Originally from Nottingham in the UK, this band of virtuoso musicians under the leadership of Alvin Lee conquered the UK scene and then spread their wings to the USA. Their blend of jazz, blues and rock was initially slightly awkward but their first album provided an opening for them. In October, their 1967 self-titled debut album was released.
In 1968, after touring Scandinavia and the United States, Ten Years After released their second album, live Undead, which brought their first classic, "I'm Going Home." This was followed in February 1969 by studio issue, Stonedhenge, a British hit, that included another classic, "Hear Me Calling" (it was released also as a single, and covered in 1972 by British glam rock rising stars, Slade). In July 1969 they appeared at the Newport Jazz Festival, in the first event to which rock bands were invited. In August, the band performed a breakthrough American appearance at Woodstock; their furious-to-soft-to-furious rendition of "I'm Going Home" featuring Alvin Lee as the lead singer was featured in both the subsequent film and soundtrack album and catapulted them to star status.
During 1970, Ten Years After released "Love Like a Man", their only hit in the UK Singles Chart. This song was on their fifth album, Cricklewood Green. The name of the album comes from a friend of the group who lived in Cricklewood, London. He grew a sort of plant which was said to have hallucinogenic effects. The band did not know the name of this plant, so they called their album Cricklewood Green. It was the first record to be issued with a different playing speed on each side – one a three-minute edit at 45rpm, the other, a nine-minute live version at 33rpm. In August, Ten Years After played the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 to an audience of 600,000.
In 1971, the band released the album A Space in Time which marked a move toward more commercial material. It featured their biggest hit, "I'd Love To Change The World". But a few albums later, the band broke up after the 1974 album Positive Vibrations. They re-united in 1983 to play the Reading Festival and this performance was later released on CD as The Friday Rock Show Sessions - Live At Reading '83. In 1988, they re-united for a few concerts and recorded the album About Time (1989). Finally, in 1994, they participated in the Eurowoodstock festival in Budapest.
Alvin Lee has since then mostly played and recorded under his own name. In 2003, the other band members replaced him with Joe Gooch and recorded the album Now. Material from the following tour was used for the 2005 double album Roadworks.
Lee died on March 6, 2013. According to his website, he died from "unforeseen complications following a routine surgical procedure."[2][3][4] He was 68. His former bandmates lamented his death, Leo Lyons called him "the closest thing I had to a brother", while Ric Lee (no relation) said "I don't think its even sunk in yet as to the reality of his passing." Billboard Magazine wrote of his passing, highlighting such landmark performances as "I'm Going Home" from the Woodstock festival and his 1974 hit single "I'd Love to Change the World."[5]
Band members:
Alvin Lee – guitar, vocals
Leo Lyons – bass
Chick Churchill – keyboards
Ric Lee – drums
Joe Gooch – guitar, vocals (joined in 2003)
You can also see Alvin Lee and / or Alvin Lee & Ten Years After and / or Alvin Lee & Co and / or The Alvin Lee Band on Last.fm.
Baby Won't You Let Me Rock 'N' Roll You
Ten Years After Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby, won't you let me, let me stroll you
Baby, won't you let me rock 'n' roll you now
Baby, won't you let me, let me shake you
Baby, won't you let me, let me break you
Baby, won't you let me really take you now
I used to rock 'n' roll you around my knee
Well, I tell you, honey, gonna be alright
Gonna rock 'n' roll you all through the night
Baby, won't you let me, let me shake you
Baby, won't you let me, let me break you
Baby, won't you let me really take you now
I tell you, baby, gonna be alright
I'm gonna rock you all through the night
Well, you [Incomprehensible] how it's gonna be
[Incomprehensible]
Baby, won't you let me sock it to you
Baby, won't you let me sock it to you
Baby, won't you let me rock 'n' roll you now
The lyrics of "Baby Won't You Let Me Rock 'N' Roll You" by Ten Years After are about a desire for connection and intimacy between two people through the act of rock and roll. The chorus repeats the plea for the woman to allow the singer to "rock 'n' roll" her, which can be interpreted as a sexual metaphor. The verses describe the singer's eagerness to shake, break, and take the woman, promising to make her feel alright and rock her all through the night. The bridge references a shared past, implying that the singer has rocked the woman before and wants to do it again.
Overall, the song expresses a desire for physical pleasure and expresses that rock and roll music is the way to achieve it. The song's lyrics, like many rock and roll songs of the era, use clever wordplay and innuendo to suggest sexual desire without being overtly explicit.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, won't you let me rock 'n' roll you
Asking the partner for permission to dance and have fun together
Baby, won't you let me, let me stroll you
Wanting to take a romantic walk with the partner
Baby, won't you let me rock 'n' roll you now
Repeating the request to dance together, adding more emphasis and urgency
Baby, won't you let me, let me shake you
Asking to have a more energetic and lively dance experience
Baby, won't you let me, let me break you
Expressing the desire to let loose and have a wild time while dancing
Baby, won't you let me really take you now
Asking for the partner's trust and willingness to be fully present and engaged in the dance
Well, you remember, baby, how it used to be
Reminiscing about the good times they had together in the past
I used to rock 'n' roll you around my knee
Recalling moments of playful dancing and intimacy in their previous relationship
Well, I tell you, honey, gonna be alright
Assuring the partner that everything will be okay and the dance will be enjoyable
Gonna rock 'n' roll you all through the night
Promising to dance with the partner for a long time and all through the night
I tell you, baby, gonna be alright
Reiterating the message of reassurance and positivity
I'm gonna rock you all through the night
Emphasizing the commitment to dance with the partner and provide them with a memorable experience
Well, you [Incomprehensible] how it's gonna be
Alluding to the expectation of having a great time while dancing together, but leaving it to the imagination of the listener
Baby, won't you let me sock it to you
Requesting permission to dance in a more passionate and intense way
Baby, won't you let me sock it to you
Repeating the request for a more passionate dance experience
Baby, won't you let me rock 'n' roll you now
Closing the song with a final appeal to dance and have fun together
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ALVIN LEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hermanng.alfaro7232
Alvin Lee and his group are a great legend, i really love that band and all their music.
@nedmerrill5705
I saw TYA in 73. Best performance I ever saw. Alvin Lee strikes the last note, puts the guitar down, band leaves the stage with Lee's guitar still playing the last note with feedback from the speakers. Classic ending to an unforgettable concert!
@jessiegarcia3117
Man I listened from my brother n his friends great times miss them all God bless us all
@4747robo
Always loved Alvin Lee’s intensity and genius in his music. RIP A.L.
@jimgleeson98
I've been a fan since the mid sixties 1st. Album "UNDEAD"! LEGEND TOP MAN GENIUS R.I.P.
@CrusaderFather
Alvin Lee, pushing the guitar to the edge and beyond!~
@mustlovepretzels
Happy Birthday today(November 30) to bassist Leo Lyons. Cheers!
@jackychazaubenay1195
alvin lee and ten years afters , leo sublim bass PLAYER, r.i.p. dears IDOLS from my teenager! !!!!.... many..many..long time ....after. ..my emotions is no différents. jackyfan 👍french and really true FAN........✌
@cookmoore3736
Love Alvin at the beginning :D Great just feeling it all, being himself with the crowd and the guys!
@ladystardust7773
Excellent groupe Ten Years After RIP Alvin Lee