Those Certain Songs: Eric Clapton ‘Tears In Heaven’ (1992)

There are certain songs that just resonate with you. Whether that song recreates a moment in time or is just one that you really like, these songs are the songs that helped create the person you are and were a constant companion in the journey called life.

Today we continue exploring those songs in my life and what they mean to me.   This is Those Certain Songs.

Today’s Certain Song is Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton

The Song:

Title: Tears In Heaven

Artist: Eric Clapton

Album: Rush (Soundtrack)

Universal Music Publishing Group.

The Lyrics:

What it means to me:

This is one of the most beautiful and sorrowful songs you will ever hear. The story behind this song is tragic and, although well documented I will recount it for you here in case you havent heard it before.

You see, the song is about the sorrowful loss of Eric Clapton’s son Conner after the young boy fell from a 53rd story window in New York City.  The grief and sorrow Clapton felt is all over this tune as he asks his son if he would recognize him in heaven when the singer finally gets there.  It is a song of trying to move forward in the wake of grief but also asking if there is anything beyond death and, if there is, would we even know one another.

The concept of heaven or even an afterlife is not a new one, there are as many concepts of this unknown place as there are people, each and every one of us holding on to a unique perspective of what this place will be or even if it exists to begin with.  If you ask anyone what happens after death you may get similar responses but never an identical one, that in and of itself is very telling in how we process the passing of lives and how we treat our lives in the here and now.   Those that believe that a greater reward is awaiting them act in one of two major ways, either with reckless abandon or with great care.  Some believe that they can do as they please as the afterlife will be there to catch them like a cosmic safety net, while others believe there is a price to pay to get to that other side. Regardless of these ideas, the concept of what it is beyond varies even further.  From a paradise in the clouds to just another step in the eternal struggle, no one knows for sure but we all have an idea.  This is where Clapton really hits the concept hard, he never says for sure what will be in the beyond, only that he is sure there will be a peace, but he questions if we will even know one another there, if we will even remember the before.  It’s a potent question and one for the philosophers to answer but man does it hit hard in every way.

To this day, I can’t listen to this tune without getting a little verklempt.  It’s a phenomenal tune that really makes you stop and think, even for a moment.  Clapton’s vocals have a purity in this song that is rarely heard these days, giving a painful and emotional performance only possible by one who has felt immense pain in his life. If anything, this song took Clapton to a new level of his own forever altering his style and perspective.  For good or otherwise, it remains one of his best in my opinion.

Thanks for reading.

Late to the Game 8/8/2020

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed  Those Certain Songs.  If you would like to read more about music you can find my Music Reviews Here.

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