The Healing Journey

March 20, 2026

Legendary guitarist and singer Eric Clapton wrote the song “Tears in Heaven” about the death of his 4-year-old son Conor, who was killed from falling out an apartment window in New York City on March 20, 1991.

Clapton had Conor with Lory Del Santo, an Italian actress and model. After his son’s death, Clapton isolated himself for a while and dealt with his grief by writing the song. Will Jennings, who wrote some of the lyrics, said the “song was so personal and so sad that it is unique in my experience of writing songs.”

The song appeared on the soundtrack of the movie “Rush” in 1991 and became Clapton’s best selling single in the United States and received three Grammy awards.

In an interview, he said, “I almost subconsciously used music for myself as a healing agent, and lo and behold, it worked… I have got a great deal of happiness and a great deal of healing from music.”

To hear Eric Clapton sing “Tears in Heaven,” click here: (https://youtu.be/tUU1GLMdnkM)

Tears in Heaven

Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same
If I saw you in heaven?

Chorus
I must be strong
And carry on
′Cause I know I don’t belong
Here in heaven

Would you hold my hand
If I saw you in heaven?
Would you help me stand
If I saw you in heaven?

Chorus
I′ll find my way
Through night and day
‘Cause I know I just can’t stay
Here in heaven.

Time can bring you down
Time can bend your knees.
Time can break your heart
Have you begging please
Begging please.

Chorus
Beyond the door
There′s peace, I′m sure
And I know there’ll be no more
Tears in heaven

Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would you be the same
If I saw you in heaven?

Chorus
I must be strong
And carry on
′Cause I know I don’t belong
Here in heaven.
©Eric Patrick Clapton and Will Jennings

***