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.
One Look Over My Shoulder
Average White Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wish I could say that it isn't so
We've put each other through so much pain
It doesn't make sense anymore
Still it tears me up inside to think
that I might never see you again
I can't pretend
While we've been together
I can't coldly walk away I gotta have
One look over my shoulder
One last look in your eyes
The outlook may be colder
is this really good-bye
It's too late got to face it
We've come to a fork in the road
The signpost shows a different way
And I realize
I've got to stop thinking with my heart
Make a new start
We've come through so much stormy weather
Tried to stay together
I can't simply walk away without
One look over my shoulder
One last look in your eyes
The outlet may be colder
is this really good-bye
The song "One Look Over My Shoulder (Is This Really Goodbye) by Average White Band is a reflection on the end of a relationship that has ended in a painful way. The song is a soulful take on the heartbreak of having to say goodbye to someone with whom you have shared a deep connection. The lyrics capture the emotions of two people who have tried to make the relationship work but have come to a point where they have to face the reality that the end has come. The choruses of the song serve as a plea from the singer for one last look, a moment of closure before the final goodbye.
The lyrics of the song are full of raw emotions, pain, and regret. The lead singer of the band delivers the lines with a soulful and plaintive sound that brings the sentiment of the song to life. The song talks about the struggles of a couple who have gone through so many obstacles but have come to a crossroads where they have to make a decision.
The chorus of the song is catchy and memorable, with a melody that stays with the listener. The repetition of the chorus drives the message of the song home as the singer implores the other person to look back one last time before they part ways forever. The song is a powerful evocation of the pain of goodbye and the longing for one last moment of connection before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
Here we are untogether
We are currently separated and not together as we used to be
Wish I could say that it isn't so
I regret that we are separated and I wish it wasn't the case
We've put each other through so much pain
Our relationship was filled with so much pain inflicted by both of us
It doesn't make sense anymore
Our relationship doesn't make any sense to continue anymore
Still it tears me up inside to think that I might never see you again
The thought of never seeing you again is too painful for me to handle
I can't pretend
I cannot fake my emotions anymore
We've been through so much stormy weather While we've been together
Our relationship had gone through several rough patches
I can't coldly walk away I gotta have
I cannot just leave without having some closure
One look over my shoulder
I need to take one last glance
One last look in your eyes
I need to see that you feel the same way as me
The outlook may be colder
The future seems bleak for us
is this really good-bye
Is this the end of our relationship?
It's too late got to face it
The decision has been made and it's time to accept it
We've come to a fork in the road
We are at a point where we have to make a decision
The signpost shows a different way
The options available to us lead to different paths
And I realize
I have understood what needs to happen next
I've got to stop thinking with my heart
I need to stop letting my emotions get the better of me
Make a new start
It's time for us to start afresh
We've come through so much stormy weather
We overcame several difficulties in our relationship
Tried to stay together
We did our best to find common ground and continue our relationship
I can't simply walk away without
I need some sort of closure before I can move on
One look over my shoulder
I need to take one last glance
One last look in your eyes
I need to see that you feel the same way as me
The outlet may be colder
The future seems bleak for us
is this really good-bye
Is this the end of our relationship?
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Roger Ball, Alan Edward Gorrie, Hamish Stuart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind