Lyrics for singles by Eric Clapton

Layla
After Midnight
Cocaine
Blues Power
Let It Rain
Promises
Bellbottom Blues
Tulsa Time
I Can't Stand It
Sign Language
Hello Old Friend
Let It Grow
Pretending
Wonderful Tonight
Tears In Heaven
Forever Man



Layla

What'll you do when you get lonely
And nobody's waiting by your side?
You've been running and hiding much too long
You know it's just your foolish pride

Layla, you've got me on my knees
Layla, I'm begging, darling please
Layla, darling won't you ease my worried mind

I tried to give you consolation
When your old man had let you down
Like a fool, I fell in love with you
Turned my whole world upside down

[chorus]

Let's make the best of the situation
Before I finally go insane
Please don't say we'll never find a way
And tell me all my love's in vain

[chorus]

[chorus]




After Midnight

After midnight  We're gonna let it all hang down
After midnight  We're gonna chug-a-lug and shout

We're gonna stimulate some action
We're gonna get some satisfaction
We're gonna find out what it is all about

After midnight  We're gonna let it all hang down
After midnight  We're gonna let it all hang down

After midnight  We're gonna shake your tambourine
After midnight  It's all gonna be peaches and cream

We're gonna cause talk and suspicion
We're gonna give an exhibition
We're gonna find out what it is all about




Cocaine

If you wanna hang out, you've gotta take her out . . . COCAINE
If you wanna get down, down on the ground . . . COCAINE

She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie . . . COCAINE

If you got bad news, you wanna kick them blues . . . COCAINE
When your day is done and you wanna run . . . COCAINE

She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie . . . COCAINE

If your day is gone and you wanna ride on . . . COCAINE
Don't forget this fact: you can't get it back . . . COCAINE

She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie . . . COCAINE




Blues Power

Bet you didn't think I knew how to rock 'n' roll
Oh, I got the boogie-woogie right down in my very soul
There ain't no need for me to be a wallflower
'Cause now I'm living on blues power

I knew all the time but now I'm gonna let you know:
I'm gonna keep on rocking, no matter if it's fast or slow
Ain't gonna stop until the twenty-fifth hour
'Cause now I'm living on blues power

Talking to you, now
The boogie's gonna pull me through
Keep on, keep on, keep on keeping on
Keep on keeping on, keep on keeping on




Let It Rain

The rain is falling through the mist of sorrow that surrounded me
The sun could never thaw away the bliss that lays around me

Let it rain, let it rain
Let your love rain down on me
Let it rain, let it rain
Let it rain, rain, rain

Her life was like a desert flower burning in the sun
Until I found the way to love, it's harder said than done

Now I know the secret; there is nothing that I lack
If I give my love to you, you'll surely give it back




Promises

I don't care if you never come home
I don't mind if you just keep on
Rowing away on a distant sea
'Cause I don't love you and you don't love me

You cause a commotion when you come to town
You give 'em a smile and they melt
Having lovers and friends is all good and fine
But I don't like yours and you don't like mine

La la, la la la la la
La la, la la la la la

I don't care what you do at night
Oh, and I don't care how you get your delights
I'm gonna leave you alone, I'll just let it be
I don't love you and you don't love me

I got a problem --- can you relate?
I got a woman calling love hate
We made a vow we'd always be friends
How could we know that promises end?

La la, la la la la la
La la, la la la la la

I tried to love you for years upon years
You refuse to take me for real
It's time you saw what I want you to see
And I'd still love you if you'd just love me

[chorus]

La la, la la la la la
La la, la la la la la
La la, la la la la la
La la, la la la la la




Bellbottom Blues

Bellbottom blues
You made me cry
I don't want to lose this feeling

And if I could choose
A place to die
It would be in your arms

Do you wanna see me crawl across the floor
Do you wanna hear me beg you to take me back
Oh I'd gladly do it because

I don't want to fade away
Give me one more day please
I don't want to fade away
In your heart I want to stay

It's all wrong
And it's all right
The way that you treat me baby

Once I was strong
But I lost the fight
You won't find a better loser

Do you wanna see me crawl across the floor
Do you wanna hear me beg you to take me back
Oh I'd gladly do it because
I don't want to fade away
Give me one more day please
I don't want to fade way
In your heart I want to stay

Do you wanna see me crawl across the floor to you
Do you wanna hear me beg you to take me back
Lord I'd gladly do it because
I don't wwant to fade away
No no no
Give me one more day please
I don't want to fade away
It's in your heart I want to stay

Bellbottom blues
Don't you say good bye
Surely gonna meet again
And if we do
Don't you be surprised
To find me with another lover

Do you wanna see me crawl across the floor
Do you wanna hear me beg you to take me back
Lord I'd gladly do it because
I don't want to fade away
No no no
Give me one more day please
I don't wanna fade away
No
In your heart I want to stay
I don't want to fade away
Oh no
Give me one more day please
I don't wanna fade away
No no
In your heart I want to stay
I don't want to fade away
No
Give me one more day please
I don't wanna fade away
Oh in your heart is where I want to stay




