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.

It’s A Mystery
Average White Band Lyrics

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When I hear you call my name
So soft and low
I get to feel so good
Way down inside of me
You could have had the choice
Of anyone you want
I can't understand why you're here
Right here beside me now, oh baby

It's a mystery
What you see in me
I know I got to
Keep on seeing you
It's a mystery
What you see in me

When I speak to you
Over the telephone
I just want to be right there
Beside you, girl
Cause holding you and loving you
Is on my mind

I'm so glad, I'm so glad
You feel the same way too

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Average White Band's song It's A Mystery speak to the confusion and disbelief one feels when they are loved by someone they deem to be out of their league. The opening lines acknowledge the euphoria that arises when one hears someone they adore say their name - the thrill goes deep within them. The singer then marvels at their partner's decision to choose them as their significant other, stating that they don't understand why their chosen. The refrain of "It's a mystery, what you see in me" alludes to the fact that the singer can't understand why someone so wonderful has chosen them as their love interest, indicating the self-doubt and disbelief they feel towards their partner's decision.

The second stanza portrays the singer's desire to be in his lover's presence beyond a phone conversation. He longs to hold and love them, and he is joyously surprised that his lover reciprocates those same feelings. The chorus, stating "It's a mystery, what you see in me," is repeated, emphasizing the underlying theme of self-doubt and disbelief about the relationship. The lyrics of this song successfully capture the feelings of disbelief and amazement when one is loved by someone deemed to be superior or out of their league.

It’s A MysteryAverage White Band Lyrics

It’s A Mystery
Average White Band Lyrics