“Tears in Heaven” is a deeply emotional ballad by Eric Clapton, released in December 1991 with “Tracks and Lines” on the B-side. The song was written in response to the tragic death of Clapton’s four-year-old son, Conor Clapton, who fell from a 53rd-floor window of a New York apartment in March 1991. The heartbreak and grief Clapton experienced following this loss became the foundation for one of his most personal and moving compositions.
Lyrically, Tears in Heaven explores themes of loss, sorrow, and the hope of reunion in the afterlife. The lyrics reflect the deep pain of losing a loved one and the longing for comfort and understanding. The song’s introspective tone makes it one of the most poignant tributes to loss in popular music.
The song is a soft, acoustic ballad, featuring a gentle guitar melody, delicate instrumentation, and Clapton’s subdued yet heartfelt vocals. Co-written with Will Jennings, the song was stripped of Clapton’s usual blues-rock style in favor of a more intimate and understated arrangement. The simplicity of the music allows the emotional weight of the lyrics to take center stage.
The song was a commercial and critical success, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and winning three Grammy Awards in 1993, including Song of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. It was also featured on the soundtrack for the film Rush (1991) and later appeared on Clapton’s MTV Unplugged (1992) album, which further solidified its impact.
“Tears In Heaven” is featured also on Clapton’s greatest hits compilation albums, “Clapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton” (1999), “Complete Clapton” (2007), and “Forever Man” (2015)