Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan, two of the most iconic figures in music history, have long shared a deep mutual respect for one another. Their relationship spans several decades, and despite initial reservations, Clapton has come to appreciate Dylan’s profound influence on the music world.
Eric Clapton’s relationship with Bob Dylan’s music has evolved significantly over the years. Initially, Clapton’s perception of Dylan was shaped by a kind of “healthy prejudice”, according to his autobiography.
In the early days of his career, Clapton was not particularly enamored with Dylan’s style, particularly his voice and delivery. In his memoir, Clapton candidly admitted that he didn’t initially understand Dylan’s appeal until he heard Blonde on Blonde – an album that would change his outlook. His appreciation deepened as he began to recognize the genius in Dylan’s songwriting.
In the early 1970s, Clapton was still experimenting with his own musical identity, often drawing from a wide range of influences. During this period, he revisited Dylan’s work, which eventually led him to a profound appreciation of Dylan’s craftsmanship.
One of the songs that particularly resonated with Clapton was ‘Song to Woody’, a track Dylan penned as an homage to the folk legend who deeply influenced his own artistic path.
In a 1985 interview with The Telegraph, Clapton declared: “Have you heard that thing he wrote about Woody Guthrie? That to me is the sum of his life’s work so far. Whatever happens, that is it. That sums it up.”
Dylan’s decision to write ‘Song to Woody’ in the early 1960s came at a pivotal moment in his career. At that time, Dylan had already become known for his interpretations of folk songs, but he felt a strong need to write something of his own.
Speaking to WNEW-FM in 1985, Dylan remarked: “One day, I just wrote a song, and it was the first song I ever wrote, and it was a song for Woody Guthrie”.
“I just wanted a song to sing and there came a certain point where I couldn’t sing anything, I had to write what I wanted to sing because what I wanted to sing nobody else was writing, I couldn’t find that song someplace. If I could’ve I probably wouldn’t have ever started writing”, he added.
Over the years, Dylan and Clapton developed a professional relationship that was rooted in mutual respect – and which culminated with a track for Clapton’s album No Reason to Cry.
The song, ‘Sign Language’, was written by Dylan and given to Clapton without much explanation, he explained in his autobiography: “One day he came in and offered me a song called ‘Sign Language,’ which he had played for me in New York. He told me he had written the whole song down at one sitting, without even understanding what it was about. Dylan himself admitted that he didn’t fully understand what the song was about when he wrote it”.
Despite its ambiguous origins, Clapton was captivated by the track. He recalled, “I just loved the words and the melody, and the chord sequence was great.”
In the mid-1970s, Clapton covered Dylan’s iconic track, ‘Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door’. Released as a single in 1975, Clapton’s version of the song was a reggae-infused interpretation of Dylan’s original.