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.
There's Always Someone Waiting
Average White Band Lyrics
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Looking over your shoulder
When you go to pick up the prize
That you've been working for
But don't tell me you've been taken
Everyday you get older
If you take a look inside
You don't have to look no more
There's always someone waiting
Trying to pick up your woman
And the time you think it's safe
Then she's been spoken for
Better watch out where it's going
Just in case it don't come back
And the money that you spend
Turns into days and nights
So I wonder, yes, I wonder who
Yes I wonder, well I really do
Who is waiting, who is waiting for me
There's always someone waiting
Looking over your shoulder
When you think you got it made
And everything is lemonade
But you never seem to get there
Someone's taken the cream
And you don't realize that
You're still stuck in between
There's always something creeping
Taking over you body
When you think you got control
It's getting closer to you
But you know that there's a reason
For the time that it takes
Trying to cut you down to size
Just when you start to fake
Yes I wonder, I wonder who
Yes I wonder, yes I really do
Might it be your next door neighbor
Maybe your agent or even your friend
I said be careful, tread wary
Be careful on who you depend
Well I just wonder, who is waiting for me
The Average White Band's "There's Always Someone Waiting" is a song about the reality of life and how there will always be people who try to bring you down or take what you have. The lyrics suggest a sense of paranoia and caution, with lines like "Looking over your shoulder" and "Better watch out where it's going." The song warns about potential conflicts that can arise when chasing success, women, and money. It encourages the listener to self-reflect and be aware of their surroundings and their relationships.
The first stanza warns against people who might steal your success, saying "There's always someone waiting, trying to pick up your woman," and "When you think it's safe, then she's been spoken for." The second stanza addresses the feeling of being stuck between success and failure, saying "You're still stuck in between." The final stanza raises the question of who might be waiting for the singer, encouraging them to be cautious about who they trust.
Overall, the song is a commentary on the difficult decisions that come with life and how you can't always trust those around you. It encourages introspection and contemplation of one's relationships and goals.
Line by Line Meaning
There's always someone waiting
There is always someone ready to take advantage of your situation or hard work.
Looking over your shoulder
Keeping a close eye on you.
When you go to pick up the prize
When you finally achieve your goal.
That you've been working for
Your hard-earned achievement.
But don't tell me you've been taken
Don't tell me you've been duped or fooled.
Everyday you get older
Time is constantly moving forward, and you're not getting any younger.
If you take a look inside
If you introspect and reflect.
You don't have to look no more
You will find what you're searching for.
Trying to pick up your woman
Trying to steal your romantic partner.
And the time you think it's safe
The moment you feel secure about your relationship.
Then she's been spoken for
Someone else has taken her.
Better watch out where it's going
Be careful where your life is headed.
Just in case it don't come back
In case things don't work out for you.
And the money that you spend
The money you use to achieve your goals.
Turns into days and nights
It takes a lot of effort and time to achieve your goals.
So I wonder, yes, I wonder who
I ponder and question who might be waiting to take advantage of me.
Who is waiting, who is waiting for me
Who is waiting to take advantage of me?
When you think you got it made
When you feel like you've finally succeeded.
And everything is lemonade
Everything is perfect and sweet.
But you never seem to get there
You never really reach your final destination.
Someone's taken the cream
Someone has already taken the best part.
And you don't realize that
You're not aware that you're still stuck in between.
You're still stuck in between
You're still trying to achieve your goal.
There's always something creeping
Something is always trying to hold you back.
Taking over you body
It's taking control of your life.
When you think you got control
When you feel like you have power over your own life.
It's getting closer to you
It's still trying to control you.
But you know that there's a reason
You're aware that there's a cause for this interference.
For the time that it takes
It takes time for you to overcome this.
Trying to cut you down to size
It's trying to make you smaller and less significant.
Just when you start to fake
Just when you start to pretend.
Might it be your next door neighbor
It could be someone you least expect.
Maybe your agent or even your friend
Even someone you trust and depend on.
I said be careful, tread wary
Be cautious and watchful.
Be careful on who you depend
Be mindful of who you rely on.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ALAN GORRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind