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
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
The song "It's a Mystery" by Average White Band talks about the confusion and bewilderment that the singer feels about being with someone who they think is out of their league. The song starts with the singer hearing their lover call their name, and they feel good inside. Even though they can't fathom why their partner is with them, they can't help but feel happy and grateful that they are together.
The singer expresses that they feel unspeakably lucky to have someone like their lover with them, despite the fact that there might have been other options out there. The chorus repeats the statement, "it's a mystery, what you see in me," punctuating the overall sense of amazement and disbelief throughout the song. The second verse talks about the singer's desire to be closer to their lover and hold and love them, always thinking about them.
Overall, the lyrics of "It's a Mystery" are a testament to the power of love to bring together people who may not appear to belong together on the surface. It also shows how love can be a mysterious and inexplicable force, driving us into situations we can't fully understand.
Line by Line Meaning
When I hear you call my name
As soon as I hear you say my name
So soft and low
In your gentle and tender voice
I get to feel so good
It makes me feel happy and content inside
Way down inside of me
Deep within my heart and soul
You could have had the choice
You had the option or opportunity
Of anyone you want
To choose anyone you desired
I can't understand why you're here
I don't comprehend why you chose me
Right here beside me now, oh baby
Being here next to me at this moment, my love
It's a mystery
This situation is perplexing and baffling
What you see in me
What qualities you find worthwhile in me
I know I got to
I am aware that I need to
Keep on seeing you
Continue to see you and spend time together
When I speak to you
While conversing with you
Over the telephone
On the phone
I just want to be right there
I simply want to be next to you
Beside you, girl
Next to you, my love
Cause holding you and loving you
Because embracing and caring for you
Is on my mind
I am constantly thinking about it
I'm so glad, I'm so glad
I am extremely happy and grateful
You feel the same way too
That you reciprocate my feelings
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: ALAN EDWARD GORRIE, HAMISH STUART, MALCOLM DUNCAN, OWEN MCINTYRE, ROBERT BRODRICK JAMES MCINTOSH, ROGER BALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@iamagumbochild
My sisters and I just sang every word together in Vegas like we did as teenagers and the magic of this song and those times still linger. My all time favorite group, love you Hamish!!
@L78lancer
Some of the best memories come from these songs. Have fun!
@afimakalani
It is my honor to post the first comment here. I have adored this song since childhood. I used to play this over and over again and sing along to the hook. Love the way they transitioned the verse to the hook from convential soul/r&b to a reggae bass groove. No diss to Robin Thicke, he's cool. But he does r&b. He has yet to demonstrate the DEPTH of soulfulness that the AWB demonstrate all the time in their songs. You can tell these dudes studied James Brown's horn driven funk and soul.
@tomrawley6549
been following them for over 40 years, timeless music, hamish has the sweetest soul voice, saw him last month in dundee, still doi9ng his thing, what a band , what a singer
@vaughnmiller3896
Hamish puts his heart 'n soul in every line... A real vocalist.
@anthonymann3413
Wow this music was and still the best bring it back stilllistening radio 2023
@geraldgirtman7540
One platinum album, one platinum single, four gold albums, a baby making classic love song ,one of the best live albums ❤ top 15 most covered groups in musical history!
@djangor4969
It's a mystery that this song never made it onto the very best of average white band album!!!
@chasistyhaigler5489
Classic jewel! I literally pulled over to listen to the lyrics....Tonight's the first time I heard this song thanks to SiriusXM.
@williamjackson2014
That bass line is a monster....very underrated band