"Layla" Should Not Be Cut Short

Eric Clapton's (well technically Derek and the Dominos') "Layla" is considered to be one of rock's most definitive love songs. And, dammit, I hate it when the radio cuts out when the tune moves from the guitar to the piano coda at the end. The two movements, though composed separately, are still beautiful together. It's an absolute TRAVESTY that "Layla" gets cut short, especially considering its interesting history.

Derek and the Dominos Layla and Other Love Songs Cover, 1970

"Layla" was Clapton's love song to George Harrison's wife, Pattie Boyd. It was inspired by the Arabian tale Layla and Majnun. The tale goes that the princess Layla was married off to another man by her father, an act which drove her true lover Majnun crazy (fun fact: the name roughly translates to mad man). Clapton was told this story by a friend who was converting to Islam and related well to the story. And from this story-telling, the love song "Layla" was born.

A scene from Layla and Majnun in the wilderness together.

Eventually, Clapton played "Layla" for Pattie Boyd at a party and later confessed to George Harrison that Clapton was in love with his wife. Somehow, Clapton and Harrison maintained their friendship, but Boyd and Harrison divorced in 1974. In 1979, Boyd married Clapton at a concert stop in Arizona and Harrison, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr were all in attendance at the wedding. Clapton also wrote "Beautiful Tonight" in 1977 for Boyd before they divorced in 1989.

Now that you know all this history, you can see why it's imperative that "Layla" is played right through the piano coda. If you are a DJ or happen to know a DJ, please make them play "Layla" through. We're gonna make it a movement! Maybe I'll call it Play-la...

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