The Average White Band (AWB) is a soul and funk band formed in 1972 and is … Read Full Bio ↴The Average White Band (AWB) is a soul and funk band formed in 1972 and is widely regarded as one of the best in the history of music. The band consists of Cliff Lyons on alto sax, keyboards, and vocals, Rob Aries on keyboard and bass, Onnie McIntrye on guitar and vocals, Brent Carter on lead vocals, Alan Gorrie on lead vocals, bass, and guitar, Rocky Bryant on drums, and Fred "Freddy V" Vigdor on tenor sax, keyboards, and vocals.

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.

Back in '67
Average White Band Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Back in '67 I could see my way to heaven with a rock 'n' roll band
Time was right for choosin' and working seemed like losin', some folks don't understand
Well, it's a 20-piece travelin' show, there's another 22 down below
But there's only one way to go, so we're movin' on

Now we have lunatics and crazies and 15 move and shakers, but jokes are clean
And from Egypt to Stonehaven the scenes have been amazing, well you know what I mean
But it's a 20-piece travelin' show, there's another thousand miles still to go

The company is getting slow, yes it is

As long as it's freezing that song keeps just squeezing me on, squeezing me on
But we just got to keep it movin', got to keep it movin' on
Hm, you show me

Oh, we just got to keep it movin', got to keep it movin' on

Well now, you name the places, we can show our faces anywhere that you want
And if the room has got a floor then there's room for thousands more, the field is there if you want
God, it's a 20-piece travelin' show, there's another 22 down below
But there's only one way to go, listen now

As long as its freezing that song keeps just squeezing me on, it's just squeezing me on
Well, we just got to keep it movin', got to keep it movin' on
Ah, we just got to keep it movin', got to keep it movin' on, yes we have

Yeah, we just got to keep it movin', got to keep it movin' on
Ah-hey

Overall Meaning

The song "Back in '67" by Average White Band is about the passion and excitement of being a musician in the late 60s, when rock 'n' roll was at its peak. The opening lines, "I could see my way to heaven with a rock 'n' roll band," convey the feeling of euphoria that came with playing music during that era. The singer describes how working a regular job seemed like "losin'" when compared to living out his dream on stage. The chorus repeats the idea that the band just needs to keep moving and pushing forward, even when things get tough. Despite the challenges, the singer knows that there's only "one way to go."

The later verses describe the band's travels and experiences on the road. They encounter "lunatics and crazies" and "15 move and shakers," but the jokes are clean and the scenes are amazing. The singer emphasizes that they can play anywhere and that there's always room for more people to join in. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, driving home the idea that the band must keep moving and never give up on their dreams.

Overall, "Back in '67" is a celebration of the joy and freedom that comes with being a musician. The lyrics convey the idea that nothing is more important than pursuing your passion, even when the road ahead is uncertain.

Line by Line Meaning

Back in '67 I could see my way to heaven with a rock 'n' roll band
In the year 1967, I believed that I could achieve success and happiness through music as part of a rock 'n' roll band.

Time was right for choosin' and working seemed like losin', some folks don't understand
During that time, it felt like it was the perfect moment to make significant choices and pursuing other jobs felt like giving up. Unfortunately, some people weren't supportive of my aspirations.

Well, it's a 20-piece travelin' show, there's another 22 down below But there's only one way to go, so we're movin' on
Our band consists of twenty performers, and we have another twenty-two crew members. Although we have faced challenges, the only direction we have is forward, so we are continuing to travel.

Now we have lunatics and crazies and 15 move and shakers, but jokes are clean And from Egypt to Stonehaven the scenes have been amazing, well you know what I mean
Currently, our team consists of highly energetic and enthusiastic individuals, including comedians. We have encountered incredible places from Egypt to Stonehaven during our travels.

But it's a 20-piece travelin' show, there's another thousand miles still to go The company is getting slow, yes it is
We still have a thousand miles to go, and our team is beginning to feel weary, which is affecting our ability to perform at the same pace.

As long as it's freezing that song keeps just squeezing me on, squeezing me on But we just got to keep it movin', got to keep it movin' on Hm, you show me
Even in challenging times, the power of music drives me forward. However, we need to continue to move forward to achieve our goals, even when it feels difficult.

Well now, you name the places, we can show our faces anywhere that you want And if the room has got a floor then there's room for thousands more, the field is there if you want God, it's a 20-piece travelin' show, there's another 22 down below But there's only one way to go, listen now
Our band can perform in any location you desire, and there's no limit to the number of individuals we can entertain. We are still travelling with twenty performers and twenty-two crew members, but our momentum is directed forward.

As long as its freezing that song keeps just squeezing me on, it's just squeezing me on Well, we just got to keep it movin', got to keep it movin' on Ah, we just got to keep it movin', got to keep it movin' on, yes we have Yeah, we just got to keep it movin', got to keep it movin' on Ah-hey
The cold weather may be challenging, but the music still inspires me to continue. We must move forward and persevere, and we have to do so with determination and enthusiasm.

Contributed by Liam G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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