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.
Setting Me Up
Albert Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well the word is out and I learned.
I got the latest side of the story;
You're pulling out before you get burned.
Well your hands are squeezing me down to the bone.
I never saw you breaking no law.
Stands to reason I've got to leave you alone.
[Chorus:]
Setting me up to put me down.
Making me out to be your clown.
Setting me up to put me down.
You better give it up, baby,
Quit your messing around.
You think I care about your reaction,
You think I don't understand.
All you wanted was a piece of the action,
Now you talk about another man.
[Chorus: x2]
In Albert Lee's song Setting Me Up, the lyrics describe a situation where someone is being used and manipulated by their partner. At the beginning of the song, the singer is told that they are great and bound for glory, but soon realizes that their partner is only in it for themselves as they are pulling out before they get burned. The partner's hands are squeezing the singer down to the bone, but they have not broken any laws, so the singer needs to leave them alone. The singer questions why they are being taken advantage of, as they are being set up to be put down and made out to be a clown.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Setting me up to put me down" and emphasizes the message that the singer is being used and manipulated. The partner doesn't care about the singer's reaction to their actions and only wanted a piece of the action. The partner now talks about another man, indicating they have moved on to the next target. The lyrics highlight the singer's realization and frustration with being used by their partner.
Overall, Setting Me Up is a cautionary tale about being aware of those who may be manipulating and using you for their own gain. It encourages people to be vigilant and conscious of those who may not have their best interests at heart.
Line by Line Meaning
You say I'm the greatest and bound for glory.
You compliment me by saying I am amazing and destined for success.
Well the word is out and I learned.
I heard rumors and I understand the truth.
I got the latest side of the story;
I have the most recent and complete version of the events.
You're pulling out before you get burned.
You're withdrawing from this situation to avoid getting hurt.
Well your hands are squeezing me down to the bone.
You're applying force to me with your hands, causing significant pain.
I never saw you breaking no law.
I did not witness you violating any laws.
Stands to reason I've got to leave you alone.
It is logical for me to stay away from you.
What are you taking me for?
What kind of impression do you have of me?
[Chorus:] Setting me up to put me down. Making me out to be your clown. Setting me up to put me down. You better give it up, baby, Quit your messing around.
You're planning to deceive me and make me look foolish. You need to stop playing games and be honest with me.
You think I care about your reaction,
You assume that I am concerned with how you feel about things,
You think I don't understand.
You assume that I cannot comprehend the situation.
All you wanted was a piece of the action,
You were only interested in benefiting from the situation.
Now you talk about another man.
Now you speak about another person, indicating a shift in your interests.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARK KNOPFLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
R. G. C.
Mark Knopler stated in a Guitar Player interview he likes the band Heads Hands and Feet (featuring Albert Lee as lead guitar) but he never mentions about this cover according to an Albert´s interview in February 2015.
Maybe Mark said something in a interview but I don´t know.
Mark´s Guitar Player interview:
http://ds.mk-guitar.com/knopfler-interviews.htm
Albert´s interview:
http://dmme.net/interviews/interview-with-albert-lee.html
The excerpt that Albert talks about the cover:
And you were one of the first to cover DIRE STRAITS
I saw them play live in a club in London, and someone sent me their album when I was in the middle of doing my solo album. I liked that track [“Setting Me Up”], so I cut it. It turned out pretty good, and then a few people heard my version of it and covered it the same way, like Waylon Jennings and THE HIGHWAY 101. It ended on Eric Clapton’s
live album [“Just One Night”], but Mark [Knopfler] did never thank me for it. (Laughs.)
johnny zell
You say I'm the greatest and bound for glory.
Well the word is out and I learned.
I got the latest side of the story;
You're pulling out before you get burned.
Well your hands are squeezing me down to the bone.
I never saw you breaking no law.
Stands to reason I've got to leave you alone.
What are you taking me for?
[Chorus:]
Setting me up to put me down.
Making me out to be your clown.
Setting me up to put me down.
You better give it up, baby,
Quit your messing around.
You think I care about your reaction,
You think I don't understand.
All you wanted was a piece of the action,
Now you talk about another man.
[Chorus: x2]
Genjo_N_Mojave
First time I ever heard Albert perform this classic song along with "Country Boy" and "Luxury Liner" was at Cal St. Long Beach at the Bluegrass Festival in 1975.
Albert's amazing fret fire fingers left everyone speechless, but then so did the mere presence and Angelic voice of Emmylou Harris, and the rest of The Hot Band weren't too shabby either!
Albert played and toured the planet with Eric Clapton from 1978-1983. Eric would take a break during those concerts while Albert dazzled audiences with these songs.
Check out Eric Clapton "Just One Night" LP, and you'll find 2 of these 3 songs performed by King Albert.
mptt883
So far never heard this tune.
According to Albert Lee himself, Don Everly sings harmony here !
Not as usual (when as Everly Brothers) Don works supporting Albert.
It's wonderful.
Of course performance of Albert especially guitar sounds soooo cooool !!
arturo fanciulli
oh my gosh this is....wow. i am speechless
gjergj skrame
The Dire Straits song. Also the "one night only" cover in Eric Clapton concert is smooth.
ismail KÜÇÜK
I Love It!
Amaral Roberto
Great Albert. Sou seu fã de carteirinha.
Marva Grossman
I'm really curious as to what Mark Knopfler thought of this cover. Especially considering that at the time this came out, Albert Lee was the famous guitarist and Mark Knopfler was still almost unknown.
arturo fanciulli
R. G. C. wow this is incredible.
R. G. C.
Mark Knopler stated in a Guitar Player interview he likes the band Heads Hands and Feet (featuring Albert Lee as lead guitar) but he never mentions about this cover according to an Albert´s interview in February 2015.
Maybe Mark said something in a interview but I don´t know.
Mark´s Guitar Player interview:
http://ds.mk-guitar.com/knopfler-interviews.htm
Albert´s interview:
http://dmme.net/interviews/interview-with-albert-lee.html
The excerpt that Albert talks about the cover:
And you were one of the first to cover DIRE STRAITS
I saw them play live in a club in London, and someone sent me their album when I was in the middle of doing my solo album. I liked that track [“Setting Me Up”], so I cut it. It turned out pretty good, and then a few people heard my version of it and covered it the same way, like Waylon Jennings and THE HIGHWAY 101. It ended on Eric Clapton’s
live album [“Just One Night”], but Mark [Knopfler] did never thank me for it. (Laughs.)
james mabry
one of the best and thanks to all the artists that made hits of his songs, btw the one thumbs down i bet is not a musician. jmo