Lay Down Sally

Clapton, a musical legend, was by no means as great at grammar as he was at music.

In his song Lay Down Sally, the mistake is within the title.

This is because the correct way to say this would be, “Lie Down Sally..”

To say, “lay down Sally” would imply that someone should take Sally and physically lay her down. Lie down Sally would mean that he wants her to lie down in his arms, or wherever. Use the word “lay” when you are physically moving an object, and lie when the subject moves on its own.

However, lay and lie become more difficult as you change verbs. Look at the chart below to learn the difference in different tenses.

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