[dfwgator]

Everywhere is freaks and hairies
Dykes and fairies, tell me where is sanity
Tax the rich, feed the poor
Till there are no rich no more?

Ten Years After - I’d Love To Change The World

[dayglored]

I’ve played guitar in rock cover bands since the mid-60’s, and was a big fan of Ten Years After (Alvin Lee in particular was a hero). One of my life’s ambitions was to be able to play “Goin’ Home” the way he did at Woodstock.

Anyway, when I’d Love To Change The World came out we covered it, and in those days the words were no big deal.

Fast forward to a year ago, I’m playing guitar in a classic-rock cover band with a bunch of similar old farts, and the sax player (a great player and friend, but a fanatical liberal) and I are talking and Ten Years After comes up as a band we both liked. He says, “We should cover that!”. I say, “Are you sure? Those lyrics are kind of politically incorrect these day, we’ll get in trouble.” He says “What lyrics?” I quote those lines you posted in your comment.

He was thunderstruck. “Geez, I’ve never actually listened to the words, I was just listening to the music! Holy cow, we can’t cover that!”

I should have kept my mouth shut — and the first time I sang the lyrics he would have sh!t himself onstage. :-)