Before You Accuse Me

Album: Journeyman (1989)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song was written and originally recorded by the rock pioneer Bo Diddley in 1957. The composer credits are listed as his real name: Ellas McDaniel. Clapton released the song as the B-side of "Bad Love," the first single from Journeyman.
  • Clapton used to perform this song in his early days with The Yardbirds. He never considered putting it on a record until guitarist Robert Cray and drummer Jim Keltner started jamming on the tune one day in the studio during the Journeyman sessions. The Cray/Clapton combo on this song make it a favorite of guitar aficionados.
  • Creedence Clearwater Revival recorded this on their Cosmo's Factory album. The song was covered by The 13th Floor Elevators, a marginally successful 1960s psychedelic band from Austin. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Mason - San Antonio, TX

Comments: 6

  • Mike from Syracuse, NyI am looking at the liner notes to the "Journeyman" CD by Eric Clapton, and the writing credit for this song is listed as, "Written by E. McDaniel c 1957, 1985..." That is Ellas McDaniel, aka Bo Diddley. In 1957, Bo Diddley released his self-titled first album and this song is on side one, track 4. Once and for all Gene McDaniels DID NOT WRITE this song, Bo Diddley wrote it.
  • Nady from Adelaide, AustraliaWhen I get a cat Im gonna call it Bo Diddley:)
  • Brian from Detroit, MoThis song is CORRECTLY credited to Bo Diddley (Ellas McDaniel). A few website incorrectly credit Gene McDaniels.
  • K.p. from XEric did a video of this and several other songs in a romantic comedy where he played the leading man opposite his long time lover Debra Hunter. It was never released but present was Mary Hart of ET who ask Debra what the name of the movie will be and she said she didn't know yet. Debra also was in videos of Hounddog, Lead Me On, & Someone Like You in the movie, and Eric did Breaking Point and Cocaine, and they quoted songs all thru the movie. It was made in Arlington, Tarrant Co. Texas at Players singles bar in Jul 1984 as a birthday gift to Debra from Eric who was hanging out in Texas for a few years after she left some other state. Eric and Debra named thier first daughter Layla.
  • Mike from Hueytown , AlI love the CCR version ..Clapton does great with it too
  • Matt from Chicago, IlA great blues song. The crowd really gets into it on the Unplugged Album.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie Combination

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie CombinationSong Writing

In 1986, a Stephen King novella was made into a movie, with a classic song serving as title, soundtrack and tone.

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real Group

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real GroupSong Writing

The leader of the Modern A Cappella movement talks about the genre.

Jeff Trott

Jeff TrottSongwriter Interviews

Sheryl Crow's longtime songwriting partner/guitarist Jeff Trott reveals the stories behind many of the singer's hits, and what its like to be a producer for Leighton Meester and Max Gomez.

Michael Schenker

Michael SchenkerSongwriter Interviews

The Scorpions and UFO guitarist is also a very prolific songwriter - he explains how he writes with his various groups, and why he was so keen to get out of Germany and into England.

Loudon Wainwright III

Loudon Wainwright IIISongwriter Interviews

"Dead Skunk" became a stinker for Loudon when he felt pressure to make another hit - his latest songs deal with mortality, his son Rufus, and picking up poop.

Little Big Town

Little Big TownSongwriter Interviews

"When seeds that you sow grow by the wicked moon/Be sure your sins will find you out/Your past will hunt you down and turn to tell on you."