Derek And The Dominos - Layla - Meaning of the song
This song is about George Harrison's wife, Pattie. She and Clapton began living together in 1974 and married in 1979. Clapton and Harrison remained good friends, with George playing at their wedding along with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. Clapton left her for actress Lory Del Santo in 1985.
Pattie said:
"I wasn't so happy when Eric wrote 'Layla,' while I was still married to George. I felt I was being exposed. I was amazed and thrilled at the song - it was so passionate and devastatingly dramatic - but I wanted to hang on to my marriage. Eric made this public declaration of love. I resisted his attentions for a long time - I didn't want to leave my husband. But obviously when things got so excruciatingly bad for George and me it was the end of our relationship. We both had to move on.
Layla was based on a book by a 12th-century Persian poet called Nizami about a man who is in love with an unobtainable woman. The song was fantastically painful and beautiful. After I married Eric we were invited out for an evening and he was sitting round playing his guitar while I was trying on dresses upstairs. I was taking so long and I was panicking about my hair, my clothes, everything, and I came downstairs expecting him to really berate me but he said, 'Listen to this!' In the time I had taken to get ready he had written "Wonderful Tonight."
Layla - Lyrics
What'll you do when you get lonely But 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 You turned my whole world upside down Layla You've got me on my knees Layla I'm begging, darling, please Layla Darling, won't you ease my worried mind? 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 Layla You've got me on my knees Layla I'm begging, darling, please Layla Darling, won't you ease my worried mind? Layla You've got me on my knees Layla I'm begging, darling, please Layla Darling, won't you ease my worried mind? Whoo, whoo, whoo...
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