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.
Get It Up for Love
Average White Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It’s a tricky situation
Hard to say just what the outcome will be
If you saw the riddle you can save your soul
Chase love’s shadows till the river’s running cold.
Hey, babe, get it up, get it up for love
Get it up, get it up for love.
There’s a longing in the people
No one knows just when the heartaches will cease
You can free and tell her, you can stay and fight
You can stand in line and scream : ‘Hey, it’s just my right’.
Hey, babe, get it up, get it up for love
Get it up, get it up for love, babe
Get it up, get it up for love.
So a smile, another fallin’ star
...........................
So until we find
Just put your hand in mine, oh yeah.
It’s a tricky situation
Heaven knows just where the struggle must end
If it takes forever, I’d got the time above
I won’t desert you when the tables have turned.
Hey, babe, get it up, get it up for love
Get it up, get it up for love, babe
Get it up, get it up for love.
Get it up, get it up for love, babe
Get it up, get it up for love
All the way for love, get it up all the way
Get it up all the way.
The song "Get It Up for Love" by Average White Band explores the theme of love and the struggles that come with it. The first stanza talks about how complicated love can be and how its outcome is uncertain. It refers to a riddle that needs to be solved, indicating the complexity of relationships. However, if love is found, the reward is immense and soul-saving. The line "Chase love’s shadows till the river’s running cold" alludes to the idea that finding true love is worth the effort, even if it takes a long time.
The chorus, "Hey, babe, get it up, get it up for love" is a rallying cry to all lovers to persevere in the pursuit of their love. The second stanza talks about the universal longing for love and how it's uncertain when the heartaches will stop. One can fight for it or stand in line and scream, but the song reminds the listener that the pursuit of love is necessary and just.
Finally, the third stanza is a declaration that, no matter how complicated the search for love may be, the singer is willing to go on the journey with the loved one. The line "If it takes forever, I’d got the time above" conveys the idea that love is worth the wait. The song is a reminder that love's pursuit is challenging but ultimately worth the effort.
Line by Line Meaning
It’s a tricky situation
The current circumstance is difficult to navigate.
Hard to say just what the outcome will be
It is uncertain what will happen in the end.
If you saw the riddle you can save your soul
If you understand the puzzle, you can avoid negative consequences.
Chase love’s shadows till the river’s running cold.
Pursue love until the passion runs out.
Hey, babe, get it up, get it up for love
Encouragement to have enthusiasm for love.
Get it up, get it up for love, babe
Further encouragement to show passion for love.
There’s a longing in the people
People want to find love.
No one knows just when the heartaches will cease
It is uncertain when heartache will come to an end.
You can free and tell her, you can stay and fight
You can either let go or keep trying to make a relationship work.
You can stand in line and scream: ‘Hey, it’s just my right’.
You can demand to be treated fairly and respectfully.
So a smile, another fallin’ star
Life is fleeting and we should appreciate happiness while we have it.
So until we find
In the meantime,
Just put your hand in mine, oh yeah.
We should support and comfort each other.
Heaven knows just where the struggle must end
It is unclear when the difficult times will be over.
If it takes forever, I’d got the time above
If it takes a long time, I am willing to wait.
I won’t desert you when the tables have turned.
I will not abandon you when things change.
Get it up, get it up for love, babe
Continued encouragement to show love and passion.
Get it up, get it up for love
More encouragement to show love and passion.
All the way for love, get it up all the way
Fully commit to love and show it in every aspect of your life.
Get it up all the way.
Fully embrace love and passion.
Contributed by William Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Desleigh Monaghan
Only ever heard the original version by Ned Doheny before.
Love this version too. Thanks for posting
Tom Santamera
do yourself a favour and check the tata vega version
Marcia Romero
versão de 1975 com David Cassidy(astro do seriado televisivo;Familia Dó-re-mi) muito boa também.
trinimadnai
this is real music!
Viliame Niumataiwalu
Thank you AWB, brings back fond memories of times past & RIP Benny E King
Mumford Man
and luther
Eddy Hailwood
Memories, what an album
Joe Stephan
The late, great Ben E. King with the Average White Band is the musical equivalent of a runaway truck! Smokin!!
samarvem
What a great combination.
Whitfield Palmer
This version comes in 2nd after Tata Vega’s rendition, which is about as perfect a song can be.