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.
I Wanna Be Loved
Average White Band Lyrics
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What exactly are you thinking
Let me begin to ease your mind
Whatever the devil pays, for left handed ways
You got to know I'm dealing for my life
Ooh yeah, Save your love for a minute
Keep all your thoughts on the line
I couldn't begin to live for another day
I want to be loved, ooh yeah
I want to be, want to be loved by you
Ooh, I want to be loved, ooh darling
I want to be loved by you, oh yeah
All the habits of a lifetime
I've been trying hard to make them history
I'm thinking if we got to smooth out the rough spots baby
Say girl "You'd get the best of me"
I want to be loved, ooh yeah
I want to be, want to be loved by you
Ooh, I want to be loved, ooh darling
I want to be loved by you, oh yeah
Girl if you're with me
You've got to forgive all my past
I want to be loved....
The lyrics to Average White Band's song "I Wanna Be Loved" express the desire for love and acceptance from a specific person. The song's narrator addresses their thoughts and intentions directly to this person, aiming to ease their mind and win their affection. The line "Whatever the devil pays, for left-handed ways" suggests that the singer is willing to go to great lengths and make sacrifices in order to prove their love. They emphasize that they are dealing for their life, implying that the stakes are high and their happiness depends on being loved by this person.
The lyrics continue to convey the singer's intense longing for love and their willingness to do anything to attain it. They express the desire to be loved exclusively by this person, stating "I want to be loved by you." The repetition of this phrase throughout the song underscores the singer's yearning and underscores the importance of this desire.
The singer also acknowledges their past mistakes and flaws, referring to them as "the habits of a lifetime." They express their dedication to making positive changes and becoming a better person. By wanting to smooth out the rough spots and offering the best they have to give, they hope that this person will see their true potential and choose to love them.
Line by Line Meaning
(Ooh yeah, aah,ooh yeah,aah aah aah, yeah)
Expressing excitement and anticipation
What exactly are you thinking
Asking for clarification about the person's thoughts
Let me begin to ease your mind
Offering comfort and support
Whatever the devil pays, for left handed ways
Acknowledging the consequences of unconventional actions
You got to know I'm dealing for my life
Stressing the importance of the situation
Ooh yeah, Save your love for a minute
Requesting the person to hold back their affection temporarily
Keep all your thoughts on the line
Encouraging the person to focus on the present moment
I couldn't begin to live for another day
Expressing dependence on the person for happiness
I wouldn't die for the chance to make you mine
Clarifying that the person wouldn't go to extreme measures
I want to be loved, ooh yeah
Expressing a desire for love and affection
I want to be, want to be loved by you
Specifically desiring the love of the person
Ooh, I want to be loved, ooh darling
Reiterating the desire for love with endearment
I want to be loved by you, oh yeah
Continuing to express the desire for the person's love
All the habits of a lifetime
Referring to long-standing patterns and behaviors
I've been trying hard to make them history
Putting in effort to change and grow as a person
I'm thinking if we got to smooth out the rough spots baby
Reflecting on the need to overcome challenges for a better relationship
Say girl "You'd get the best of me"
Asserting that the person would bring out the artist's true self
Girl if you're with me
Addressing the person directly
You've got to forgive all my past
Asking for forgiveness for previous actions or mistakes
I want to be loved....
Reinforcing the desire for love
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAN EDWARD GORRIE, DARYL HALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind