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.
LOVE YOUR LIFE
Average White Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sometimes your heart is heavy, beware
If you feel that you're ready to give up, keep on
Don't have to live up to what others expect of you
There's something new in every situation
So much to laugh about, so much to enjoy
The power of love
Help from above will only come
Wanna tell you
Love your life, give it all you got
Love your life, it's a blessing
Love your life
Love your life
Love your life (life) it's a blessing
Surely it's not yours, no, no
When I get down, feel like I wanna quit
I believe I got the strength to handle it
Make every moment big as it can be
There's only one thing to do
So you got to
Love your life, give it all you got
Love your life, it's a blessing
Love your life
Love your life
Love your life it's a blessing
Surely it's not yours, no, no
Love your life, love your life
Love your life, yeah
Aah
The message behind Average White Band's Love Your Life is clear: life is a gift and should be cherished no matter how difficult things may seem. The lead singer encourages listeners to not give up in times of despair and to find joy in every situation. He emphasizes that we do not need to live up to the expectations of others, but should instead focus on making the most of every moment.
The verses speak to a deep truth within human nature, which is to focus on our problems and difficulties, causing us to fall into despair. But, as the lead singer reminds us, we have the strength to handle any challenge that comes our way. By choosing to "love our life," we choose to see the good in every situation, the laughter to be found, and to enjoy the blessings that come our way. The power of love and help from above, according to the song, can only come when we first help ourselves.
Line by Line Meaning
I believe there's no place for despair
There's no reason to be hopeless or disappointed with life.
Sometimes your heart is heavy, beware
You may feel discouraged or burdened, but don't lose hope.
If you feel that you're ready to give up, keep on
Even if you feel like quitting, don't give up and keep going.
Don't have to live up to what others expect of you
Ignore others' expectations and live life on your terms.
There's something new in every situation
There's always an opportunity to learn and grow from every situation.
So much to laugh about, so much to enjoy
Life is full of funny and happy moments to revel in.
The power of love
Love is a powerful force that can uplift and heal.
Help from above will only come
Divine assistance will be provided only if you help yourself first.
If we help ourselves
We need to take action and help ourselves before expecting assistance from others or a higher power.
Love your life, give it all you got
Cherish and make the most out of life by giving it your all.
Love your life, it's a blessing
Life is a gift to be grateful for and loved in return.
Love your life (life) it's a blessing
Embrace life wholeheartedly as it is a gift.
Surely it's not yours, no, no
You don't own life, but you have the chance to enjoy it to the fullest.
When I get down, feel like I wanna quit
When I feel low or like giving up, I remind myself of the inner strength I possess.
I believe I got the strength to handle it
I trust in myself to handle and overcome any challenging situation.
Make every moment big as it can be
Maximize every moment to its fullest potential.
There's only one thing to do
That one thing is to love your life!
Love your life, love your life
Repeatedly emphasizing the importance of loving life.
Love your life, yeah
Yes, love your life!
Aah
An expression of satisfaction and happiness with life.
Writer(s): Ball Roger, Duncan Malcolm, Gorrie Alan Edward, Mcintyre Owen Onnie, Stuart James Hamish, Ferrone Stephen
Contributed by Grace W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.