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.

Got the Love
Average White Band Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Babe, you been gone such a long time
I've been thinkin' 'bout what it is we've got
Not all the time in the world, but we got a lot
There is much, much more than a ghost of a chance
We can make it right this time
'Cause you've got to stay mine

Got the love

Got to make it work on you
Got the love
Just can't keep it hid

You might not think that I care at all, But I do
You know me so much better than anyone else
It should be easy to convince you that I got the love

Got the love
Got to make it work on you
Got the love
Just can't keep it hid

So come on girl, let's work it out
C'mon and take my hand
'Cause I got the love

Got the love
Got to make it work on you

Got the love
Just can't keep it hid

Overall Meaning

The song "Got the Love" by Average White Band is a soulful ode to a long-lost love, with the singer acknowledging that while they may not have all the time in the world, they still have a chance to make things right with their partner. The singer reflects on the fact that they have been thinking about what they have together and despite the turbulence of their past, they believe they have much more than just a ghost of a chance of working everything out. The chorus emphasizes the singer's desire to make things work and not let their love go unnoticed or hidden, imploring their partner to take their hand and work it out together, as the singer affirms that they have the love necessary to make it happen.

With its upbeat tempo and soulful instrumentation, "Got the Love" stands out as a classic example of the funk and R&B sounds that characterized the late 70s music scene. However, the lyrics themselves also reveal a poignancy that belies the song's upbeat tone, with the singer expressing a deep sense of longing for their partner and a desire to convince them that they have what it takes to make things work.

Line by Line Meaning

Babe, you been gone such a long time
It's been a while since you left

I've been thinkin' 'bout what it is we've got
I've been reflecting on our relationship

Not all the time in the world, but we got a lot
We don't have unlimited time, but we have a significant amount

There is much, much more than a ghost of a chance
The odds are in our favor

We can make it right this time
We have the opportunity to fix things

'Cause you've got to stay mine
I want you to be with me

Got the love
I have strong feelings of love

Got to make it work on you
I need to express my love to you

Just can't keep it hid
I can't keep my feelings of love hidden

You might not think that I care at all, But I do
You may not believe that I care, but I really do

You know me so much better than anyone else
You understand me more than anybody else