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.
It Don't Come Easy
Alvin Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And your hands get greasy and your mind gets sick
And your heart starts pumping and your blood gets thin
And you keep on loosing when you want to win
Well you keep on pushing just to free your mind
Got to keep on looking if you want to find
All the dreams you're seeking what you're thinking of
Better come to me 'cause you need some love
Well it don't come easy and it don't come quick
And your mind gets sleazy and your tongue gets slick
And your heart gets harder and the air gets thin
And you keep on loosing when you want to win
Well you keep on moving cause you can't stand still
And you keep on climbing to another hill
And the road gets longer and you see no end
Better come to me 'cause you need a friend.
Alvin Lee's song "It Don't Come Easy" is about the struggles and challenges we face in life, particularly when we are striving for success. The lyrics express the idea that success and fulfillment are not things that come easily or quickly; rather, they require hard work, determination, and perseverance. The line "your hands get greasy and your mind gets sick" suggests that the process of pursuing your dreams can be messy and difficult, while the line "and your heart starts pumping and your blood gets thin" speaks to the emotional toll that this journey can take. The repeated refrain "and you keep on losing when you want to win" emphasizes the idea that setbacks and failures are part of the process, and that success often requires us to keep pushing forward despite these obstacles.
Despite the struggles and challenges that the lyrics describe, the song also offers a message of hope and support. The lines "got to keep on looking if you want to find / all the dreams you're seeking what you're thinking of" suggest that it is important to stay focused on your goals and to keep searching for opportunities to achieve them. And in the final verse, the line "better come to me 'cause you need a friend" reminds us that we don't have to face these challenges alone, and that seeking support from others can help us overcome even the toughest obstacles.
Overall, "It Don't Come Easy" is a song about persistence, determination, and the resilience it takes to pursue our goals in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Well it don't come easy and it don't come quick
Success is not an easy journey, it takes time and effort to achieve.
And your hands get greasy and your mind gets sick
The process of achieving success can be tedious and draining.
And your heart starts pumping and your blood gets thin
The effort that success requires can take a toll on your physical and emotional health.
And you keep on loosing when you want to win
Despite your best efforts, victory may not be guaranteed.
Well you keep on pushing just to free your mind
Pursuing success can be a way to find mental clarity and peace.
Got to keep on looking if you want to find
Success requires continuous effort and exploration.
All the dreams you're seeking what you're thinking of
Success often involves pursuing one's aspirations and goals.
Better come to me 'cause you need some love
Seeking support from others can be beneficial when pursuing success.
And your mind gets sleazy and your tongue gets slick
The pursuit of success can sometimes lead to unethical behavior.
And your heart gets harder and the air gets thin
The challenges of success can harden one's emotional state and create a stressful environment.
Well you keep on loosing when you want to win
Despite your best efforts, victory may not be guaranteed.
Well you keep on moving cause you can't stand still
Stagnation is not an option when pursuing success.
And you keep on climbing to another hill
Success often requires continuous effort and progression.
And the road gets longer and you see no end
The journey towards success can feel never-ending and uncertain.
Better come to me 'cause you need a friend.
Having support from others can help alleviate the stress and loneliness that can come with pursuing success.
Contributed by Penelope B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.