Posted on by Californiacontrarian

Stand and Deliver … Again

Eric Clapton hit the headlines late last year for recording and releasing an anti-lockdown song “Stand and Deliver” — penned by fellow lockdown sceptic, the iconic vocalist Van Morrison. Stand and Deliver was just one of many songs Morrison recorded about the UK government’s approach to curbing the spread of COVID-19.

Both Clapton and Van Morrison were the victims of significant backlash because of their views that were made public in the lyrics of 

Stand and Deliver. 

 Back then Clapton wrote:

“I continue to tread the path of passive rebellion and try to tow [sic] the line in order to be able to actively love my family, but it’s hard to bite my tongue with what I now know.

“Then I was directed to Van [Morrison]; that’s when I found my voice, and even though I was singing his words, they echoed in my heart… I recorded ‘Stand and Deliver’ in 2020, and was immediately regaled with contempt and scorn.”

FYI: Stand and Deliver includes lyrics that explicitly warn against giving the government that much power.

“Do you wanna be a free man
Or do you wanna be a slave …
Do you wanna wear these chains
Until you’re lying in the grave?”

Because he is a senior citizen, Eric Clapton did get the vaccine, and unfortunately had severe side effects from the vaccine. He did receive both doses of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine.

Clapton described his experience in a letter as follows:

“I took the first jab of AZ and straight away had severe reactions which lasted ten days. I recovered eventually and was told it would be twelve weeks before the second one…,”

“About six weeks later I was offered and took the second AZ shot, but with a little more knowledge of the dangers. Needless to say the reactions were disastrous, my hands and feet were either frozen, numb or burning, and pretty much useless for two weeks, I feared I would never play again.”

For Clapton possibly never playing guitar again was a huge deal, as he is the man Rolling Stone dubbed the world’s second-best guitarist (after Jimi Hendrix).

Now Clapton is again on the receiving end of criticism because of what he said about vaccine passports and the diktat that proof of vaccination would be needed to attend concerts. Eric Clapton wants nothing to do with vaccine passports — and that includes at his own concerts.

“Following the PM’s announcement on Monday the 19th of July 2021, I feel honour bound to make an announcement of my own: I wish to say that I will not perform on any stage where there is a discriminated audience present,” Clapton said, adding, “Unless there is provision made for all people to attend, I reserve the right to cancel the show.”

Conservatives applauded Clapton’s stance, with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) tweeting, “Artists should defend individual Liberty. I very much support vaccines, but it should be your choice—not forced upon you.”

I agree with both Eric Clapton and Ted Cruz.

Long , long before I knew anything of Clapton’s political views, I loved his music. If Eric Clapton were to perform locally, I would be first in line to buy a ticket. BTW, yes I have been vaccinated, but would not care if my fellow concert attendees were vaccinated or not.

8/2/21

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