The Average White Band (AWB) is a Scottish soul and funk band formed in Lon… Read Full Bio ↴The Average White Band (AWB) is a Scottish soul and funk band formed in London in 1972. 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.

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.

Every Beat of My Heart
Average White Band Lyrics

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Each day goes by, doing all the simple things I must
It takes most all that I have, waiting only for the nights
We'll be together, darling
Who knows what little time, we have baby
Let's make each minute seem, like it could be our last one alive
Hold me real close, till I know you can feel every beat of my heart
Turn out the light, let me stay here tonight
Keeping just as we are

Lying beside you, alone in the dark
Brings me closer to you, darling with every beat of my heart
As daylight comes, the morning steals the shadows from your face
Soon I'll be far on my way, taking along this memory
With me wherever I go, darling
Whatever little time we share, baby

There's not a minute, I don't realise just how much I care
Hold me real close, till I know you can feel every beat of my heart
Turn out the light, let me stay here tonight
Keeping just as we are
Lying beside you, alone in the dark
Brings me closer to you, darling with every beat of my heart
Closer to you darling, with every beat of my heart
Lying beside you, alone in the dark
Brings me closer to you, darling with every beat of my heart
Hold me real close, till I know you can feel every beat of my heart
Turn out the light, let me stay here tonight
Keeping just as we are

Lying beside you, alone in the dark
Brings me closer to you, darling with every beat of my heart

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Every Beat of My Heart" by Average White Band capture the intensity of a couple's love for one another. The singer describes carrying out everyday tasks, but all that is on their mind is being with their beloved. As night falls, they get to be together and savour each moment as if it could be their last. They delve into the present, holding each other tightly and feeling every pulse in their hearts. In the dark, the singer feels a deep connection with their partner and cherishes the time they have with them, even when they must soon part ways.

The song's chorus encapsulates the sentiment of the entire work: "Hold me real close, till I know you can feel every beat of my heart / Turn out the light, let me stay here tonight / Keeping just as we are / Lying beside you, alone in the dark / Brings me closer to you, darling with every beat of my heart." The chorus reiterates how crucial the singer's partner is to them and how they cherish every moment with them. The singer prioritizes the physical and emotional closeness they share with their partner, even if only for a moment.

The song is an embodiment of romantic love and how sometimes all that is truly important is the time you have with your loved one. It reminds us that true love is less about grand gestures and more about cherishing the little moments with one another. It is a song about appreciating the present and the people we have in our lives before time passes us by.

Line by Line Meaning

Each day goes by, doing all the simple things I must
Every passing day, I go about my daily routine, fulfilling all my duties and obligations.

It takes most all that I have, waiting only for the nights
My daily activities consume much of my energy and attention, leaving me longing for the peacefulness of nighttime.

We'll be together, darling
We will be in each other's company, my love.

Who knows what little time, we have baby
We cannot be sure of how long we will have together, my dear.

Let's make each minute seem, like it could be our last one alive
We should cherish every moment and make it feel special, as if it could be our very last.

Hold me real close, till I know you can feel every beat of my heart
Embrace me tightly until you can sense and feel the rhythm of my heartbeat.

Turn out the light, let me stay here tonight
Please turn off the light and allow me to rest here by your side for the night.

Keeping just as we are
Let us remain in this current state or position, without any changes or alterations.

Lying beside you, alone in the dark
Reposing next to you, in the darkness, with no other company.

Brings me closer to you, darling with every beat of my heart
This intimacy draws us together, my love, with my every heart beat.

As daylight comes, the morning steals the shadows from your face
As the sun rises, the morning light removes the shadows and darkness from your lovely face.

Soon I'll be far on my way, taking along this memory
Shortly, I will embark on a journey, but I will keep this moment with me as a cherished memory.

With me wherever I go, darling
This memory will accompany me wherever I go, my love.

There's not a minute, I don't realise just how much I care
I am constantly aware of my deep affection and love for you. Not a single minute goes by without this realization.

Closer to you darling, with every beat of my heart
With each passing moment, my heart grows closer to you, my dear.

Hold me real close, till I know you can feel every beat of my heart
Wrap your arms around me tightly until you can sense and feel the rhythm of my heartbeat.

Turn out the light, let me stay here tonight
Please switch off the light and allow me to spend the night here with you.

Keeping just as we are
Let us remain as we are, without any changes or alterations.

Lying beside you, alone in the dark
Reposing next to you, in the darkness, with no other company.

Brings me closer to you, darling with every beat of my heart
This intimacy draws us together, my love, with my every heart beat.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ALAN GORRIE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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