Bundle Drum Sheet & Video – Derek & The Dominos – Layla

“Layla” is a landmark in rock history — a song that channels personal heartbreak into one of the most iconic compositions ever recorded. Featured on the 1970 album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, this track is as famous for its backstory as it is for its music. Inspired by Eric Clapton’s deep, unreciprocated love for Pattie Boyd, the wife of his close friend George Harrison, “Layla” captures the raw desperation and emotional volatility of unfulfilled passion.

The song begins with a ferocious, instantly recognizable guitar riff — a collaborative spark between Clapton and Duane Allman — that serves as an electrifying cry of anguish. This first half bursts with blues-rock intensity, marked by searing solos and Clapton’s pleading vocals. Then, in a daring shift, the track transitions into a gentle, almost meditative piano coda that brings calm after the storm. This second section, with its lyrical slide guitar and haunting chord progression, evokes the quiet sadness of letting go.

With its dynamic structure, emotional weight, and legendary guitar work, “Layla” is more than a love song — it’s a sonic confession, immortalizing the pain and beauty of impossible love.