The story behind
Eric Clapton wrote Let It Grow for his album 461 Ocean Boulevard, released in 1974. The song has a smooth rhythm, with acoustic and dobro, and feels like a reflective ballad. At the beginning, there is a reference to Crossroads, a song that Clapton used to play with Cream. The lyrics talk about making difficult decisions, but also about growing in love for oneself and others. Some say the song resembles Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin, something that Clapton acknowledged years later. Yvonne Elliman's voice accompanies the track, which ends with an instrumental conclusion that feels deep and emotional. The song was included in several of Clapton's compilations, such as Timepieces and Complete Clapton. ↓ Skip to chordsVerse 1
Bm F#7
D E
G A Bm
F#7
D/A E/G#
G A B
Chorus 1
B F#/A# G#m B/F#
E B A
B F#/A# G#m B/F#
E B A F#
Verse 2
Bm F#7/A#
D/A E
G A
Bm F#7/A#
D/A E/G#
G A B
Chorus 2
B F#/A# G#m B/F#
E B A
B F#/A# G#m B/F#
E B A F#
Solo 1
G D/F# Em Bm A
G D/F# Em Bm F#
Interlude 1
Bm F#7/A# D/A E/G# G A
Bm F#7/A# D/A E/G# G A
Verse 3
Bm F#7/A#
D/A E/G#
G A Bm
F#7/A#
D/A E/G#
G A B
Chorus 3
B F#/A# G#m B/F#
E B A
B F#/A# G#m B/F#
E B A
Chorus 4
B F#/A# G#m B/F#
E B A
B F#/A# G#m B/F#
E B A F#
Outro 1
Bm F#7/A# D/A E/G# G A
Bm F#7/A# D/A E/G# G A
Repeat and fade
Verse 1
Bm F#7
D E
G A Bm
F#7
D/A E/G#
G A B
Chorus 1
B F#/A# B[G#m
E B A
B F#/A# G#m B/F#
E B A F#
Verse 2
Bm F#7/A#
D/A E
G A
Bm F#7/A#
D/A E/G#
G A B
Chorus 2
B F#/A# B[G#m
E B A
B F#/A# G#m B/F#
E B A F#
Solo 1
G D/F# Em Bm
E|---------3-------2----------------|----------------------------------| B|---------------------3------------|---------0-------3----------------| G|-4-----------------------2--------|-----0---------------4------------| D|-----------------------------2----|-------------------------4--------| A|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
A
E|----------------------------------| B|-----------------2----------------| G|-------------------------2--------| D|---------2------------------------| A|-0--------------------------------| E|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4
G D/F# Em Bm
E|---------3-------2----------------|----------------------------------| B|---------------------3------------|-------------0---3----------------| G|-4-----------------------2--------|---------0-----------4------------| D|----------------------------------|-2-----------------------4--------| A|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
F#
E|-------------------------2--------|----------------------------------| B|-----------------2----------------|-----14------11----------(11)-----| G|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| D|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| A|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| E|-2--------------------------------|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Interlude 1
Bm F#7/A# D/A E/G# G A
Bm F#7/A# D/A E/G#
E|-7---------------9----------------|-10----------------------7--------| B|-------------7---------------7----|-------------7-------9------------| G|----------------------------------|---------7-------9----------------| D|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| A|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
G A
E|---------7---------------9--------| B|-8-------------------10-----------| G|-7---------------9----------------| D|----------------------------------| A|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4
Verse 3
Bm F#7/A#
D/A E/G#
G A Bm
F#7/A#
D/A E/G#
G A B
Chorus 3
B F#/A# B[G#m
E B A
B F#/A# G#m B/F#
E B A
Chorus 4
B F#/A# B[G#m
E B A
B F#/A# G#m B/F#
E B A F#
Outro 1
Bm F#7/A# D/A E/G#
E|-7---------------9----------------|-10----------10--9---7------------| B|-----7-------7-----------7--------|---------7---------------7---9----| G|---------7-------------------7----|-----7----------------------------| D|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| A|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
G A
E|---------7---------------9--------| B|-----8---------------10-----------| G|-7---------------9----------------| D|----------------------------------| A|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4
Bm F#7/A# D/A E/G#
E|---------7-------9----------------|---------10------9---7------------| B|-----7-------------------7--------|-----7-------------------7---9----| G|-7---------------------------7----|----------------------------------| D|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| A|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
G A
E|---------7---------------9--------| B|-----8---------------10-----------| G|-7---------------9----------------| D|----------------------------------| A|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4
From the album
461 Ocean Boulevard
Eric Clapton · 1974 · Track 8