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/
Down And Out Man
Bachman-Turner Overdrive Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know she really trusted me
Then I ran away to Cleveland
From a brand new bride-to-be
Held a preacher's plate in Memphis
On a dark cold Sunday night
By Tuesday was in Alabam'
I'm a down and out man
Guess you wonder why I am
I'm a down and out man
Guess you wonder why I am
Tried to boogie in a honky-tonk
But my old guitar was out of tune
That's when they didn't like my music
So they tried to throw me out the room
I was living in a funky world
They were living in three four time
All my friends are into rock and roll
Or they ain't no friends of mine
I'm a down and out man
Guess you wonder why I am
I'm a down and out man
Guess you wonder why I am
(Down and out man)
(Guess you wonder why I am)
I'm a down and out man
Guess you wonder why I am
I'm a down and out man
Guess you wonder why I am
(Down and out man)
(Guess you wonder why I am)
I'm a down and out man
Guess you wonder why I am
I'm a down and out man
Guess you wonder why I am
The lyrics to Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s song “Down and Out Man” tell the story of a man who has made some poor choices in his life and is now living the consequences. The first verse tells of a woman who trusted him, but he ran away to Cleveland to be with someone else. The second verse describes how he held a preacher’s plate in Memphis, but by the next Tuesday he was in Alabama, teaching people how to “do it right.” The third verse shows his struggles as a musician, trying to play in a honky-tonk, but not being well-received by the crowd because his guitar was out of tune. Throughout the song, the singer reveals that he feels like he is living in a different world than those around him, as he is into rock and roll while his peers are into other types of music.
Overall, the lyrics to “Down and Out Man” are about making mistakes, experiencing the consequences of those mistakes, and feeling like an outsider in the world. The singer is vulnerable and open about his experiences, admitting that he is a “down and out man” and wondering why he is in this position. Through the song, he shares his struggles and failures, creating a sense of empathy and understanding in the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
Had a widow down in Boston
There was a widowed woman in Boston whom I knew.
You know she really trusted me
This woman had a great deal of faith in me.
Then I ran away to Cleveland
However, I left her and went to Cleveland.
From a brand new bride-to-be
I abandoned not only the widow, but also a woman to whom I was about to be married.
Held a preacher's plate in Memphis
I worked in Memphis as a server in a church.
On a dark cold Sunday night
It was a particularly gloomy and cold night when I worked there.
By Tuesday was in Alabam'
Shortly after, I had already moved to Alabama.
Showing people how to do it right
I was teaching others how to live correctly.
I'm a down and out man
Despite my claims of being knowledgeable, I find myself struggling and defeated.
Guess you wonder why I am
You must be questioning why I am in this state.
Tried to boogie in a honky-tonk
I attempted to dance to music at a bar.
But my old guitar was out of tune
Unfortunately, my guitar wasn't properly tuned.
That's when they didn't like my music
Consequently, they didn't enjoy my performance.
So they tried to throw me out the room
They even tried to physically remove me from the venue.
I was living in a funky world
My life was complicated and unpredictable.
They were living in three four time
While those around me had a simpler, regular way of life.
All my friends are into rock and roll
My acquaintances are interested in music that's more modern and energetic than what I enjoy.
Or they ain't no friends of mine
If someone doesn't share my musical preference, I can't consider them as a friend.
I'm a down and out man
Despite my claims of being knowledgeable, I find myself struggling and defeated.
Guess you wonder why I am
You must be questioning why I am in this state.
(Down and out man)
(Guess you wonder why I am)
I'm a down and out man
Despite my claims of being knowledgeable, I find myself struggling and defeated.
Guess you wonder why I am
You must be questioning why I am in this state.
(Down and out man)
(Guess you wonder why I am)
I'm a down and out man
Despite my claims of being knowledgeable, I find myself struggling and defeated.
Guess you wonder why I am
You must be questioning why I am in this state.
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