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.
Sugar the Road
Ten Years After Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're having a ball
Your daddy don't dig what you look like
Don't dig it at all
Don't understand
What you're going through
No, no, no, no, no, no, he don't
Keep working for your pension till you're sixty five
Hey, no, no, don't dig it at all
You've grown up a big girl, baby
You're doing all right
You sleep in the daytime, baby now
You're leaping all night
Got your own scene
Said you're doing fine
My, my, my, doing fine, girl
Live like you want, let them call you a freak
You'll be a baby factory when you're married a week
Oh, no, no, no, can you live in a box? Get out, get out
You're having a good time, baby
You're loving your life
There's more things ahead now, baby
Than being a wife
Well, I love your mind
'Cause you know it's free
Little darlin'
Don't worry about the people who scream and shout
Just give them fifty years and they might forget it out
Hey, yeah, I've gotta have me a good time
Darling, let it all hang out
The Ten Years After song Sugar The Road is an ode to living life on your own terms and rejecting societal norms. The opening lines find the singer addressing a woman who is having a good time and enjoying her life, even though her father does not approve of her appearance or lifestyle. The father represents the traditional, conservative values that the singer is urging the woman to reject. He advises her to live like she wants and not worry about what people think, even if they call her a freak. This is contrasted with the idea of working for a pension until old age, which the father believes is the only way to stay alive.
The chorus of the song repeats the refrain "no, no, no, don't dig it at all," emphasizing the singer's rejection of traditional values and norms. The second verse finds the singer encouraging the woman to keep living her life on her own terms, even if it means sleeping during the day and partying all night. He tells her that she is doing fine and encourages her to love her mind and enjoy her freedom. The verse also includes a line about how getting married and becoming a "baby factory" is not the only path for women.
Overall, the lyrics of Sugar The Road celebrate individuality, freedom, and rejecting societal expectations. The singer encourages the woman to live her life fully and without regrets, even if it means going against what her father or society expects of her.
Line by Line Meaning
Having a good time, baby
You're enjoying yourself, dear
You're having a ball
You're having a great time
Your daddy don't dig what you look like
Your father doesn't like how you present yourself
Don't dig it at all
He dislikes it completely
Don't understand
He doesn't comprehend
What you're going through
What you're experiencing
No, no, no, no, no, no, he don't
He really doesn't
He says there's only one way that you stay alive
He thinks there's only one path to survival
Keep working for your pension till you're sixty five
Work until you're 65 to secure your future
Hey, no, no, don't dig it at all
But you don't agree with this
You've grown up a big girl, baby
You've become a mature woman
You're doing all right
You're doing well
You sleep in the daytime, baby now
You sleep during the day
You're leaping all night
You're active at night
Got your own scene
You have your own lifestyle
Said you're doing fine
You claim you're doing great
My, my, my, doing fine, girl
You're really flourishing
Live like you want, let them call you a freak
Live freely and embrace nontraditional ways of life, regardless of what others might label you
You'll be a baby factory when you're married a week
But don't marry just yet, or you'll be expected to start having children immediately
Oh, no, no, no, can you live in a box? Get out, get out
Reject the mundanity of a prescribed life and break free from societal norms
You're having a good time, baby
You're enjoying yourself, dear
You're loving your life
You cherish your existence
There's more things ahead now, baby
You have a future ahead of you
Than being a wife
And it's not limited to being someone's spouse
Well, I love your mind
I admire your intellect
'Cause you know it's free
Because it's not restricted or conditioned by society
Little darlin'
My dear
Don't worry about the people who scream and shout
Don't mind those who raise their voice in disapproval
Just give them fifty years and they might forget it out
They'll probably change their mind in fifty years, so don't take it to heart
Hey, yeah, I've gotta have me a good time
I too want to enjoy myself
Darling, let it all hang out
So let loose and be yourself
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ALVIN LEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@davidsurf930
Alvin Lee could very well be the most underated guitarist ever.
@dredrotten
Not only that Alvin is underrated in his vocals and songwriting abilities as well.
@danielproctor9939
Turned 65 today. Back when I was rockin' to this, I could not imagine here.
@jayaet
3:05 - "What about the people who scream and shout, just give 'em fifty years and they might work it out" Very prophetic.
@ilnodon
Except they still haven't worked it out......
@mitchmitchell1158
One hit of purple micro dot and some ten years after.may the trip be please.
@RMGCBG
First album I ever bought
@kevinoshea4134
Great music and great memories listening with friends getting stoned
@dredrotten
Oh! that guitar is talking the Blues.
@brianduncan2793
My favorite TYA album Love this Band