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.
Bad Blood
Ten Years After Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't know the difference between right and wrong
Last production of a long hard line
Being born was just the first of my crimes
Roll on river roll on
Nothing stops the flood
Some souls ain't for saving
Born in the jungle you've got to fight to survive
You'll never take me dead or alive
Life ain't about living, it's trying not to drown
Gonna rise up gonna tear you down
Roll on river roll on
Nothing stops the flood
Some souls ain't for saving
Can't help being born with Bad Blood
I can see round every corner open any door
I gave the touch to Midas I'll give you anything
To satisfy your greed there's just one thing I need
Everything
Take it
Listening to your conscience gets you nowhere fast
Want to see into the future better look to the past
'Cus I'll be rising when the sun goes down
You don't know me I've always been around
Roll on river roll on
Just can't stop the flood
Some souls ain't for saving
Can't help being born with Bad Blood
The lyrics of Ten Years After's song, Bad Blood, are filled with themes of rebellion, survival, and the struggle between good and evil. The singer of the song, who has been running wild for a long time, is admitting that they do not know the difference between right and wrong. They see their birth as the first of their many crimes, implying that their whole existence is tainted with sin.
The chorus is a plea for forgiveness or understanding as the singer claims that some souls are just born with bad blood and that they cannot be saved. They are like a flood that cannot be stopped or contained, and anyone who tries to intervene will drown. The singer is defiant, proud of their ability to survive in the jungle of life, and willing to fight to the death to maintain their freedom.
The bridge of the song is particularly interesting as the singer describes their abilities, saying that they can "see round every corner and open any door." They also boast about their power to give the touch of Midas, saying that they can give anything to satisfy someone's greed, but it comes with a hefty price. The song ends with a warning to those who judge them, as the singer is always rising when the sun goes down and will always be around to fight back against their oppressors.
Overall, Bad Blood is a song that paints a picture of someone who has been dealt a rough hand in life and has had to resort to breaking rules in order to survive. It speaks to the idea that some people are just born with bad luck and that their fates are sealed, no matter how hard they try to escape it.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been running, I've been wild so long
I've been living a reckless and irresponsible lifestyle for a long time.
Don't know the difference between right and wrong
I don't have a clear sense of morality or ethics.
Last production of a long hard line
I am the final result of a lineage characterized by hardship and struggle.
Being born was just the first of my crimes
My mere existence is a burden or a curse for others, and I am prone to wrongdoing.
Roll on river roll on
Time passes by inexorably, just like a river.
Nothing stops the flood
There are some things in life that cannot be prevented or avoided, like natural disasters.
Some souls ain't for saving
There are people who are too set in their ways or too damaged to be redeemed or rescued.
Can't help being born with Bad Blood
Some people are born with certain traits or tendencies that are hard to overcome or change.
Born in the jungle you've got to fight to survive
Life is harsh and competitive, and one must be prepared to fight to stay alive and thrive.
You'll never take me dead or alive
I am determined to resist or defy any attempt to subdue or capture me.
Life ain't about living, it's trying not to drown
Survival is the main priority in life, and everything else is just a means to that end.
Gonna rise up gonna tear you down
I am going to assert myself and defeat my adversaries, no matter what the cost.
I can see round every corner open any door
I am confident in my ability to outsmart and manipulate others, and to access any resource I need.
I gave the touch to Midas I'll give you anything
I have the power to turn anything into gold, and I am willing to use it to my advantage.
To satisfy your greed there's just one thing I need
I know that some people are insatiable and that I can exploit their weakness by giving them what they want.
Everything
I demand complete control and ownership over everything and everyone, and I won't settle for less.
Listening to your conscience gets you nowhere fast
Being guided by one's inner voice or sense of right and wrong is not always practical or effective in the real world.
Want to see into the future better look to the past
The best way to predict or shape the future is to learn from the lessons of history and tradition.
'Cus I'll be rising when the sun goes down
I am unstoppable and resilient, and I will endure even in the darkest or most challenging times.
You don't know me I've always been around
I am a mysterious and elusive figure, and I have always existed in some form or another.
Contributed by Scarlett H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.