I Will Be There

Album: I Still Do (2016)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was written by Paul Brady and John O'Kane; it first appeared on Brady's 1995 album Spirits Colliding. Mary Black released a popular version on her 1997 album Shine. The song is about being there for someone in good times and bad.
  • One "Angelo Mysterioso" is credited for acoustic guitar and vocals on this song. George Harrison used a near-identical pseudonym when he played on "Badge," the tune he and Clapton wrote on Cream's 1969 album, Goodbye. As a result, there was speculation that this was a track the former Beatle had left behind.

    Clapton told Guitar World the mystery collaborator wasn't Harrison. "No, it's not George," he said. "Well, the thing is, the person wishes to remain anonymous. So we came to that arrangement, and we both thought it was the best idea, for one reason or another. And I can't even tell you that much. I'm sworn to secrecy, and I hope he is, too. But I quite liked it."
  • Clapton admitted that he enjoyed the speculation. "I heard there were rumors about it being George," he said, "and I thought that was great because it's nice that people know about that story. That's why we used to do it a lot, and I still like to do that now. I've been that 'angel' sometimes. George was, and now there's someone else. So I can't say who it is, but I like the speculation."
  • Later speculation as to the identity of "Angelo Mysterioso" centered on Ed Sheeran after he and Clapton performed the song together in Japan in 2016. The following year, Eric Clapton provided guest guitar under the "Angelo Mysterioso" pseudonym on the Ed Sheeran track "Dive."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Mike Campbell

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Rick Astley

Rick AstleySongwriter Interviews

Rick Astley on "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Cry For Help," and his remarkable resurgence that gave him another #1 UK album.

U2

U2Fact or Fiction

How did The Edge get his name? Did they name a song after a Tolkien book? And who is "Angel of Harlem" about?

Christopher Cross

Christopher CrossSongwriter Interviews

The man who created Yacht Rock with "Sailing" wrote one of his biggest hits while on acid.

Cy Curnin of The Fixx

Cy Curnin of The FixxSongwriter Interviews

The man who brought us "Red Skies" and "Saved By Zero" is now an organic farmer in France.