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.
Nothing You Can Do
Average White Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No matter where you are
No one can steal your love
You gotta realize they won't get far
I can't give you up
No, not without a fight
Don't wanna let it up
C'mon fill me up
With your sweet, sweet lovin'
You got to set it up
Ain't no use in runnin'
'Cause there's
Nothing you can do
Could make me stop
Lovin' you baby
Nothing you can say
Could make me break away
You're mine, but I can't do a thing about it
It takes time to get there
And I just wanna sing about it to ya, yeah
I can't give you up
No, not without a fight
Don't wanna let it up
Just got to hang in tight
C'mon fill me up
With your sweet, sweet lovin'
You got to set me up
Ain't no use in runnin'
'Cause there's
Nothing you can do
Could make me stop
Lovin' you baby
Nothing you can say
Could make me break away
The song "Nothing You Can Do" by the Average White Band is about the unbreakable love between two people. The lyrics suggest that no matter what obstacles come between them, their love will remain strong. The repeated line "nothing you can do could make me stop loving you baby, nothing you can say could make me break away" highlights this conviction. The singer assures his partner that their love will survive any challenges, and he is willing to fight for it. He urges his partner to "fill me up with your sweet, sweet lovin'" and not to run away from their love.
The lyrics of the song are simple, but the message is powerful. It speaks to the universal human desire for a love that lasts. The song is also musically impressive with a groovy bass line and horn section, which is typical of the Average White Band's style. The vocal harmonies and the energetic rhythm make the song uplifting, creating a feel-good vibe.
Line by Line Meaning
It's real, you know you're with me all the time
No matter where you are, our love is always present and genuine.
No one can steal your love
Our love for each other is exclusive and cannot be taken away by anyone else.
You gotta realize they won't get far
Others who try to interfere with our relationship will not succeed.
I can't give you up
I cannot let go of our love.
No, not without a fight
I will fight to keep our love alive.
Don't wanna let it up
I do not want to give up on our love.
Just got to hang in tight
I need to hold on tight and persevere.
C'mon fill me up
Please give me your love and complete me.
With your sweet, sweet lovin'
I need your love as it is my lifeline.
You got to set it up
You need to establish our love and commit to it.
Ain't no use in runnin'
We cannot run away from our love.
'Cause there's
Because it is true.
Nothing you can do
No action can make me stop loving you.
Could make me stop
My love for you is unwavering.
Lovin' you baby
I love you, my dear.
Nothing you can say
No words can ever make me break away from you.
Could make me break away
My love for you is too strong to break away from.
You're mine, but I can't do a thing about it
You belong to me, but it is out of my control and I cannot change it.
It takes time to get there
It requires time and effort to build and maintain a strong loving relationship.
And I just wanna sing about it to ya, yeah
I just want to express my love for you through my music.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: A. GORRIE, H. STUART, R. BALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@domoniqueayers153
AWB CONGRATULATIONS
AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO THEIR LATE BAND MEMBER & HIS FAMILY.
AWB GREATEST LEGACY.
THEY BROUGHT ME GREAT JOY, LOVE & PEACE
THAT FILLED MY WORLD W/HAPPINESS DUE TO
AUTISM, DYSLEXIA & FEAR MOST OF MY LIFE.
R.I.P....TO THEIR LATE BAND MEMBER.
@domoniqueayers153
I REALLY MISS THIS ALBUM BY
AWB I RECALL ALL TO WELL WHEN I FIRST HEARD WHILE
VISITING OHIO WITH SOME FRIENDS AND WE GOT TO HEAR SOME OF THE NEW MUSIC THAT
HAD NOT REACHED OUR HOME TOWN YET AND THIS AMAZING
NEW RECORDING ARTIST AT THAT TIME STOOD OUTSTANDING & WE LISTEN TO
THE OTHERS LIKE THE SPINNERS, AL GREEN &
TOWER OF POWER AND THAT
GROUP GOT TO BE OUT NEXT FAVORITE PICK & THEIR GREAT MUSIC FROM ALL THE ARTIST PUT US ALL IN A GREAT MOOD
TO ENJOY THEM ALL THE WAY HOME & THIS WHAT I REALLY
LOVE AND ENJOY ABOUT OLD SCHOOL MUSIC THEY NEVER HESITATE TO EXPRESS IN WORDS
OF THEIR SONGS ABOUT THE GENUINE LOVE THEY MAY HAVE
FOR THAT VERY SPECIAL LADY OR WOMAN IN THEIR LIFE, BUT
THE PROOF IS THEIR MUSIC & LYRICS OF THEIR MANY GREAT
LOVE SONG
@MichaelGeneSullivan
This is one of the song I can listen to on loop for an embarrassing amount of time. I saw AWB in concert as a kid. The opening act was a local band, so most people came to see them, and when they finished a lot of people left - which meant me and my sister could move from the balcony to down near the stage. Same summer I saw Earth, Wind, and Fire in concert, same venue. Those were the best concerts - so far…
@btinsley1
SIMILAR MEMORIES. back in the mid-70s when i was a teen, many times i remember seeing 2, sometimes 3 different groups perform for $12.50. I thought those times would last forever...
@shannoncleaves5837
I saw them in Chicago at The House Of Blues in 2008. They're on my list also as one of the best concerts I've attended. Each member signed my AWB greatest hits 2-Disc CD cover booklet. Such a cool and special night for me!
@lilamydogscruffy8842
Wow. I haven't heard this song since the 70's. This song is the jam right here! Love AWB since the 70's. Real music. When lyrics had meaning about true love and being in love. No cussing, name calling, or putting down women. A great song.
@normanjohnson8307
Still sounds real after 40 something years here in Grand Rapids,Michigan,,,AWB had such tight harmonies, Alan Gorrie and Hamish Stuart were incredible ,RIP SAX player Malcolm”Molly” Duncan and I’m still listening to them since ‘74 AWB THE WHITE ALBUM IS FIRE in 2019 !!!!
@laurasalazar2847
This never going to go out of style.
@speedracer1945
One of the best albums of 1974 , takes me back to driving down the road in my 68' Buick heading to the bars in my polyester shirt and pair of tight dress pants and playing AWB on my 8-track . This song was my favorite .
@michaelallard2640
This song is in the SWEET SPOT and that instrumental break is just too cool !
@devikafollosco2456
These guys' sound is soooooo gorgeous!!! Gorgeous lead vocals and the band is hot! Treasures!
@nathanalston6939
love this song, immensely. THIS, is MUSIC as it SHOULD be.