The precursor to BTO was the band Brave Belt, which was formed in 1970 by Randy Bachman and Chad Allan (both of The Guess Who), Robbie Bachman and Fred Turner. An original form of the group included musician Keith Emerson of The Nice (and later of Emerson, Lake & Palmer), but he was dropped due to illness. After two moderately successful Brave Belt albums came out, Allan was replaced by Tim Bachman, the third of the Bachman brothers, and the band changed its name to Bachman-Turner Overdrive.
Hailing from Winnipeg, Canada as stated before, BTO released their first album under that name in the spring of 1973. Their second album was Bachman-Turner Overdrive II, and it became a massive hit in the US and their native Canada. It also yielded their best-remembered single, "Takin' Care of Business" written by Randy Bachman. BTO were one of the early hard rock bands which opted for songs backed by catchy melodies and powerful riffing. The band also promoted a strait-laced lifestyle due to the Mormon religious beliefs of Randy Bachman.
Tim Bachman left because of limited performance skills and personal lifestyle issues, and was replaced by Blair Thornton. The first album with the modified lineup, 1974's Not Fragile became a hit, including the #1 single "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet". The band continued to steadily produce successful albums through the mid-1970s including Four Wheel Drive and Head On (both 1975).
After the release of Freeways in 1977, Randy Bachman left the group for a solo career and another band, Ironhorse. Randy was replaced by Jim Clench, formerly of April Wine, and BTO released a pair of albums before breaking up in 1979. They reunited in 1983, leading to a lawsuit between the brothers, as one group, led by Randy, toured as Bachman-Turner Overdrive and another, led by Robbie, toured as BTO (Robbie Bachman, Fred Turner, Blair Thornton, and Randy Murray). Interestingly enough, in 1984 the line up for Bachman-Turner's first studio LP in 5 years consisted of Randy and Tim Bachman, Fred Turner and Garry Peterson on drums. In 1986 they were the opening band for the newly reformed Van Halen. By that time Fred Turner had left the band, probably to join the "other" BTO. Robbie Bachman's BTO toured and performed until early 2005.
Musicians Randy Bachman and Fred Turner reunited in 2010 for a tour and collaboration on new songs. In 2010, they notably played the half-time show at the Grey Cup in Edmonton, AB.
Website: http://www.bachmanandturner.com/
Bad News Travels Fast
Bachman-Turner Overdrive Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When trouble comes lookin' I'm waitin' there
Been done wrong, been confused
The last thing I wanted was to be abused
I thought that I could change my ways somehow
Bad news travels fast and it's got me now
I thought I could undo the things I'd done
Bad news travels fast and I'm on the run
Bad news travels fast
Bad news travels fast
Bad news travels fast
And I'm on the run again
Tried to run, tried to hide
'Cause somethin's always pushin' me from inside
Prayed for luck, hoped to win
But when the dice rolled you know I lose again
I thought that I could change my ways somehow
Bad news travels fast and it's got me now
I thought I could undo the things I'd done
Bad news travels fast and I'm on the run
Bad news travels fast
Bad news travels fast
Bad news travels fast
And I'm on the run again
Done everything, been everywhere
When trouble comes lookin' I'm waitin' there
Been done wrong, been confused
The last thing I wanted was to be abused
I thought that I could change my ways somehow
Bad news travels fast and it's got me now
I thought I could undo the things I'd done
Bad news travels fast and I'm on the run
Bad news travels fast
Bad news travels fast
Bad news travels fast
And I'm on the run agin
Bad news travels fast...
The lyrics of Bachman-Turner Overdrive's "Bad News Travels Fast" is about someone who has done everything and been everywhere, but no matter what they do, trouble always seems to follow them. The individual has been hurt, confused and abused in the past, and although they thought they could change their ways or undo their mistakes, bad news still travels fast and they find themselves on the run again.
The lyrics appear to convey a sense of inevitability - that no matter how hard one tries to escape their problems, the consequences of their actions will always catch up with them. This can be interpreted as a cautionary tale about the importance of taking responsibility for one's choices and actions, as well as facing the consequences of those actions.
Overall, the lyrics of "Bad News Travels Fast" convey a sense of desperation and hopelessness, as the individual seems to be trapped in a cycle of bad luck, no matter what they do.
Line by Line Meaning
Done everything, been everywhere
I have experienced everything and been to every place.
When trouble comes lookin' I'm waitin' there
I am ready to face any difficulty that comes my way.
Been done wrong, been confused
I have been mistreated and uncertain about my actions.
The last thing I wanted was to be abused
I never expected to be mistreated or to suffer because of my actions.
I thought that I could change my ways somehow
I believed that I could improve myself and behavior in some way.
Bad news travels fast and it's got me now
Unfortunately, my bad reputation and negative consequences of my actions have caught up with me.
I thought I could undo the things I'd done
I hoped that I could reverse the negative impact of my past actions and decisions.
Bad news travels fast and I'm on the run
However, my reputation has caught up with me and I must flee the consequences of my actions.
Tried to run, tried to hide
I attempted to avoid my problems and responsibility.
'Cause somethin's always pushin' me from inside
However, I am unable to resist the temptation or influence that drives me to make poor choices.
Prayed for luck, hoped to win
I have begged for favorable outcomes and success.
But when the dice rolled you know I lose again
Despite my hopes, I have continued to face negative outcomes and consequences of my actions.
And I'm on the run again
Once again, I must flee from the negative consequences of my actions.
Bad news travels fast
Negative information about someone or something spreads quickly.
And I'm on the run again
I am once again in a position where I must flee the negative consequences of my actions and their associated reputation.
Writer(s): Randy Bachman
Contributed by Leah L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tony Patrizzio
Love this tune, classic BTO
Gilmar Corrêa
Born in Canela city of Rio Grande do Sul state,country Brasil. BTO is best of best.
phillip chmiel
Good Jam.
John Tvs
This is the theme of the truck: Bad News Travels Fast™.
TheCrashman
finally im not the only person with this song uploaded
Manfred Altmann
@alle deutschen Zuhörer: Hat jemand gemerkt, dass Fred Turner bei 3:17 eine Äußerung macht, die so klingt, als ob man im Deutschen "Scheißdreck" sagt (grins!)
Jeff Hoag
Es tut mir Leid, Manfred Altmann, aber er sagte "Strikes like lightnin'."
ERICK & ROLL
lirycs?
Jos Zomer
TSS, TSS :-))