Layla (Derek & The Dominos) - day 41

I’m about to provide you with 7+ minutes of heroic rock and roll and soul-smashing bliss. Layla is the pinnacle of classic rock and roll. Here is another example not of meaningful lyrics but of how a song can make you feel. This song is resplendent with multiple guitar riffs, one over another in a musical fugue that is transcendent and timeless.

And then it happens. 3 minutes and 13 seconds in, the song takes a turn to a melodic dreamscape wherein you’re transported throughout stars, gas giants passing by as blazes of flashing light in your periphery, planets spinning in the distance. Therein you know only peace. There is only solace and forgiveness and pureness of soul. Along with so many other songs I've written about, how the ending instrumentals could go on forever and I would die happily, this one does not disappoint. It goes on figuratively forever (I wanted to say literally, but my inner grammar Nazi wouldn’t allow me). I am not lying when I say I can (and have) listened to this majestic rock ballad on repeat for hours. I’m doing it right now.

I have a wonderful memory tethered to this song as well: when my sister and Bob lived in East Meadow for a short time before moving upstate to Delhi, Jan and I would babysit Robbie (my first nephew who turns FORTY this year) and Nicole (the spring-legged poodle) and we would allow him to pick out the records we would play on his dad’s stereo. That little musical marvel always chose Layla and we would choose our respective rock-god stance as we air-guitared with our eyes glued shut, feeling the music together. This is a memory I have always cherished and hope to cherish as long as I have breath.

Eric Clapton, massive god of rock, was the mastermind behind this momentous classic. More from him in the coming days.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Th3ycKQV_4k