For one year in 1969, the band Blind Faith existed. After Eric Clapton had left Cream and Steve Winwood had left Traffic, the two formed a “super group” with drummer Ginger Baker and bass-player Ric Grech. They created one self-titled album and did one tour, and that was it. But during that time, they created some great music, including “Presence of the Lord.”
Clapton wrote “Presence of the Lord,” although Winwood handles lead vocals on the recording. The song conveys an image of one finding peace.
Everybody knows the secret,
Everybody knows the score.
I have finally found a place to live
In the presence of the Lord.
Some have written about the spiritual and religious nature of the song. Others have noted that it may have been inspired by Clapton finding peace in his own life after finding a new place to live.
In the fascinating documentary, Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars (2017), Clapton explained that the song’s line “I have finally found a place to live” is about his love for Patty Boyd. At the time, she was married to his friend George Harrison, and Clapton’s feelings for her would inspire several songs. The anguish would be reflected a few years later in the Derek and the Dominos song, “Layla.” Clapton and Boyd married a decade later, but the marriage did not last.
Regardless of the true meaning behind the song, Clapton’s guitar playing and Winwood’s voice help take the song to a higher plane. Below, Blind Faith performs “Presence of the Lord” at the band’s first performance, live in London’s Hyde Park on June 7, 1969.
In October of that year, the band released a press release saying they had broken up.
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