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Eric Clapton — River of Tears
Album: Pilgrim
Avg rating:
6.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 292









Released: 1998
Length: 7:17
Plays (last 30 days): 0
It's three miles to the river
That would carry me away,
And two miles to the dusty street
That I saw you on today.

It's four miles to my lonely room
Where I will hide my face,
And about half a mile to the downtown bar
That I ran from in disgrace.

Lord, how long have I got to keep on running,
Seven hours, seven days or seven years?
All I know is, since you've been gone
I feel like I'm drowning in a river,
Drowning in a river of tears.
Drowning in a river.
Feel like I'm drowning,
Drowning in a river.

In three more days, I'll leave this town
And disappear without a trace.
A year from now, maybe settle down
Where no one knows my face.

I wish that I could hold you
One more time to ease the pain,
But my time's run out and I got to go,
Got to run away again.

Still I catch myself thinking,
One day I'll find my way back here.
You'll save me from drowning,
Drowning in a river,
Drowning in a river of tears.
Drowning in a river.
Feels like I'm drowning,
Drowning in the river.
Lord, how long must this go on?

Drowning in a river,
Drowning in a river of tears.
Comments (56)add comment
 craighoog wrote:
Another old fart stands with Old Fart
 
what? 
 richlister wrote:
Damn it Clapton, drown already!
 

GTFO. 
 kingart wrote:
Wow, EC, real good singing. He's an underrated vocalist. Mournful and yearning at those crossroads, are we? 

He was not a renowned vocalist, but should have gotten more credit for his mellow but raspy pipes. Of course, studio tricks enhance him, but I've read some snarky comments about his vocals that were undeserved. Were they not listening? Maybe not, though half the tracks on Layla were sung like a natural maestro.  

That said, this one is past blues and into sadness or melancholy. There's a difference. Maybe a big one. Which leads me to rue that at this junction, the Clapton of Crossroads or Layla or even The Core was already gone. The tune is very nice, but for jeez sake, bro, where the hell went that fellow who played Steppin' Out/Hideaway like his freaking guitar was on fire? 
PSD >>
Wow, EC, real good singing. He's an underrated vocalist. Mournful and yearning at those crossroads, are we? 
 kcar wrote:

This is a brilliant, moving post. The song is the perfect accompaniment. Thank you. 

 

And how.

This song carries the essence of many things, the great musician as conduit being one of them.
 S-curvy wrote:


In this song, I hear a stronger personal investment come through in EC's voice than perhaps any of his other wonderful work.  It's a tough, excruciating subject that commercial radio just doesn't have the chops for broadcasting — glib Pollyannas.

My dad died when he was 32 yrs old; I remember my grandparents as incredibly strong, stoic people, and they almost didn't get over his death.  I imagine what got them through it must have been that he had a brother and a sister, so all was not lost, and that my grandparents were of the generation that sacrificed everything in WWII, but this one loss clearly affected them for the rest of their lives.  I am now a father of a beautiful, exquisite 12-year old and there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that scares me more than the thought of losing him.

Many of us silly parents harbor these secret wishes that our child will go out and do something great, something that makes the world a better place, even if it is just to bring a smile to the faces of their loved ones.  It's simple human nature to aspire to a course of progress, and it's through successive generations that it happens.  For EC and every other parent who has to live through that kind of loss, I share more than a moment of profound sadness over what they and the world has lost.

Sometimes we just have to stop and listen in order to notice that the voice is gone for good; thanks RP for spinning a tune that prompts me to stop, listen, and reflect a bit.

 
This is a brilliant, moving post. The song is the perfect accompaniment. Thank you. 
Another old fart stands with Old Fart
 richlister wrote:
Damn it Clapton, drown already!

 


eat s#t and change the station, you have no class or heart.............
loosing a child will make your whole world different, thank you eric..............a world of hurt............healing song.........
killing me
That voice!
This rendition ROCKS!!
Is it just me or has Eric Clapton's voice gotten better with age?  This is an excellent reading of a really cool song.
 boober wrote:
Sandy Hook elementary School!
That's all I can think about when I hear this song. 
 
How so?
Eric Clapton has to be one of the top 5 guitarists in my lifetime (and I'm 60).
Craig
Oh no. Yet another opportunity for the Clapton haters to bring the snark. I like this song alot. I also think Eric Clapton is one hell of an overall musician. But that's just me.
Sandy Hook elementary School!
That's all I can think about when I hear this song. 
God, this is killin me! :(
This is one sad A$$ song.... 
& beginning.. 

Wynton Marsalis & Eric Clapton - Layla


m&c


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilgrim_(Eric_Clapton_album)  ..Clapton wrote in his autobiography that he wanted to make the "saddest album" to the moment, so he called Simon Climie and started the project. He had already written two songs when his son, Conor, died in March 1991. The songs ended up being "My Father's Eyes" and "Circus", originally named "Circus Left Town". "Circus" was about the last time he saw his son, when he took him to the circus. According to Clapton's autobiography, Conor died the next day.

