Song of the Day 11/27: Blind Faith, “Presence of the Lord”

“Presence of the Lord,” Eric Clapton’s contribution to Blind Faith’s only album in 1969, was his first outing as a lyricist. Its message is personal, but Steve Winwood delivers it — Clapton set it in a key (A minor) above what he considered his own range.

After Blind Faith’s demise, Clapton started singing it himself, and he does a fair Winwood impersonation on most versions you’ll find on YouTube. They sing it together in this video clip from 2007, when Winwood joined Clapton in concert. Considering that this concert came 38 years after the band evaporated, I can forgive the audience for not realizing the song wasn’t over when it breaks for Clapton’s wah-wah workout.