critically acclaimed albums an Australian artist had produced. It was produced by Richard Batchens, who was one of the most prominent and successful producers of the era.(See articles collected on the fan site linked below for confirmation of this). Many Clapton fans continue to regard this notably melancholic record as Clapton's masterpiece.
Thereafter, Clapton played less of a central role in the music industry; although "The Great Escape" (featuring contributions from members of Cold Chisel and INXS) sold strongly and contained memorable singles in "I Am an Island" and "The Best Years of Our Life." During the early 1980s he was acknowledged as a mentor to several bands emerging from the then vigorous pub-rock scene, in particular INXS whose second LP, Underneath the Colours he produced.
On a 2006 album, Rewired, recorded at his home studio, Clapton produced "unplugged" acoustic versions of his early songs. This album contains many early Clapton Gems that have been reworked to fit in with the acoustic vibe of the album.
(From the Wikipedia entry for Richard Clapton)
Walk on Water
Richard Clapton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Walk on the water
You can reach the dry land,
Walk on the water
And hold it in your hands;
I've been taking photographs today,
I must have photographed a hundred waves,
It locked the picture right away;
Sometimes I know I think too much,
I think so much, I just lose touch,
With whatever's going down today;
But I have seen so many of you,
Walking on the water,
And I know where it is I want to be -
Walking out there with you on the sea.
Walk on the water
You can reach the dry land,
Walk on the water
And hold it in your hands.
The lyrics to Richard Clapton's song Walk On Water are about the desire to transcend the limitations of the human experience and do the impossible. The verses describe the act of taking photographs of waves and the feeling of being so focused on this task that the world fades away. The repetition of "walk on the water" in the chorus represents the longing to achieve something beyond what seems possible, to reach the "dry land" that is beyond the tumultuous sea. The imagery of holding water in one's hands is a metaphor for this impossible feat.
The singer confesses that he often thinks too much and loses touch with what is happening around him, but he has seen others who have achieved the impossible and he wants to walk with them out on the sea. This could be interpreted as a reference to religious figures who have performed miracles, or simply as a metaphor for those who have achieved great things in their lives.
Ultimately, the song is about the human desire to break free from the constraints of the everyday world and reach for something greater, to walk on the water and hold it in our hands. It's a poetic and uplifting message that speaks to the optimistic spirit of the human heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Walk on the water
Be unafraid to take risks and do the impossible
You can reach the dry land
You can achieve your goals and find success in life
And hold it in your hands
You can possess and own your accomplishments
I've been taking photographs today
I've been reflecting on my life and experiences
I must have photographed a hundred waves
I've encountered countless challenges and obstacles
And everytime the shutter clicked
Every moment in life is fleeting and should be cherished
It locked the picture right away
Memories are preserved forever in our minds
Sometimes I know I think too much
Overthinking can cloud our judgement and hold us back
I think so much, I just lose touch
Overthinking can disconnect us from the present moment
With whatever's going down today
With the challenges and events of everyday life
But I have seen so many of you
I have witnessed others achieve great things and overcome obstacles
Walking on the water
They have conquered their fears and taken risks
And I know where it is I want to be -
I have a clear vision of my goals and desires
Walking out there with you on the sea.
I want to experience life's adventures and accomplishments with others
Contributed by Gianna P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Thomas Elliott
One of those songs that makes you feel privileged to be alive and have been a small part of Clapton's creativity and what we all had. Maybe he was not at his best here, but, hey, who gives a fuck when you are this fucking good? This man really had talent.
I saw him often, but, towards the end, I saw him at Dee Why RSL one night, which cost almost nothing. There was hardly anyone there, maybe 100 people at most, and he was still at his best, particularly in that he was still capable of giving it his own truly wonderful style.
He commented that playing around there had always bought out the best in him. How lucky was I (that is not a question).
I have been fortunate to associate with people who could create music. I am not easily pleased, but they have been some of the finest and most worthwhile experiences of my life.
Richard was one of the best anyone could hear anywhere. If you ever want anyone to reach out to you through the media, this guy is one of the very few who was and is capable of doing so.
fotonomad
One of my faves. Beautiful, moving.
ancientgallery
Hi Colin
Any more to come? Looking forward to seeing the rest of the gig if you've got time.