This is, without a doubt, one of the saddest songs I’ve ever heard, more so since I learned the background back when I first played it in 2019.
In August 1990, Clapton’s manager, two of his roadies and his friend and fellow musician Stevie Ray Vaughan were killed in a helicopter accident. Seven months later, in March 1991, Clapton’s 4-year-old son Conor died after falling from the 53rd-floor window of a New York City apartment belonging to Conor’s mother, Italian television personality Lory del Santo.
In a 2005 interview with Mojo, Clapton said Conor’s death “threw me into … a wobble,” and in the immediate aftermath of the accident, he coped by throwing himself into his work — most notably by contributing a trio of new songs to the soundtrack of the 1991 movie Rush, including Tears in Heaven, the Grammy-winning hit ballad inspired by the immense grief of his loss.
Clapton wrote this with Will Jennings, who has written many famous songs from movies, including Up Where We Belong from An Officer And A Gentleman and My Heart Will Go On from Titanic. Jennings wrote the lyrics to many of Steve Winwood’s hits and has also written with B.B. King, Roy Orbison, The Crusaders, Peter Wolf and many others. According to Jennings …
“Eric and I were engaged to write a song for a movie called Rush. We wrote a song called ‘Help Me Up’ for the end of the movie… then Eric saw another place in the movie for a song and he said to me, ‘I want to write a song about my boy.’ Eric had the first verse of the song written, which, to me, is all the song, but he wanted me to write the rest of the verse lines and the release (‘Time can bring you down, time can bend your knees…’), even though I told him that it was so personal he should write everything himself. He told me that he had admired the work I did with Steve Winwood and finally there was nothing else but do to as he requested, despite the sensitivity of the subject. This is a song so personal and so sad that it is unique in my experience of writing songs.”
Clapton wasn’t sure he wanted this song to be released at all, but the director of Rush, Lili Zanuck, convinced him to use it in the film. “Her argument was that it might in some way help somebody, and that got my vote,” Clapton said.
The song charted at #1 in Canada, #2 in the U.S., and #5 in the UK.
Tears In Heaven
Eric Clapton
Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same
If I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong and carry on
‘Cause I know I don’t belong here in heaven
Would you hold my hand
If I saw you in heaven?
Would you help me stand
If I saw you in heaven?
I’ll find my way through night and day
‘Cause I know I just can’t stay here in heaven
Time can bring you down, time can bend your knees
Time can break your heart, have you begging please, begging please
Beyond the door there’s peace I’m sure
And I know there’ll be no more tears in heaven
Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same
If I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong and carry on
‘Cause I know I don’t belong here in heaven
Songwriters: Eric Patrick Clapton / Will Jennings
Tears In Heaven lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc, Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave, BMG Rights Management
Filosofa's Word 
Thanks Jill, I have always been a Clapton fan, he is the most talented guitarist and one of the most influential musicians on the planet in my opinion.
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I fully agree about his musical talent … I’m not always crazy about his songs, but nonetheless know that he is very talented! Glad you enjoyed the music!
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Really a sad song, but also very important to bring thoughts back and touches nerves. Thanks, Jill! xx Michael
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Definitely so, but isn’t it beautiful? I’ll have something more upbeat tomorrow … I promise! xx
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Reblogged this on https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thanks, Michael!!!
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Ooh Jill, this is such a hauntingly beautiful, sad song. ❤ A classic.
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Yes, it is that … it’s one that needs to be followed by something a bit cheerier, I think! But still a beautiful one!
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Every time I hear that song, I think of him grieving for his son. The lyrics are going so deep. Most of all when you know the background story.
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Yes, it definitely tugs at the heartstrings. I’ll try for something more upbeat tomorrow!
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It is all part of life. Yesterday I sang at a funeral of a woman that died of sudden heart death with only 47. So, it all belongs to life… the up- and the downbeat.
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Definitely so, my friend. We never know what tomorrow holds. I didn’t know people had singing at funerals! I’ve only ever been to one funeral in my life, that of my father-in-law. I avoid funerals and weddings at all costs!
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Yes, it is normal here that you have a singer plus the organ during the celebration in church. Some have choose a little orchestra or whatever. And only rarely there is no musical frame other than the “audience” singing some regular church songs together.
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I still find it a bit offputting to think of people singing at a funeral! But then, I find funerals offputting, which is why I’m not having one! Friends can congregate at a local bar and clink glasses for a bit if they wish to celebrate either my life or my demise! 😉
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It is just as legitimate not to hold a funeral service at all as it is to hold one, as well as its arrangement. It always depends on the people involved and the wishes of the deceased. That is what counts. In this case, the deceased woman was an example of the joy of life and humanity. The family itself has been very close-knit and the family wanted to express that again. It was very heartfelt, personal, and positively touching.
I, personally, don’t want a grave. I want to be cremated and my ashes spread over my favorite places. But there might be a service, I said, I don’t want anyone go there in black and only joyful songs. Again, it depends on the people involved and whatever they do is completely ok.
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You’re right, of course. To each his/her own. I just think it’s an astronomical waste of money that could be better spent otherwise, but then that’s just how I think.
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Haha, I love your rational way of thinking, Jill 😄
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Thanks, my friend!!! ❤
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🤗
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A lovely song with such a sad back story. I agree with Rawgod’s recommendation of Badge, by Cream, and some of those Will Jennings co-wrote with Steve Winwood are great, too: try When You See A Chance or Back In The High Life.
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I will check some of those out, for none of them are ringing a bell just now. I’m glad you liked this one, and yes, it’s a very sad backstory.
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Hope you enjoy them!
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I will let you know!!!
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Can I call myself an Eric Clapton fan? Maybe. But it is really his work with bands such as the Bluesbreakers, the Yardbirds, Cream, and Derek and the Dominoes that I know his work best from. Cream was by far my favourite. I’ll spare you the music, though Badge might be up your alley. Still, he is still one of the best guitarists in Rock history, and that is why I appreciate him.
Being childless, I probably cannot relate to this song the way most people do. Death is just a thing that happens to all of us. Because I believe in a form of reincarnation it us not a sad event for me. One door closes, another door opens. And life goes on…
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I’ll check out some of the ones you mention. But yes, he was one of the best guitarists around! The sadness of death isn’t for the one who dies, but rather those who loved him/her and will miss them, whether it’s one’s child, parent, or friend.
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What I meant was, I see no reason for sadness. But then, I have a weird way of looking at life, compared to most people. I am not sad for me, but happy for them.
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Jill, agreed. It is heart wrenching. He performed it at the Grammy’s, I think, and I wasn’t sure he would make it through. As for the helicopter crash, he traded spots with Stevie Ray Vaughan, so one way or another, the world was going to lose one of its finest guitarists. Keith
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I imagine he had guilt feelings about having traded seats for a time, too. He had much grief in his life, didn’t he?
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Yes the song is incredibly sad. I hadn’t realized he fell from the 53rd story. I wonder how his mother has lived with that experience all these years.
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I wondered the same … apparently the maid had opened the window for some reason, but you know the mother has likely blamed herself more than a few times every day since.
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Oh, oh, oh!! Touched a nerve!! Awesome … 🫂
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Big hugs, dear Soul Sister! 🤗
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🫂🫂🫂
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