I’m with you my love/
The light’s shining through on you.

“Sunshine of Your Love” is Cream’s most famous song. What is great about this song is that there are three excellent musicians playing very distinct parts that somehow meld together to form a great song.

Clapton played lead guitar, Bruce played bass and Ginger Baker played drums; all are considered pioneers of their instruments, and you can hear that here. Baker’s part seems the most “out there”. You won’t hear this beat used on another song. Clapton’s guitar part is the more recognizable—and iconic performance.

The lyrics of “Sunshine of Your Love” don’t seem to be an incredible focus of the band. It sounds like the narrator is looking forward to being with his woman—perhaps after a late night performing. And after he’s finished with the lovemaking, he is going to stay around and they will bask in the glow of each other’s love. It is a kind-of sweet sentiment, I guess.

More Great Songs from Clapton.

Sunshine of Your Love Lyrics

It’s getting near dawn,
When lights close their tired eyes
I’ll soon be with you my love,
To give you my dawn surprise
I’ll be with you darling soon,
I’ll be with you when the stars start falling

I’ve been waiting so long
To be where I’m going
In the sunshine of your love

I’m with you my love,
The light’s shining through on you
Yes, I’m with you my love,
It’s the morning and just we two
I’ll stay with you darling now,
I’ll stay with you till my seas are dried up

I’ve been waiting so long
To be where I’m going
In the sunshine of your love

I’m with you my love,
The light’s shining through on you.
Yes, I’m with you my love,
It’s the morning and just we two.
I’ll stay with you darling now,
I’ll stay with you till my seas are dried up

I’ve been waiting so long
I’ve been waiting so long
I’ve been waiting so long
To be where I’m going
In the sunshine of your love

Songwriters: Eric Patrick Clapton / Jack Bruce / Peter Constantine Brown / Peter Ronald Brown

Love is an angel disguised as lust/
Here in our bed until the morning comes.

“Because The Night” is one of Bruce Springsteen’s best songs, but he didn’t want to record it, so he gave it to Patti Smith. This would be her only hit. Perhaps it would sound creepy if a guy was singing it—I don’t know. The lyrics are pretty intense; very lusty. The emotion on this is similar to his “I’m on Fire”, so he could have pulled it off. I am not aware of a Springsteen recording of this, but I am not a Springsteen aficionado.

For another good version of this song check out the MTV Unplugged 10,000 Maniacs version where Natalie Merchant sings lead.

The three different melodies for the verse, chorus and bridge on Because the Night are amazing. Each blend together great and are memorable. The bridge is especially good. Sometimes I feel like those are the hardest to really nail. Smith’s voice sounds great—somewhat raw. The production is top notch; Jimmy Iovine at the top of his game. The song ventures far from the gentle piano intro into a hard guitar rock song by the end.

Because the Night Lyrics

Take me now, baby, here as I am
Pull me close, try and understand
Desire is hunger is the fire I breathe
Love is a banquet on which we feed

Come on now try and understand
The way I feel when I’m in your hands
Take my hand come undercover
They can’t hurt you now
Can’t hurt you now, can’t hurt you now

Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to lust
Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to us

Have I doubt when I’m alone
Love is a ring, the telephone
Love is an angel disguised as lust
Here in our bed until the morning comes

Come on now try and understand
The way I feel under your command
Take my hand as the sun descends
They can’t touch you now
Can’t touch you now, can’t touch you now

Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to lust
Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to us

With love we sleep
With doubt the vicious circle
Turn and burns
Without you I cannot live
Forgive, the yearning burning
I believe it’s time, too real to feel
So touch me now, touch me now, touch me now

Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to lust
Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to us
Because tonight there are two lovers
If we believe in the night we trust
Because tonight belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to lust
Because tonight belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to lust
written by Bruce Springsteen

Why wait any longer for the one you love?
When he’s standing in front of you.

“Lay Lady Lay” may be Bob Dylan’s most unique sounding recording. His voice sounds in top form and there is a unique effect on it that was never captured again. The instrumentation that created that one-time sound was a mix of pedal-steel guitar, organ and the unique hollow sound from the drums.

Dylan is well-known as one of the best artists to cover. It is because his songs are usually so ripe with material and he also under-produces his material. “Lay Lady Lay” is one of the songs that I can’t imagine will be topped with a superior sounding cover version. This version is amazing.

The lyrics are not subtle, which is a nice contrast to some of Dylan’s other work. He seems to be making an “argument” to a woman about why it is a good idea for her to spend the night with him. The argument is not complex; it basically boils down to “why not, it feels good, we’re both here and we can.”

Lay Lady Lay Lyrics

Lay lady lay-
Lay across my big brass bed.
Lay lady lay-
Lay across my big brass bed.

Whatever colors you have in your mind,
I show them to you and you see them shine.

Lay lady lay-
Lay across my big brass bed.
Stay lady stay-
Stay with your man a while.
Until the break of day
Let me see you make him smile.

His clothes are dirty but his, his hands are clean;
And you are the best thing that he’s ever seen.

Stay lady stay
Stay with your man a while.

Why wait any longer for the world to begin?
You can have your cake and eat it too.
Why wait any longer for the one you love?
When he’s standing in front of you.

Lay lady lay-
Lay across my big brass bed.
Stay lady stay-
Stay while the night is still ahead.

I long to see you in the morning light;
I long to reach for you in the night.
Stay lady stay-
Stay while the night is still ahead.

written by Bob Dylan