Great work.

Damn it Clapton, drown already!
 S-curvy wrote:


In this song, I hear a stronger personal investment come through in EC's voice than perhaps any of his other wonderful work.  It's a tough, excruciating subject that commercial radio just doesn't have the chops for broadcasting — glib Pollyannas.

My dad died when he was 32 yrs old; I remember my grandparents as incredibly strong, stoic people, and they almost didn't get over his death.  I imagine what got them through it must have been that he had a brother and a sister, so all was not lost, and that my grandparents were of the generation that sacrificed everything in WWII, but this one loss clearly affected them for the rest of their lives.  I am now a father of a beautiful, exquisite 12-year old and there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that scares me more than the thought of losing him.

Many of us silly parents harbor these secret wishes that our child will go out and do something great, something that makes the world a better place, even if it is just to bring a smile to the faces of their loved ones.  It's simple human nature to aspire to a course of progress, and it's through successive generations that it happens.  For EC and every other parent who has to live through that kind of loss, I share more than a moment of profound sadness over what they and the world has lost.

Sometimes we just have to stop and listen in order to notice that the voice is gone for good; thanks RP for spinning a tune that prompts me to stop, listen, and reflect a bit.
 
.....tears in my eyes while reading and listening..........THANKS so much,bill&rebecca for finding you in the great www.....(sry,.."german"-english;)
Really nice tune from Eric that I've never heard before.  Thank you RP.

These posts are very touching as is this song. I have a 13 year old son and I can pretty much guarantee..I would NOT ever get over losing him.


Quite compelling piece of art. Truly.
I am not a huge Clapton fan - but wow - this is nice. Vocals are amazing - very moving.

...and S-Curvy,  thanks for sharing.
 oldsinger wrote:

I may be an old guy whose Mom and Dad are both gone, but I cannot imagine the pain of losing a child.  I do hope the catharsis of song helps.

 

In this song, I hear a stronger personal investment come through in EC's voice than perhaps any of his other wonderful work.  It's a tough, excruciating subject that commercial radio just doesn't have the chops for broadcasting — glib Pollyannas.

My dad died when he was 32 yrs old; I remember my grandparents as incredibly strong, stoic people, and they almost didn't get over his death.  I imagine what got them through it must have been that he had a brother and a sister, so all was not lost, and that my grandparents were of the generation that sacrificed everything in WWII, but this one loss clearly affected them for the rest of their lives.  I am now a father of a beautiful, exquisite 12-year old and there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that scares me more than the thought of losing him.

Many of us silly parents harbor these secret wishes that our child will go out and do something great, something that makes the world a better place, even if it is just to bring a smile to the faces of their loved ones.  It's simple human nature to aspire to a course of progress, and it's through successive generations that it happens.  For EC and every other parent who has to live through that kind of loss, I share more than a moment of profound sadness over what they and the world has lost.

Sometimes we just have to stop and listen in order to notice that the voice is gone for good; thanks RP for spinning a tune that prompts me to stop, listen, and reflect a bit.
{#Sleep}
still a beautiful work, but it no longer has the power over me it once did.  I have someone to thank for that.
this is a very moving song...very. didn't even realise it was e.c
Powerful, beautiful. I didn't think he had it in him...
Oh, yeah. Now I remember why I used to be in love with Eric Clapton.
This is a wonderful song, but version is pretty lame.

Check out the live version...
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X55nF0OqTmA

 Otomi wrote:
The music on this album is incredibly beautiful, but almost too sad to bear.
 
Its beautiful but heartbreaking....

 Randomax wrote:
so sad....I know, this kind of pain eases but never dies...
 
I may be an old guy whose Mom and Dad are both gone, but I cannot imagine the pain of losing a child.  I do hope the catharsis of song helps.

I'm just not getting anything out of this.  Sigh.
vocals sound odd.   a bit processed?
...hey, solo eric clapton that i actually like, nice!..
Live version is much better - very powerful. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHKugUxKjnQ
The music on this album is incredibly beautiful, but almost too sad to bear.
 calypsus_1 wrote:

One of the hallmarks of RP is offering us all a few pearls of music, which often remain in obscurity and oblivion. And the lack of authors, quality songs and music on the radio-stations in general, this is due to many factors, such as the massification of music, by the hand of the recording industry, which seeks, first, to make profits, and  the agents and the media involved by facilitating and unpreparedness.

Generally the more elaborate music of artistic value, aesthetic and musical undeniable, there are not attractive to commercial agents, the media, why not sell in massive quantities that allow to obtain large profits. And this is the key point: quality and artistic value / profit. And this is where the contradictions begin.
Everyone knows, I think, that there is a range of musical genres, which are based on a scale of musical notes easily absorbed, requiring little effort to be heard, that invites to dance.
And it is this line that is widely exploited by a large number of agents involved in music.
For all of this, is welcome and commend the remarkable efforts, highly professional and independent of RP, when offers us a significant amount of unpublished songs and alternative music genres, which have remained in obscurity and oblivion of the general public (in many cases there many years after its recording).

