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.

Everybody's Darling
Average White Band Lyrics

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Diamonds and furs woah
Bleached or torn blue jeans
What you wear could never matter baby
(You shall blew it all)
Sad it don't last oh (this is sad)
To the point you stop it
Oh everyone is overboard for you

Ooh you are everybody's darling, you know that you are
Sweet talk wherever you go
But you maybe everybody's darling
But where can you run to when you are all alone
Ooh you are everybody's darling, you know that you are
Sweet talk wherever you show
But you maybe everybody's darling
But where can you turn to when you are all alone

Shining sunny (shining sunny)
Groovy on a Monday
Baby, don't you worry, no
'Cause you got it all in the palm of your hand

Everybody's darling, you know that you are
Sweet talk wherever you go
Oh you maybe everybody's darling
But where can you run to when you are all alone
Oh yes, you are everybody's darling, you know that you are
Sweet talk wherever you show
But you maybe everybody's darling
But where can you turn to when you are all alone

Oh sometimes you gonna be alone oh-oh
Everybody's darling (yeah, yes, yes you are)
If you wanna know by now baby
Ooh precious little darling
Oh that's what you are, something special to me baby
Ooh baby, gotta keep on trying
Don't make the blues get you down baby
Everybody's darling oh-oh oh-oh
Ye-aah
Precious little darling
Gotta keep on trying
You know you must make it keep on smiling

Ooh darling
Ooh darling, ooh, ooh

Overall Meaning

The song "Everybody's Darling" by Average White Band talks about a person who is stylish and attractive, often wearing diamonds and furs, and looking stunning in both bleached or torn blue jeans. The person's outer appearance is the envy of everyone, and people often compliment them wherever they go. However, the song also talks about the loneliness that comes with such attention - everyone wants to be friends with this person, but when they are alone, they have nowhere to turn. Despite their popularity, they are still searching for something to fill the void.

The chorus repeats that the person is everybody's darling and that they know it. The song is trying to get to the person to wake up to the reality of their situation - that they may have everything on the surface, but it is important to look beyond that and find true happiness. The song encourages the person to keep trying, not to let the blues get them down, and to keep smiling.

Line by Line Meaning

Diamonds and furs woah
Expensive clothes and accessories

Bleached or torn blue jeans
No matter what you wear

What you wear could never matter baby
Clothes don't define you

(You shall blew it all)
You'll regret it all

Sad it don't last oh
It's unfortunate it can't last

To the point you stop it
It ends abruptly

Oh everyone is overboard for you
Everyone adores you

Ooh you are everybody's darling, you know that you are
You're popular and loved

Sweet talk wherever you go
You say what people want to hear

But you maybe everybody's darling
But you might not truly belong to anyone

But where can you run to when you are all alone
Who do you turn to when you need someone?