Sometime in late 1986, Mike Dillon, Gary Muller, and Matt Chamberlain were playing in Dallas-based band Zane Grey, who actually appeared on Star Search. They did not win, but Muller did get to touch Ed McMahon (specifically, his hand). Meanwhile, Steve Brand and Slavens were playing in a Denton band called the Gonemen. Dillon, Muller, and Chamberlain lived in the same Denton house as other members of the Gonemen, and when dissatisfaction with both groups began to appear, the idea for a new band was spawned.
The first Ten Hands rehearsal (documented on videotape) took place late 1986 in Denton. Shortly thereafter, Zane Grey's manager, Tony Johnson, accepted an offer to manage the fledgling band. For the first year, Ten Hands played mostly small venues in Denton and performed a weekly gig at the Prophet Bar, a seminal Deep Ellum club in Dallas. During this time, a studio recording was made and handmade cassettes were sold and distributed in and around the Dallas, Ft. Worth, and Denton area.
Chamberlain and Dillon were already well-known in Denton as top players in the University of North Texas Jazz program, and interest in the band soon grew. It was also during this time that the New Bohemians were becoming a major draw in Dallas. It happened that several members of that band were friends with a few Ten Hands members, and ultimately, New Bohemians finagled some opening slots for Ten Hands at Deep Ellum's celebrated Club Dada. The Club Dada shows helped expose the band to a much wider audience, and the venue would later host many of Ten Hands' most memorable performances.
In late 1988, Earl Harvin joined the band as drummer after the Matt left to play with the New Bohemians. The band went into the studio to record Kung Fu...That's What I Like. As New Bohemians vacated Dallas for bigger and better things, Ten Hands stepped in to fill the void and began what would be a three or four year run as one of the region's most popular draws. The band won numerous Dallas Observer Awards in 1988-1989, and shortly after the release of their first live CD, The Big One Is Coming, and sold over 20,000 copies. Joe Cripps joined the band to replace Dillon on percussion.
Earl left the band to play with Mike Dillon's Billy Goat and "Big" Al Emert became drummer. Ten Hands started to tour heavily and built a large following with college audiences.
At a SXSW performance, the band was offered a record deal by an independent producer in L.A. Desperate to release an album after two years of inactivity, the band agreed and began work on Be My Guru in late 1991. While the album contained some of the band's best songs, the recording itself was a disappointment and the relationship with the label grew stormy. By the time the band left the label, much of their earlier momentum was lost.
As the band's popularity began to wane, a friend of the band, Byron Wilson, offered to produce a CD. Jazz for Jerks was recorded in early 1993 with the assistance of the band's friend and longtime collaborative producer, Dave Castell.
Steve Brand left the band in 1993. New guitarists, Chris Claridy and Chad Rueffer joined and the band wrote some new songs and continued to gig around the area. In the next incarnation, guitarist, Ed McMahon (in a strange twist of fate), and drummer Greg Beck were hired. A demo record was recorded with the brand new lineup, but the album was never mixed or released.
Ten Hands continues to play, with various lineups, several times a year in the Dallas area.
Do It for Love
Ten Hands Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby you can rob a bank
Or hold up a 7-11
You can shoplift merchandise
And still buy your way into heaven
All you need is a valid excuse
They'll tell you it's a sin to steal
But you're only as guilty as you feelJust don't do what the bad people do
You can get away with anything
If you do it for love
You can get away with anything if you do it
But just make sure you're doing it
You can get away with anything if you do it for love
Absolution comes from within
But love alone can save your soul from sin
Just don't do what the bad people do
Do it for love and only for love
Not for money
Or for power or some God up above
No judge or jury ever can convict you, son
The lyrics to Ten Hands' song "Do It for Love" present a surprising and provocative message. The songwriter suggests that committing crimes can be justified if the motivation behind them is love, rather than selfishness or greed. The lines "Baby you can rob a bank/Or hold up a 7-11/You can shoplift merchandise/And still buy your way into heaven" create a shocking but intriguing premise that challenges our typical moral code. The song goes on to argue that we should avoid following those who commit crimes for selfish reasons, but rather focus on love as our guiding principle.
The final lines, "No judge or jury ever can convict you, son," add another layer to the message of the song. They suggest that the ultimate judge is our own conscience, which is capable of absolving us of guilt if we act out of love rather than personal gain. The overall tone of the song is playful, with a classic rock and roll instrumentation that creates a dynamic energy. Yet the lyrics are thought-provoking and challenge our preconceptions about morality and our motivations for our actions.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby you can rob a bank
You have the ability to commit theft and robbery.
Or hold up a 7-11
Or conduct armed robbery at a convenience store.
You can shoplift merchandise
You can steal items from a store.
And still buy your way into heaven
Despite your wrongdoings, you believe you can gain entry into heaven with enough monetary contributions.
All you need is a valid excuse
The justification for engaging in unethical behavior and committing immoral acts can be simply rationalized with your own excuses.
They'll tell you it's a sin to steal
However, society and common morals dictate that stealing is inherently wrong and a sin.
But you're only as guilty as you feel
You may not be punished by the law, but your conscience should make you feel guilty for your actions.
Just don't do what the bad people do
Avoid mimicking the unethical behavior demonstrated by those who lack moral integrity.
You can get away with anything
It is possible to escape punishment for almost any wrongdoing.
If you do it for love
As long as you have a strong motivation, such as love, it can justify any unethical action.
Absolution comes from within
The belief that your inner self, rather than any religion or higher power, has the power to forgive you.
But love alone can save your soul from sin
The only way to cleanse your soul of sin is through the power of love.
Do it for love and only for love
You should only carry out actions with genuine intention of love, not for personal gain.
Not for money
Money should not be the driving motivation for unethical actions.
Or for power or some God up above
Similarly, power or the belief in a higher power should not justify immoral behavior.
No judge or jury ever can convict you, son
Even if you are caught, some feel that they will never be punished or be held accountable for their actions.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind