Lay Down Sally
Lay Down Sally
Lay Down Sally is a song by Eric Clapton from his 1977 album Slowhand. It was written by Clapton, Marcy Levy, and George Terry. The track blends country blues with a relaxed rock groove, inspired by J. J. Cale and Clapton’s Tulsa-based band. It was recorded at Olympic Studios in London and produced by Glyn Johns. The song runs about 3 minutes and 50 seconds.
Released as a single in November 1977, Lay Down Sally became Clapton’s biggest hit from Slowhand, reaching No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 26 on the Hot Country Songs chart. It also charted in several other countries. The B-side was Cocaine.
Performance and personnel: Clapton sang lead and played lead guitar. The band included George Terry (rhythm guitar), Carl Radle (bass), Jamie Oldaker (drums), Dick Sims (electric piano), with harmony vocals from Marcy Levy and Yvonne Elliman.
Covers and legacy: Red Sovine released a country version that reached No. 70 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1978; Jerry Garcia Band and Asleep at the Wheel also covered the song. It was used in the 2013 film August: Osage County.
Certifications: The song earned Gold records in the United States, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand.
This page was last edited on 27 January 2026, at 21:17 (CET).