Born Graham Barnes in Nottingham England, Alvin Lee took up guitar at the age of thirteen. By the age of fifteen he had formed the group Jaybirds. Following in the footsteps of earlier beat groups such as the Beatles, the Jaybirds played the clubs in Hamburg, Germany to great local acclaim. On returning to London in 1966, the group changed its name to Ten Years After.
Ten Years After scored hits with many albums and became a popular touring band. The band gained note in America after their appearance at Woodstock in 1969.
Lee's guitar work on ‘I’m Going Home’ on the 'Woodstock' album and film remains a standard for many rock guitarists to emulate.
Ten Years After played a mix of rock and blues tinged with jazz. In 1973, Lee left Ten Years After to pursue a solo career.
His first work was a collaborative effort with American gospel singer Mylon LeFevre on an album entitled On The Road To Freedom; other artists on the album included George Harrison, Mick Fleetwood and Steve Winwood. A year later he formed the band Alvin Lee & Company and released a double live album recorded at the Rainbow in London, In Flight.
Lee continued to record albums and play live until his death in 2013, thrilling audiences with his guitar virtuoso and nimble fingered fret work.
Having recorded over twenty albums, some of the key solo works Alvin Lee has recorded are:
1973 On The Road To Feedom
1974 In Flight
1975 Pump Iron
1976 Let it Rock
1978 Rocket Fuel
1979 Ride On
1980 Freefall
1981 RX5
1986 Detroit Diesel
1992 Zoom
1994 I Hear You Rockin
1996 Live In Vienna
2004 In Tennessee
2007 Saguitar
2012 Still On The Road To freedom
Official Website: Alvin Lee
You can also see Alvin Lee & Ten Years After and / or Alvin Lee & Co and / or Ten Years After and or Alvin Lee & Ten Years Later and / or The Alvin Lee Band on Last.fm.
Ain't Nobody's Business
Alvin Lee Lyrics
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Trying to make a buck, and never let it go
I'll never find that game, to satisfy my soul
I just wanna play that good old rock and roll
Don't worry about the future, never mind the news
I just want my freedom, so I can play the blues
I'm minding my own business, ain't nobody's business but my own
Wake up in the morning, pick up my guitar
Never read a paper, doesn't get me very far
Never mind the future, just livin' for today
Whatever's gonna happen, gonna happen anyway
Don't worry about your life, it will get you in a state
You're gonna be dead my friend, and then it is too late
So I'm takin' care of business, Ain't nobody's business but my own
Don't want a Ferrari, as long as I've got wheels
Don't need those kind of trappin's Lord, you know that stuff ain't real
You know none of those goods can do no good for you when you go
I only need my freedom, to satisfy my soul
Don't worry about those stocks and shares
The money you make in pounds
The money you got to lose boy, will only bring you down
I'm mindin' my own business, Ain't nobody's business but my own
So many people, they're running to and fro
Tryin' to make a buck, and never let it go
I'll never find that game, to satisfy my soul
I just wanna play that good old rock and roll
Don't worry about the future, never mind the news
I just want my freedom, so I can sing the blues
I'm mindin' my own business, Ain't nobody's business but my own
Ain't nobody's business but my own
Ain't nobody's business but my own
The song "Ain't Nobody's Business" by Alvin Lee appears to be a commentary on the idea of freedom and individuality, specifically in regards to the pursuit of music. Through the lyrics, Lee seems to express a disdain for the capitalistic drive present in many musicians, stating that he's uninterested in "trying to make a buck" and instead just wants to play rock and roll for the love of it. He encourages listeners not to worry about material possessions or their financial status, instead opting to live in the present and pursue their passions without hesitation.
Another significant issue the song touches on is societal pressure to conform - Lee's repeated assertion that his business is nobody else's implies that he's faced criticism or judgment from others for his choices. He encourages listeners not to worry about what anyone else thinks, and to instead focus on their own desires and goals. In doing so, he advocates for the importance of personal autonomy and individuality in a world that often values uniformity and commercial success.
Overall, "Ain't Nobody's Business" serves as a poignant tribute to rock and roll as a rebellious, countercultural force that empowers individuals to stand up to societal expectations and pursue their passions without fear of judgment or retribution.
Line by Line Meaning
Too many people, running to and fro
Trying to make a buck, and never let it go
People are always in a rush, tirelessly working to make money.
I'll never find that game, to satisfy my soul
I just wanna play that good old rock and roll
The singer is looking for fulfillment and joy in playing rock and roll music.
Don't worry about the future, never mind the news
I just want my freedom, so I can play the blues
I'm minding my own business, ain't nobody's business but my own
The singer doesn't concern themselves with the news or what the future may bring, they only care about being free to play the music they love without interference from anyone.
Wake up in the morning, pick up my guitar
Never read a paper, doesn't get me very far
Never mind the future, just livin' for today
Whatever's gonna happen, gonna happen anyway
The artist starts every day playing their guitar and doesn't let news or the future dictate their actions. They live in the present and accept that anything can happen.
Don't worry about your life, it will get you in a state
You're gonna be dead my friend, and then it is too late
So I'm takin' care of business, Ain't nobody's business but my own
The artist advises against worrying about life and its complications as we will all die eventually. Instead, they focus on their own goals and well-being.
Don't want a Ferrari, as long as I've got wheels
Don't need those kind of trappin's Lord, you know that stuff ain't real
You know none of those goods can do no good for you when you go
I only need my freedom, to satisfy my soul
The singer values freedom over material possessions, recognizing that material possessions don't matter in the end.
Don't worry about those stocks and shares
The money you make in pounds
The money you got to lose boy, will only bring you down
I'm mindin' my own business, Ain't nobody's business but my own
The singer advises against worrying about stocks and money as it only causes unnecessary stress and anxiety. They only worry about their own business and goals.
So many people, they're running to and fro
Tryin' to make a buck, and never let it go
I'll never find that game, to satisfy my soul
I just wanna play that good old rock and roll
The majority of people are too focused on making money, while the artist is only interested in playing rock and roll for personal fulfillment.
Don't worry about the future, never mind the news
I just want my freedom, so I can sing the blues
I'm mindin' my own business, Ain't nobody's business but my own
Ain't nobody's business but my own
Ain't nobody's business but my own
The artist reiterates that they only care about their own freedom and happiness and will not let anyone get in the way of that.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: EVERETT ROBBINS, PORTER GRAINGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind