Eric Clapton, This Has Gotta Stop

Reading Time: 3 min read

Being objective is a tall task on the thought-provoking though polarizing single “This Has Gotta Stop” by legendary musician, Eric Clapton.

“T

his has gotta stop / Enough is enough / I can’t take this BS any longer.” Woo – okay! As a musician, Eric Clapton is a beast – incredibly talented. He’s a fine singer and brilliant guitarist. There are countless classics this man has been part of that are gems in my eyes, including “Presence of the Lord” ( Blind Faith), “Wonderful Tonight”, and “Tears in Heaven”. The thing is Mr. Clapton’s mouth and viewpoints have got him into trouble many times. Clapton was trending on Twitter thanks to the release of a surprise, polarizing single, “This Has Gotta Stop”. What exactly ‘has to stop,’ you may ask? Well, according to Mr. Clapton, the coronavirus BS, and we’re not talking about the virus itself… Clearly, some of his pandemic-related thoughts are unpopular opinions (understatement).

“It’s gone far enough / If you wanna claim my soul / You’ll have to come break down this door.” Okay… So, Eric Clapton fears a potential government mandate for COVID-19 vaccination and he’s not going to accept it. There’s that and of course, it’s controversial given the casualties of the pandemic. As we know, Clapton has refused to play at venues requiring proof of vaccination. Worth noting, he’s vaccinated himself, but dislikes the effects of his vaccination, evidenced on the first verse:

“I can’t move my hands
I break out in sweat
I wanna cry
Can’t take it anymore.”

So, the aftereffects aren’t worth it, and he’s sick of this BS. The second verse is about ‘freedom’ from restrictions, we assume: “And I’m used to being free / I know who I am / Try to do what’s right / So, lock me up and throw away the key.” Maybe more thought provoking is the final verse, where Clapton reflects on the future for his family and his own mortality: “The light in the tunnel / Could be the southbound train / Lord, please help them with their load.”

Final Thoughts

“This Has Gotta Stop” is a lot to be honest – lyrically and thematically. It’s polarizing, period. I guess if you’re anti-vax and don’t approve of mandates, even in a global pandemic, you’re onboard with Mr. Clapton. Personally, his views aren’t my cup of tea. That said, regarding reactions to his vaccination, it does affect people differently, but that doesn’t mean everyone will have the severe reaction he did. Musically, however, Eric Clapton sounds fine. He sounds respectable for 76 years old. The production by Clapton and Simon Climie is a selling point. Still, all said and done, this song doesn’t move me, nor is it aimed toward me which makes it hard to connect with. Furthermore, I don’t see this as a truly impactful song that’ll stand the test of time in his illustrious catalog. Just my opinion of course. I still greatly respect him as a musician.