The Call – English Lyrics

• By: Eric Clapton
• Album: Meanwhile

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Eric Clapton's recent release, "The Call," a song rich with blues, rock, and gospel influences that offers a profound reflection on memory and connection. Its poignant lyrics and evocative soundscape make it an excellent choice for language learners to explore English vocabulary related to emotion, memory, and personal history, while appreciating Clapton's masterful storytelling and guitar work. What makes this song special is its ability to convey deep universal feelings through simple, relatable imagery, making the English accessible and engaging.

[English]

Got a message last night

Came through loud and clear

Called you right back

But there's no one there

Sounded so sad

Tried the other phone

Either you're gone

Or you're all alone

The tone of your voice

Sounded so weird

Like you've been drinking

After all these years

Set me to thinking

About those bad good old days

Corners we cut

And all the halls we played

The scenes that we stole

The hell we raised

In spite of it all

The music we played

The music God made

...

Remember those sisters

With the shiny black hair

One fell in love

One didn't dare

Sounded so sweet

One high, one low

Where are they now?

Nobody knows

Still got some pictures

You still got my shirt

You know the one

I let you wear to work

Remember that night

We both nearly cried

Singing that song

Somebody dies

Somebody died

...

Show that you noticed

Still out on the road

Singing them songs

To bring it all back home

I give you a shout

When you're somewhere near

You could come on out

It's not far from here

You could come on out

And you might even play

Just one more time

For old time sake

For old time sake

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
message /ˈmɛs.ɪdʒ/ B1	noun - a piece of information or communication sent or received
voice /vɔɪs/ A2	noun - the sound produced by humans when speaking or singing
tone /toʊn/ B1	noun - the quality or character of sound
drinking /ˈdrɪŋkɪŋ/ B2	verb - the act of consuming liquids
scenes /siːnz/ B2	noun - a sequence of continuous pictures in a movie or play, or a setting in life
raised /ˈreɪzd/ B2	verb - moved to a higher position or level
sisters /ˈsɪs.tərz/ A2	noun - female siblings
cried /kraɪd/ A2	verb - to produce tears as a response to emotion
died /daɪd/ A2	verb - ceased to live
bring /brɪŋ/ A2	verb - to carry or cause to come with one
play /pleɪ/ A2	verb - to perform or engage in activity for entertainment
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - a point or period when something happens

Key Grammar Structures

• Got a message last night

  ➔ Past Simple

  ➔ The verb "got" (past tense of "get") indicates a completed action in the past.

• Called you right back

  ➔ Past Simple (action completed in the past)

  ➔ The verb "Called" (past tense of "call") shows an action finished in the past.

• Like you've been drinking

  ➔ Present Perfect Continuous

  ➔ The phrase "'ve been drinking" (present perfect continuous) describes an action that started in the past and continues or has recently stopped, with emphasis on the duration or the result (being drunk).

• Set me to thinking

  ➔ Past Simple (passive meaning, caused to think)

  ➔ "Set" (past tense of "set") can be interpreted as causing the speaker to start thinking, indirectly in the past.

• Remember those sisters

  ➔ Imperative + object

  ➔ The verb "Remember" is an imperative, giving a command or a strong suggestion. It's followed by the direct object "those sisters."

• One didn't dare

  ➔ Past Simple with modal verb "dare"

  ➔ The verb "didn't dare" uses the past simple of the modal verb "dare", indicating a lack of courage or willingness in the past.

• You know the one

  ➔ Present Simple, definite article, object of a clause

  ➔ "know" is in the present simple. "the one" is a noun phrase, referring to a specific thing (the shirt), and the object of the following clause.

• I let you wear to work

  ➔ Past Simple, causative verb "let" + infinitive

  ➔ "let" (past tense of "let") followed by "wear" indicates that the speaker allowed someone to wear the shirt to work.

• You could come on out

  ➔ Modal verb "could" + infinitive

  ➔ "could" is a modal verb expressing possibility or a polite invitation.