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.
Help Me
Ten Years After Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You got to help me, now; I can't do it all by myself
You know if you don't help me, darling, I'll have to find myself somebody else
I my have to wash, I may have to sew, I may have to cook
I might mop the floor; but you help me baby
If you don't help me, darling, I'll have to find somebody else
When I walk, you walk with me; and when I talk, you talk with me
Oh, baby, I can't do it all by myself
Bring my nightshirt; put your mornin' gown
You know if you don't help me, darling, I'll have to find myself somebody else
You're talking about your woman, I wish to God man that you could see mine
You're talking about your woman, I wish to God man that you could see mine
Every time the little girl starts to loving she bring eyesight to the blind
The song Help Me by Ten Years After is a plea to a lover for help and support. The singer acknowledges that he cannot handle everything on his own and implores his partner to assist him. He lists various household tasks that he may have to do if left to his own devices, but ultimately declares that if he is not helped, he will have to find someone else. The lyrics are a metaphor for the singer's emotional needs, signifying that he needs more than just physical help around the house. He needs someone who will be there for him emotionally and who will stand by him through thick and thin.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "You got to help me, now; I can't do it all by myself" which highlights the importance of having a partner who can support you through life's challenges. The second verse contrasts the singer's own situation with that of the person he is speaking to, suggesting that his partner's life is easier than his. However, the bridge reveals that the singer's woman is exceptional, with the power to heal the blind with the love she gives.
Line by Line Meaning
You got to help me, now; I can't do it all by myself
The singer is in need of help and cannot handle everything alone.
You know if you don't help me, darling, I'll have to find myself somebody else
The singer's desperation for help is so great that they will seek it elsewhere if not received from their current companion.
I my have to wash, I may have to sew, I may have to cook
In order to manage life's daily tasks, the singer may have to perform chores like washing, sewing, or cooking.
If you don't help me, darling, I'll have to find somebody else
The artist is emphasizing their need for assistance, which is so great that they may leave current companion to seek help elsewhere.
When I walk, you walk with me; and when I talk, you talk with me
The artist wants their companion to consistently accompany and support them both physically and verbally.
Oh, baby, I can't do it all by myself
The singer expresses their need for emotional support and intimates that they are struggling to handle things alone.
Bring my nightshirt; put your mornin' gown
The singer is asking for their companion's help in preparing for bed.
You're talking about your woman, I wish to God man that you could see mine
The artist is expressing that their partner is an incredible source of support and help.
Every time the little girl starts to loving she bring eyesight to the blind
The artist believes that their partner's love and support has the power to heal and change their life.
You know if you don't help me, darling, I'll have to find myself somebody else
The artist is reiterating the importance of help from their companion and is willing to leave to find it if not provided.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: RALPH BASS, WILLIE DIXON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dennis Crescentini
Alvin.......my favorite guitarist of all time ! His attention to detail, the way he hits his notes so clean ! I love ya man.
Rest in peace my brother.
Irene Enghardt
Still sends shivers down my spine when I hear the album, this track, all the others.... It was partially recorded in Amsterdam, Concertgebouw... and I was there!!!
Tonyi Schotter
B in here or there was problely like Christmas new yrs and u birthday all together and a good scrooge. Trip must have been a experience i s was firth row for him in April 79 in a collVe auditorium in new jersey with five buddies I grew up with in the block back home on n y c a few of them a d Alvin aren't here any i no one thong I m still above the earth sir
Its I only hope they find peace in eter it
Holger Jensen
Also, parts were recorded at Festhalle, Frankfurt, and I was there, too
Irene Enghardt
@Moppen ! yes, spot on!!
Moppen !
Me too...14 years old. I think it was a night concert, started at 12 o clock. Am I right?
nicolae nicolas
this guitar solo should be like a Bible for the guitarists, is fantastic, thank you Alvin, RIP !
marco a. l. lobo
Answer to Job, by Carl Jung, is better than the bible. 😊
herQimer fudwaddle
I saw them do this whole album in concert, in Honolulu, December 1972. The back-up band was the eagles (had 2 songs in top ten then) and Alvin stomped them the worst I've ever seen a band get stomped! BEST CONCERT I'VE EVER SEEN! (tickets were $6.50!)
p stick
A better stomping was miles davis opening up for steve miller at the fillmore west , fans there didnt know what hit them , lot of the hippys in frisco who were there to see steve miller and i think moby grape also on the bill.left the theatre , cut their hair , bought a suit , bought a trumpet or a sax , and the jazz scene in frisco and california was born .