Do you want to see me crawl across the floor to you?
Do you want to hear me beg you to take me back?
I’d gladly do it…

Along with Cream and Blind Faith, Derrick and the Dominoes was another Eric Clapton led band. It was short lived. They produced one album. But it was amazing. In “Bell Bottom Blues” Clapton has it bad for some woman (I assume she wore bell bottoms?). He loves her even though she treats him poorly, and he wants more. (It would be interesting how the reception of this song would have been had it been released by a woman.)

He doesn’t care if he has to beg. He’ll gladly do it. Whatever it takes. In the end he even half threatens her that he will find someone new if she doesn’t take him back. This song deals with very raw, unprocessed and unfiltered emotions and that is why it is so powerful.

Unique to “Bell Bottom Blues” is the guitar work. It sounds like dueling guitars…especially throughout the verses. It sounds almost improvised. The guitars are also extremely distorted for the time period. This was some hard rock at the time. We also catch a rare glimpse of Clapton’s falsetto, and also some attempts at harmonizing.

Also, you can hear the difference between a Cream song and a Derrick and the Dominoes song if you listen to the drumbeat. Ginger Baker of Cream played much more complex beats.

Bell Bottom Blues Lyrics

Bell bottom blues, you made me cry.
I don’t want to lose this feeling.
And if I could choose a place to die
It would be in your arms.

Do you want to see me crawl across the floor to you?
Do you want to hear me beg you to take me back?
I’d gladly do it because
I don’t want to fade away.
Give me one more day, please.
I don’t want to fade away.
In your heart I want to stay.

It’s all wrong, but it’s all right.
The way that you treat me baby.
Once I was strong but I lost the fight.
You won’t find a better loser.

Do you want to see me crawl across the floor to you?
Do you want to hear me beg you to take me back?
I’d gladly do it because
I don’t want to fade away.
Give me one more day, please.
I don’t want to fade away.
In your heart I want to stay.

Do you want to see me crawl across the floor to you?
Do you want to hear me beg you to take me back?
I’d gladly do it because
I don’t want to fade away.
Give me one more day, please.
I don’t want to fade away.
In your heart I want to stay.

Bell bottom blues, don’t say goodbye.
I’m sure we’re gonna meet again,
And if we do, don’t you be surprised
If you find me with another lover.

Do you want to see me crawl across the floor to you?
Do you want to hear me beg you to take me back?
I don’t want to fade away.
Give me one more day, please.
I don’t want to fade away.
In your heart I want to stay.

I don’t want to fade away.
Give me one more day please.
I don’t want to fade away.
In your heart I long to stay.

I don’t want to fade away.
Give me one more day please.
I don’t want to fade away.
In your heart I long to stay.

Songwriters: Eric Patrick Clapton / Bobby Whitlock