But also the RP has to survive and therefore one can not isolate and alienate the rest of the world.
So there is a need to reconcile and integrate all genres and musical concepts in order to meet and satisfy the various musical sensibilities of listeners. I want here to do a caricature, is like giving sweets and chocolates for a child to get their attention and motivation for something deeper and more important, which is the study and learning the principles and values ​​of life.

And, it is proven, it is possible to do so without making concessions to vulgarity and  facilitating.
And here arises the creativity, experience, knowledge and professionalism. In these times, maintain standing as a project RP-Station, i have said and i repeat, requires great courage and tenacity, and requires and deserves the support of all true lovers of real music.


 
{#Clap}  It's true that commercial radio absolutely would NOT play even an eighth of what we hear on RP. I have expanded my music library to the detriment of my bank account, but to the credit of my expanded musical knowledge.  Unpublished songs and alternative music genres would fly under the radar of commercial radio.

So - here's to Radio Paradise - the true avenue for multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-gender music. Sure, there are odd selections that some folks (myself included) might not understand or like, but the fact that they're being played here makes RP a very safe haven.  Long may it play!  Off to donate now.... I urge others to do likewise. {#Mrgreen}
I had to look at the playlist as I didn't recognize the great EC.  As sine-quinn-non mentions, his voice sounds a bit like Pete and the guitar isn't as  dynamic as I'm used to from EC. But I looked because it was just a damned fine song.



Such a powerful song that simply does not get enough airplay. Takes me back to an intense cathartic experience after a painful goodbye that still haunts me when I hear this song.  Still, I never tire of it.

One of the hallmarks of RP is offering us all a few pearls of music, which often remain in obscurity and oblivion. And the lack of authors, quality songs and music on the radio-stations in general, this is due to many factors, such as the massification of music, by the hand of the recording industry, which seeks, first, to make profits, and  the agents and the media involved by facilitating and unpreparedness.

Generally the more elaborate music of artistic value, aesthetic and musical undeniable, there are not attractive to commercial agents, the media, why not sell in massive quantities that allow to obtain large profits. And this is the key point: quality and artistic value / profit. And this is where the contradictions begin.
Everyone knows, I think, that there is a range of musical genres, which are based on a scale of musical notes easily absorbed, requiring little effort to be heard, that invites to dance.
And it is this line that is widely exploited by a large number of agents involved in music.
For all of this, is welcome and commend the remarkable efforts, highly professional and independent of RP, when offers us a significant amount of unpublished songs and alternative music genres, which have remained in obscurity and oblivion of the general public (in many cases there many years after its recording).

But also the RP has to survive and therefore one can not isolate and alienate the rest of the world.
So there is a need to reconcile and integrate all genres and musical concepts in order to meet and satisfy the various musical sensibilities of listeners. I want here to do a caricature, is like giving sweets and chocolates for a child to get their attention and motivation for something deeper and more important, which is the study and learning the principles and values ​​of life.

And, it is proven, it is possible to do so without making concessions to vulgarity and  facilitating.
And here arises the creativity, experience, knowledge and professionalism. In these times, maintain standing as a project RP-Station, i have said and i repeat, requires great courage and tenacity, and requires and deserves the support of all true lovers of real music.





Eric Clapton - River Of Tears, Live

© 2007 WMG, River Of Tears (Live)

"I am sorry for your tears, Eric. Just please know, that even though your son's death was so very untimely, the Lord is taking great care of him. You will be reunited one day. Please don't let that be before our Lord requests. Thanks for all of your heart-felt music. You are . . . I can't even describe. I have been following your music for all of my life. And NO, I'm not telling how old I am. But old enough to know how awesome and moving you are, dear Sir. — B Parker . . . "         Blupurr

"So very powerful... you can feel the emotion pouring out of his guitar... beautiful. "   cjj9789

 



I know he's a bluesman and has gone through some tough times but now all I hear is depression. Probably me making that story up in my interpretation but . . . it's lost its glow . . . may as well go back to bed. See! That's how depressing it is. {#Sad}
I wanted to like this album...and it's OK in small doses, but I could never quite listen to the whole thing front to back without getting bored, and wanting for something different.
i thought (i still think?) it sounds so much like pete townshend singing ... anyone else?
so sad....I know, this kind of pain eases but never dies...
Thanks for this track from an EXTREMELY underrated Clapton CD!!
One of my favorite songs!!! So glad to hear it on RP!! {#Daisy}
Boosiewolf wrote:
I dedicate this upload to my friend Whitman who first introduced it to me, resounding through his large warehouse studio. Both Clapton and his guitar emote so very heartrendingly in this piece!
One of my ATF Clapton tunes...thanks Boosie
I dedicate this upload to my friend Whitman who first introduced it to me, resounding through his large warehouse studio. Both Clapton and his guitar emote so very heartrendingly in this piece!