Ten Years After – I'd Love to Change the World

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Send "I'd Love to Change the World" Ringtone to Cell

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

I'd love to change the world
But I don't know what to do
So I'll leave it up to you

Population keeps on breeding
Nation bleeding, still more feeding economy
Life is funny, skies are sunny
Bees make honey, who needs money, Monopoly

I'd love to change the world
But I don't know what to do
So I'll leave it up to you

World pollution, there's no solution
Institution, electrocution
Just black and white, rich or poor
Them and us, stop the war

I'd love to change the world
But I don't know what to do
So I'll leave it up to you

Send "I'd Love to Change the World" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by bluejemini

Track duration: 03:44


I'd Love to Change the World song meanings
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49 Comments

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  • 0
    Song Meaning:..I leave it up to you.. means that everyone changes the world as it is purely subjective, unleash your soul and live in peace - and world around you will turn to be great =) this also corresponds to helping others and no money need - thoughts of dominating others totally block your soul and your true power. everyone is a universe =) peace =)
    Flag tonytheapeon April 01, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:A realization came to me during morning contemplation. "...Them and us..." is key. The opening line makes sense as questioning the sanity of the divisive and strife-promoting practice of not only taking sides, but also thinking of the differences of people in a judgmental way facilitated by labeling.
    Flag Mh2113on March 21, 2013   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:Sourced from Alvin Lee's website (alvinlee.com/…)

    ALVIN LEE INTERVIEW
    ROCK AND FOLK MAGAZINE, FRANCE
    September 2008
    (English Translation)

    R&F: Great songs here ("I'd love to change the world", "Over The Hill") - Do you realise "I'd love to..." has turned into a peace anthem these days ? The peace sign was on your guitar - were you into that "make love not war thing" ? Had it anything to do you with the fact you were playing the USA a lot at a time when the anti-Vietnam war thing was going on ??


    AL: Yes, Yes and yes. I was totally involved in all that and very frustrated that I could not do anything about it hence the words I’d Love to Change The World but I don’t know what to do, so I’ll leave it up to you…… and the best of luck.
    Flagged madmanchrison May 02, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:I know there is a lot of debate concerning the political position of this song. And, I don't really know much about the band or their personal lives, and I can understand how someone could read "Everywhere is freaks and hairies/ dykes and fairies, tell me where is sanity" and interpret it to be against something, but...
    When I listen to the song what I feel is CONFUSION, and I get sense of being OVERWHELMED.
    Perhaps the reason there isn't really one clear, agreeing consensus as to what the song "really means" is that it is MEANT to be ambiguous, because the voice is confused and doesn't know what "political party" to be apart... The voice doesn't know if you should tax the rich to feed the poor or not. It's like, this side says do this to make things better, this side does the opposite...
    So, the voice would love to change the world, and do something positive, but doesn't know HOW to. After all, the chorus does state, "I'd love to change the world, but I don't know what to do."
    Flag whatsarahsaidxoxon April 03, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The song refers to various divisions in the world where people complain about one thing or another. Then the response is more of a reflective mood where the singer realizes there is no solution "I just don't know what to do". The world is full of differences, always has been and always will be. The solution is personal (I'll leave it up to you) to accept it or not. Reality is not one sided. Even the tempo of the song changes back and forth from agressive/judgmental to passive/reflective.
    Flag stilllisteninon October 26, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I find it somewhat strange and a bit humorous that this song, which if not absolutely straightforward, is nevertheless certainly not that ambiguous. I was 16 when it hit its peak. For folks my age or a bit older, it was a confusing time, especially in terms of societal absolutes – every possible issue or way of seeing the world seemed to be split right down the middle, everything seemed to be defined as an absolute either/or: each one a perfect example of the duality of nature. And to make matters worse, it was absolutely unacceptable for most folks to not take one side or the other on each and every thing. The pressure was tremendous. But when you are 16, you are forming your entire life’s identity and not having very well defined ideas about things when confronted with someone who did was a nightmare, at least for me. So for me, this song put its arms around me and reassured me I was not by myself in this mess. The lyrics are almost a stream of consciousness thing – the thoughts constantly running through our heads, the absolute either /or choices bombarding us and demanding resolution, juxtaposed with simple recognition of, and the pleasure of, taking the world as it is and not trying to impose our concept on it. The “I don’t know what to do” part was exactly where I was then and I took comfort in knowing someone else felt that way, but it also haunted me, because I knew if you allowed others to solve the problems, you were signing over your right to have any say-so in the future – and this went against my nature – it just seemed to be a “cop-out”. But this was just the kind of internal conflict that tore at our souls at that time. So now I find it ironic and a bit funny that when you read folks’ interpretations of this song today you see examples of what the song tried to illuminate. That is, that one must first take a stand either liberal/conservative or old/young or etc.., etc.., and then and only then can the meaning be determined. Whichever side you fall on today, you seem to want to use this song as an example of your belief system. As far as I can recall, there were no conservative firebrands demonstrating in the streets while co-opting this song as their anthem. Anyone I knew that knew who Ten Years After were, were wannabe hippies or anti-establishment types – I seriously can not recall ever hearing a pro-Nixon, pro-establishment, war supporter quoting this song in order to illustrate their ideology. If there were any, I never saw them. So, I think that those interpretations are a humorous reflection of what our world has changed into since then. Even more divided, still confused, but still hoping it will get better.
    Flag Geezerationon September 11, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Here the word "hairies" is given, but could it be Haris, in reference to Hari Krishna devotees?
    Flag gcc922on August 19, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:From the Alvin Lee website:


    R&F: Great songs here ("I'd love to change the world", "Over The Hill") - Do you realise "I'd love to..." has turned into a peace anthem these days ? The peace sign was on your guitar - were you into that "make love not war thing" ? Had it anything to do you with the fact you were playing the USA a lot at a time when the anti-Vietnam war thing was going on ??


    AL: Yes, Yes and yes. I was totally involved in all that and very frustrated that I could not do anything about it hence the words I'd Love to Change The World but I don't know what to do, so I'll leave it up to you; and the best of luck.
    Flag maicasajustaon July 14, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:UGH. I do not like these lyrics at all. They are just all over the place. The song is awesome and it really rocks but I wish the lyrics were more centralized on a specific point instead of all over the place the way they are.
    Flag skcin7on May 14, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i don't know how people are saying this is mocking either right or left wing....i think its mocking both.

    the first 2 lines sound entirely like how republicans see the world and what they think is wrong with it, and the 2nd 2 lines are the same for the democrats.

    and i think the chorus is just generational as said earlier where it's one generation leaving it up to the next.
    Flag spankythedog56on June 17, 2010   Link

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