Tulsa Time

Well, I left Oklahoma
Driving in a Pontiac
Just about to lose my mind
I was going to Arizona
Maybe on to California
Where people all live so fine

My mother says I'm crazy
My baby calls me lazy
But I'm gonna show them all this time
'Cause you know I ain't no fool and
I don't need no more damn schoolin'
I was born to just walk the line

Living on Tulsa Time
Living on Tulsa Time
Gonna set my watch back to it
'Cause you know that I've been through it
Living on Tulsa Time

So there I was in Hollywood
Thinking I was doing good
Talking on the telephone line
They don't want me in the movies
And nobody sings my songs
My mama says my baby's doing fine

So then I started winking
Then I started thinking
That I really had a flash this time
That I had no bussiness leaving
And nobody would be grieving
You see I'm on Tulsa time




I Can't Stand It

You've been told, so maybe it's time that you learned
You've been sold, maybe it's time that you earned

I can't stand it
You're fooling around, I can't stand it
You're running around, I can't stand it
You're fooling around with my heart

I'll explain; I feel like I'm being used
Make it plain, so you don't get confused

[chorus]

It's time, time for me to let you know
Ain't no crime, no crime to let your feelings show




Sign Language

You speak to me in sign language
As I'm eating a sandwich in a small cafe
At a quarter to three

But I can't respond to your sign language
You're taking advantage, bringing me down
Can't you make any sound?

'Twas there by the bakery, surrounded by fakery
This is my story, still I'm still there
Does she know I still care?

Link Wray was playing on a jukebox, I was paying
For the words I was saying, so misunderstood
He didn't do me no good




Hello Old Friend

As I am strolling down the garden path
I saw a flower glowing in the dark
It looked so pretty and it was unique
I had to bend down just to have a peek

Hello old friend, It's really good to see you once again
Hello old friend, It's really good to see you once again

I saw you walking underneath the stars
I couldn't stop 'cause I was in a car
I'm sure the distance wouldn't be too far
If I got out and walked to where you are

[chorus]

An old man passed me on the street today
I thought I knew him but I couldn't say
I stopped to think if I could place his frame
When he tipped his hat I knew his name

[chorus]




Let It Grow

I'm standin' at the crossroads
tryin' to read the signs
to tell me which way I should
go to find the answer
and all the time I know:
plant your love and let it grow

Let it grow, let it grow
let it blossom, let it flow
In the sun and in the snow
love is lovely, let it grow

Lookin' for a reason
to check out on my mind
It's so hard to find a
friend that I can count on
There's nothin' left to show
plant your love and let it grow

[chorus]

Time is gettin' shorter
and there's much for you to do
only ask'n you will get what you are needin'
the rest is up to you
Plant your love and let it grow

[chorus]




Pretending

How many times must we tell the tale?
How many times must we fail?
Living in lost memory
You just recalled

Working on the sound of the band
Trying to get the music right
Two go out working
Three stay home at night

That's when she said she was pretending
Like she knew the plan
That's when I knew she was pretending
Pretending to understand

Pretending, pretending
Pretending, pretending

Satisfied but lost in love
Situations change
You're never who you used to think you are
How strange

That's when she said she was pretending
Like she knew the plan
That's when I knew she was pretending
Pretending to understand

Pretending, pretending
Pretending, pretending

I got lost in alibis
Sadness can't prevail
Everybody knows strong love can't fail

Don't be pretending about how you feel
Don't be pretending that your love is real
Don't be pretending about how you feel
Don't be pretending that your love is real

Pretending, pretending
Pretending, pretending




Wonderful Tonight

It's late in the evening
She's wondering what clothes to wear
she puts on her makeup
and brushes her long blonde hair
And then she asks me
"Do I look alright?"
and I say yes, you look wonderful tonight

We go to a party
and everyone turns to see
this beautiful lady
who's walking around with me
And then she asks me
"Do you feel alright?"
and I say yes, I feel wonderful tonight

I feel wonderful
because I see
the love light in your eyes
And the wonder of it all
is that you just don't realize
how much I love you

It's time to go home now
and I've got an aching head
So I give her the car keys
she helps me to bed
And then I tell her
as I turn out the light
I say my darling, you were wonderful tonight
Oh my darling, you were wonderful tonight




Tears In Heaven

Would you know my name if I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same if I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong
And carry on
'Cause I know I don't belong here in heaven

Would you hold my hand if I saw you in heaven?
Would you help me stand if I saw you in heaven?
I'll find my way
Through night and day
'Cause I know I just can't stay here in heaven

Time can bring you down, time can bend your knees
Time can break your heart, have you begging please
. . . begging "please"

Beyond the door
There's peace I'm sure
And I know there'll be no more tears in heaven




Forever Man

How many times must I tell you babe
How many bridges I've got to cross
How many times must I explain myself
'Fore I can talk to the boss
'Fore I can talk to the boss

How many times must I say I love you
Before you finally understand
Won't you be my forever woman?
I'll try to be your forever man
Try to be your forever man