It doesn’t have to be a complicated or long piece, maybe a guitar or two, plus a bass, or maybe not? Rhetorical lyrics or not, it really doesn’t matter. It’s about delivering a message. Profound [messages] don’t require “complexity” because “profound” sticks inside your head, maybe even haunting you to take another listen [as in my case]. A message that stays with you is always a profound one [otherwise your mind will discard it]. I guess that’s when you know you were meant to hear a certain song. No flashy garments, no super-loud reverb, no screaming crowds or meaningless crazy circus acts, just one simple song that speaks to your heart [and mind], and opens some ideas, doorways in one’s mind that maybe we had yet to consider. Honest lyrics speaking about philosophical truths. Again, “honesty” is so simple, and yet these days we humans mostly avoid it. Why?

“I have got what I once dreamed of
As a child, so long ago
But my life just goes in circles
‘Cause one answer I don’t know –
Does it matter what I do
Who will hear me if I cry?
Does it matter what I do
Does it matter if I die?”

Ten Years After’s “Cricklewood Green” album was by far this band’s best song collection ever. There’s not one bad song on it for those of us who grew up in the 60’s and 70’s. I was probably 14-15 years old when I picked up my first copy of it. Stay uncomplicated, just like this song lyric from Alvin Lee, simple in scope and yet brutally honest. I can tell Alvin was singing from his heart on this one [and I thank him for this message]. Nearly a decade has passed since Alvin checked out [from this planet] at the age of 69 or 70, but I still remember and enjoy listening to tunes of his quality today. Here’s Ten Years After and “Circles”: