Though best known for their instrumental hit "Pick Up the Pieces," the band's strength lies in their consistently accomplished songwriting, stretching across several gold-selling albums and multi-Grammy nominations for Atlantic Records. Despite their Scottish roots, the six-piece band developed their own "authentic" sound influenced by R&B heroes such as Marvin Gaye, James Brown, and Donny Hathaway, which was eagerly adopted by black audiences in the US and elsewhere.
Many of the band's cuts, such as "Cut The Cake" and "Let's Go 'Round Again," attracted chart action as hit singles, while album tracks like "Schoolboy Crush" and "Person to Person" became much-sampled "rare" grooves. Other tunes like "Cloudy," "A Love Of Your Own," and "Nothing You Can Do" stand alongside some of the finest soul album tracks ever recorded.
The current lineup of the band, with noted US musicians alongside founding members Alan Gorrie and Onnie McIntyre, continues to delight audiences and critics alike in its wide-ranging touring. The musical energy and trademark sound are remarkably true to the original, and with constant revisitation and re-workings of AWB's, and others' classics in the mix, it is no surprise that the Average White Band is now a multi-generational attraction and a perennial fixture with many of the top music venues.
Pick Up the Pieces
Average White Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pick up the pieces, alright
Pick up the pieces, uh, huh
Pick up the pieces, whoo
Whoo
Pick up the pieces
Pick up the pieces
Pick up the pieces, whoo
Pick up the pieces, oow
The lyrics of "Pick Up the Pieces" by Average White Band can be interpreted as a message to push through tough times and to pick up the pieces of one's life when things fall apart. The repetitive phrase "pick up the pieces" can be seen as a call to action to move forward and not to give up in the face of adversity. The use of "uh huh" and "alright" throughout the song give a feeling of encouragement and affirmation. The inclusion of "whoo" and "oow" adds to the upbeat and celebratory vibe of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Pick up the pieces, uh, huh
Take control of your life and start over, it's time to make things right.
Pick up the pieces, alright
Accept that things may not be perfect but it's time to move on and make the best of what you have.
Pick up the pieces, whoo
Get excited and pumped up about the opportunity to start fresh and make things better.
Pick up the pieces
Take action and do whatever it takes to improve your situation and achieve your goals.
Pick up the pieces, oow
Be persistent and keep pushing forward, even when things get tough.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Alan Gorrie, James Stuart, Malcolm Duncan, Owen McIntyre, Robbie Mcintosh, Roger Ball
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind