Eric Clapton’s thirteenth album, Pilgrim (1998), was the first album by the famous artist since the late eighties to consist entirely of new material. The legendary musician recalled that the work absorbed him so much that he was in the studio from early morning until late at night for almost a year.
The result of hard work was fourteen wonderful compositions that won the hearts of music lovers.
The story of creation and the meaning of the song River of Tears
The second track on the album is the ballad River of Tears, which Eric Clapton composed with Simon Climie. She was one of the first to be recorded.
Eric talked about the story of the song:
As for the words, they are about a specific person. Initially, I composed the song for manipulative motives. I had the idea that when she heard the song, there would be reconciliation or something like that. She wrote with a purpose. Then it began to take on a vengeful character, and at some point it began to seem to me that the text was becoming too melodramatic.
I realized that the only way to save her was to return to talking about myself, about how I might be an inaccessible person. Maybe it’s just me being unavailable. The main idea of the song about how I just drift from city to city and can’t find a job anywhere takes the responsibility off someone else and puts it on me.
Guitar World 1998
Five tracks were released as singles from Pilgrim. River of Tears was not among them. Accordingly, it did not receive wide rotation on music radio and did not hit the charts.
In 1999, it was included in the Clapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton compilation.
Video of River of Tears
Let’s watch the official live video of Eric Clapton performing River of Tears.
Interesting Facts
- Many believe that the words of the song “River of Tears” reflect the grief of the musician for his son, who died in 1991.
River of Tears Lyrics
It’s three miles to the river
That would carry me away
And two miles to the dusty street
That I saw you today
It’s four miles to my lonely room
Where I’m going to 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 riverDrowning in a river of tears
Drowning in a river
Feel like I’m drowning
Drowning in a riverIn 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 riverDrowning in a river of tears
Drowning in a river
Feel like I’m drowning
Drowning in a river
Oh how long must be gone
Drowning
Drowning
Drowning in a river of tears
River of Tears Lyrics Eric Clapton Alternate
Three miles to the river
that will take me far away,
And two miles to a dusty street
Where I saw you today
Four miles to my lonely room
Where can I hide from everyone?
And about half a mile to the bar in the center
Where did I shamefully run from
God, how much longer do I have to run?
Seven hours, seven days or seven years?
I only know that since you left
I feel like I’m drowning in a river
Drowning in a river of tears
Drowning in the river
Feels like I’m drowning
Drowning in the river
In three more days I’ll be leaving town
To disappear without a trace
Maybe I’ll settle down there in a year,
Where no one recognizes my face
Wish I could keep you
One more time to ease the pain
But my time is running out and I must go
Gotta run away again
I still find myself thinking
That one day I’ll be back here
And you won’t let me drown
drown in the river
Drown in a river of tears
drown in the river
Feels like I’m drowning
Drowning in the river
Oh, how long do I have to go
Drown,
Drown,
Drown in a river of tears
