Lee first experienced commercial success as the lead guitarist with Chris Farlowe and the Thunderbirds. Quitting the Thunderbirds in 1968, Lee joined Heads Hands & Feet in 1969 until the breakup in 1973.
In 1974 Lee left the UK for Los Angeles, California, and joined The Crickets through his friend bassist Rick Grech (of Blind Faith). The band cut three albums together including A Long Way From Lubbock. By then Lee was receiving many offers of session work. In 1976, Lee was asked to join Emmylou Harris's Hot Band, replacing one of his heroes, James Burton, who was returning to perform with Elvis Presley. Starting in 1978, Lee worked for five years with Eric Clapton, playing and singing for a live concert recording at the Budokan in Japan.
Lee was responsible for The Everly Brothers 1983 reunion concert and was its musical director. He played regularly with the Everlys for over twenty years.
In 1987, Lee was invited by Gerry Hogan to headline at a steel guitar festival in Newbury, Berkshire. Lee was at first intimidated by the prospect of having to front a band, however, the gig was successful and he now tours with Hogan's Heroes on a regular basis.
A new Albert Lee and Hogan's Heroes album entitled Like This was released in spring 2008 to coincide with their European tour. Lee continues to work in the studio and tours on a regular basis with Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings.
Born To Run
Albert Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No man is a master to me I ain't that kind
I just put on my traveling shoes
If you wanna win you just can't lose the time
Or stay behind
Well I was born to run
To get ahead of the rest
And all that I wanted was to be the best
I was born to be fast I was born to run
Well I take the chances sometimes I've made mistakes
But you don't get nothing unless you take the breaks
Living as dangerous as dynamite
Sure makes you feel nervous but it makes you feel alright
Makes you feel alright
Well I was born to run
To get ahead of the rest
And all that I wanted was to be the best
Just to feel free and be someone
I was born to be fast I was born to run
Nobody's gonna make me do things their way
By the time you figure it out it's yesterday
Well it comes to he who waits I'm told
But I don't need it when I'm old and gray
Yea I want it today
Well I was born to run
To get ahead of the rest
And all that I wanted was to be the best
Just to feel free and be someone
I was born to be fast I was born to run
In the song "Born to Run" by Albert Lee, the singer asserts his independence and determination to live life on his own terms. He rejects the idea of following anyone else's lead or being a "master" for anyone else. Rather, he is focused on his own goals and aspirations, which involve traveling, taking risks, and ultimately coming out on top. He recognizes that success requires taking chances and making mistakes, but he is determined to keep moving forward, even if it makes him "feel nervous."
The repeated refrain of "I was born to run" emphasizes the singer's sense of his own destiny and the almost compulsive nature of his drive to succeed. He feels that he is uniquely suited to pursue his dreams, and he rejects the idea of waiting for success to come to him. For him, the satisfaction of being the best, of feeling free and being someone, is worth any risk or potential failure.
Overall, the song celebrates the thrill of the chase, the excitement of pursuing one's goals and dreams, and the importance of forging one's own path in life. It encourages listeners to embrace their own passions and to have the courage to pursue them, no matter what obstacles may lie in the way.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I never did crawl and I never did toe that line
I have always been independent and never followed anyone's rules or orders.
No man is a master to me I ain't that kind
I do not bow down to anyone's authority or control; I am not that type of person.
I just put on my traveling shoes
I am always on the go and ready for new adventures and experiences.
If you wanna win you just can't lose the time
In order to succeed, you must not waste any time and always be focused on your goal.
Or stay behind
If you do not strive for success, you will be left behind in life.
Well I was born to run
I was born to live life on the edge and always be on the move.
To get ahead of the rest
To be the best and stand out from the crowd.
And all that I wanted was to be the best
My only desire is to achieve greatness in everything I do.
Just to feel free and be someone
To be liberated from constraints and become a person of significance and importance.
I was born to be fast I was born to run
I was destined to live at a fast pace and always be on the move.
Well I take the chances sometimes I've made mistakes
I am not afraid to take risks and make mistakes along the way.
But you don't get nothing unless you take the breaks
You cannot achieve success unless you take the opportunities presented to you.
Living as dangerous as dynamite
Living life on the edge can be risky and unpredictable, like a stick of dynamite.
Sure makes you feel nervous but it makes you feel alright
Taking risks can be nerve-wracking, but it also provides a sense of excitement and fulfillment.
Nobody's gonna make me do things their way
I am my own person and will not be forced into doing things someone else's way.
By the time you figure it out it's yesterday
If you take too long to make a decision, you will miss out on opportunities that were once available.
Well it comes to he who waits I'm told
Patience is key in life; good things come to those who wait.
But I don't need it when I'm old and gray
I do not want to wait until I am old and no longer able to enjoy life to achieve my goals.
Yea I want it today
I want to achieve greatness and fulfillment in my life today, not tomorrow or in the distant future.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL KENNERLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James Ryan
Cracking track . Albert is the man
Joh Mcinally
Absolute Gold Albert.😊😊😊
Richard Lane
I agree with you that this version is the best.!
Sylvio Bertoli
Awesome!
Kristofer Newton
He's Sure keepin' my fingers Busy...WORKIN.
Kristofer Newton
...GOOD GOLLY...GEE!!!