We’re All the Way (1977) – Eric Clapton

I came to this song only recently when I was researching the music of country great Don Williams and his close friendship with guitar legend Eric Clapton. Clapton first saw Williams perform as a musical guest on the syndicated Dinah Shore variety show in April 1976, and they later met in person in England during Clapton’s 1976 tour.

They always seemed an unlikely pairing to me, but it became clear that each man’s music had quite an impact on the other. For example, Eric began embracing a more country-influenced sound with songs like Lay Down Sally. But the real clincher, at least for me, was today’s featured song – We’re All the Way.

I think it’s one of Eric Clapton’s finest yet most underrated songs. Not just that, but for someone like yours truly, who has been listening to the music of the gentle giant Don Williams for nearly all my life and has featured his music here so prominently, We’re All the Way seems about as close as Eric could come to sounding just like his good friend Don Williams. Not surprising, really, since… (drum roll please)… it was written by Don Williams in 1976. Ta-daaa! Here’s Don’s version.

After he and Don met, Eric seemed to embody a smoother, more relaxed style in his singing, and it couldn’t have been on silkier display than in We’re All the Way. There’s so much to the texture and feel of the song, and it’s got these magical guitar interludes that seem to twinkle.

It also possesses my favourite singing by Clapton – the style that moves me the most. Very tender and sensitive, not unlike the voice he uses in his iconic romantic masterpiece Wonderful Tonight, which shan’t be too long from featuring here.

[Verse 1]
There’s no cause to think that I won’t stay
Haven’t I been with you all the way?
There’s no time like now to make amends
After all, we are more than friends

[Chorus]
This could be the time for you and me
We could go wherever we should be
So don’t put words between us we shouldn’t say
And don’t be acting halfway
When you know we’re all the way

[Verse 2]
There are times when I don’t see the light
I don’t know if what I do is right
But when I’m wrong, it’s never meant for you
So don’t confuse my words with what I do

[Chorus]
This could be the time for you and me
We could go wherever we should be
So don’t put words between us we shouldn’t say
And don’t be acting halfway
When you know we’re all the way