The precursor to BTO was the band Brave Belt, which was formed in 1970 by Randy Bachman and Chad Allan (both of The Guess Who), Robbie Bachman and Fred Turner. An original form of the group included musician Keith Emerson of The Nice (and later of Emerson, Lake & Palmer), but he was dropped due to illness. After two moderately successful Brave Belt albums came out, Allan was replaced by Tim Bachman, the third of the Bachman brothers, and the band changed its name to Bachman-Turner Overdrive.
Hailing from Winnipeg, Canada as stated before, BTO released their first album under that name in the spring of 1973. Their second album was Bachman-Turner Overdrive II, and it became a massive hit in the US and their native Canada. It also yielded their best-remembered single, "Takin' Care of Business" written by Randy Bachman. BTO were one of the early hard rock bands which opted for songs backed by catchy melodies and powerful riffing. The band also promoted a strait-laced lifestyle due to the Mormon religious beliefs of Randy Bachman.
Tim Bachman left because of limited performance skills and personal lifestyle issues, and was replaced by Blair Thornton. The first album with the modified lineup, 1974's Not Fragile became a hit, including the #1 single "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet". The band continued to steadily produce successful albums through the mid-1970s including Four Wheel Drive and Head On (both 1975).
After the release of Freeways in 1977, Randy Bachman left the group for a solo career and another band, Ironhorse. Randy was replaced by Jim Clench, formerly of April Wine, and BTO released a pair of albums before breaking up in 1979. They reunited in 1983, leading to a lawsuit between the brothers, as one group, led by Randy, toured as Bachman-Turner Overdrive and another, led by Robbie, toured as BTO (Robbie Bachman, Fred Turner, Blair Thornton, and Randy Murray). Interestingly enough, in 1984 the line up for Bachman-Turner's first studio LP in 5 years consisted of Randy and Tim Bachman, Fred Turner and Garry Peterson on drums. In 1986 they were the opening band for the newly reformed Van Halen. By that time Fred Turner had left the band, probably to join the "other" BTO. Robbie Bachman's BTO toured and performed until early 2005.
Musicians Randy Bachman and Fred Turner reunited in 2010 for a tour and collaboration on new songs. In 2010, they notably played the half-time show at the Grey Cup in Edmonton, AB.
Website: http://www.bachmanandturner.com/
Average Man
Bachman-Turner Overdrive Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everyone wants to but no one can top it
I meet more people in a week on the line
Than one man can dream of in his whole lifetime
[Chorus]
Can you understand, I'm an average man
Tryin' to make a livin' do the best that I can
Can you understand, I'm an average man
But my name is in lights, lights, lights
They stop and stare at our houses and farms
They settled for less, we reached for the stars
They're wishin' not workin' and that's not the way
For what comes too easy is thrown away
[Chorus]
We got the future to win, nothing to lose
What's done is behind us, we live how we choose
Everyone's different, but one thing's the same
You can't be a winner if you don't play the game
Can you understand, I'm an average man
Tryin' to make a livin' do the best that I can
Can you understand, I'm an average man
But my name is in lights
The lyrics to Bachman-Turner Overdrive's song "Average Man" are a reflection on the struggles and successes of the average person. The first verse talks about the perception that the singer makes too much money to fit in his pocket and how everyone wants to be like him but can't top his success. However, he reflects on how he meets more people in a week than one man could dream of in his whole lifetime, emphasizing how hard he works and how much he deserves his success. The chorus then repeats that he is an average man trying his best and that his name is in lights.
The second verse talks about how people stop and stare at the singer's house and farm, while he reflects on how they settled for less and he reached for the stars. He notes that they wishing for success without putting in the work is not the way to achieve it. The chorus repeats again, emphasizing how the singer is just an average man doing his best but that he is successful and his name is in lights.
Overall, these lyrics showcase the hard work and ambition required to achieve success, even if you are just an "average" person. By emphasizing the importance of working hard and playing the game, the song encourages listeners to pursue their dreams and reach for the stars.
Line by Line Meaning
They say I make too much money, to fit in my pocket
People comment on my wealth, implying that it's too much for my needs
Everyone wants to but no one can top it
Others may want to attain my level of wealth, but can't seem to surpass it
I meet more people in a week on the line
I encounter a great number of people on a regular basis
Than one man can dream of in his whole lifetime
I come across more individuals in a week than some ever will
Can you understand, I'm an average man
Despite my fame and fortune, I consider myself a regular person
Tryin' to make a livin' do the best that I can
I'm striving to earn a living and do the best that I can
But my name is in lights, lights, lights
Despite being an average man, I've achieved notable success, making my name recognizable
They stop and stare at our houses and farms
People are amazed by the material possessions we've achieved, such as our homes and farms
They settled for less, we reached for the stars
Others may have settled for an ordinary lifestyle, but we aimed high for great success
They're wishin' not workin' and that's not the way
Some people wish for success without putting in the necessary effort to attain it, but that isn't a productive approach
For what comes too easy is thrown away
When something is attained without hard work and dedication, it's often undervalued and discarded easily
We got the future to win, nothing to lose
We have many opportunities ahead of us to succeed, and nothing to lose by pursuing them
What's done is behind us, we live how we choose
The past is behind us, and we can determine our present actions and future direction
Everyone's different, but one thing's the same
People have varying identities, but we all have the potential to achieve success
You can't be a winner if you don't play the game
Success isn't attainable if you don't actively participate and work hard towards achieving it
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BACHMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind