Bachman–Turner Overdrive (frequently known as BTO) is a Canadian rock group… Read Full Bio ↴Bachman–Turner Overdrive (frequently known as BTO) is a Canadian rock group from Winnipeg, Manitoba that's best known for its series of five Top 40 albums and six Top 40 singles in the 1970s, selling over 7 million albums in that decade alone. Overall, the band has sold nearly 30 million albums worldwide. Many of their songs, including "Let It Ride", "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet", "Takin' Care of Business", "Hey You" and "Roll On Down the Highway", still receive play on classic rock radio stations. BTO fans are affectionately known as "gearheads" (derived from the band's gear-shaped logo).

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 To The Line
Bachman-Turner Overdrive Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've made up my mind
I've got to get out in a hurry
I've stated my case
There's no need to come on with worry

'Cause I'm a real straight shooter
And my boot heels are clean
I'll always try to do better

I don't live in no dream

I live down to the line

You know I made it all right (down to the line)
Stayed up all night (down to the line)
It's the way to live life (down to the line)
It's the way to live love (down to the line)

Down to the line, down to the line
Sooner or later it gets you every time
Down to the line

I found me a way
To stand up this way without cryin'
Now they asked for the key
But they're complainin' instead of just tryin'

But I'm a real straight shooter
And my boot heels are clean
I'll always try to do better
I don't live in no dream

I live down to the line

You know I made it all right (down to the line)
Stayed up all night (down to the line)
It's the way to live love (down to the line)
It's the way to love life (down to the line)

Down to the line, down to the line
Sooner or later it gets you every time
Down to the line, down to the line

Down to the line, down to the line
Sooner or later it gets you every time
Down to the line, down to the line
Sooner or later it gets you every time
Down to the line, I'll make it all right
Down to the line, sometimes I stay up all night
Down to the line, down to the line
Down to the line, sooner or later, it gets you every time
I stay up all night, I make it all right

Stayin' up all night, down to the line
Make it all right, down to the line

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Down to the Line" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive portray a person who has made some tough choices in life and is living with the consequences. The singer seems to have had to leave something behind in a hurry and is reassuring those around him that there's no need to worry. The refrain "I live down to the line" suggests that he has made a conscious decision to live his life to the fullest and not hold back.

The lyrics are full of references to being a "real straight shooter," emphasizing the singer's honesty and authenticity. He is not one to shy away from the hard truths of life and is committed to always trying to do better. The repetition of the phrase "down to the line" at the end of the refrain reinforces the idea that the singer is living life on his own terms and not letting anything hold him back.

Overall, "Down to the Line" is a song about living life to the fullest, making tough choices, and accepting the consequences. It's a bold, confident anthem that encourages listeners to do the same.

Line by Line Meaning

I've made up my mind
I have come to a decision

I've got to get out in a hurry
I need to leave quickly

I've stated my case
I have presented my argument

There's no need to come on with worry
There is no need to be concerned

'Cause I'm a real straight shooter
Because I am honest and direct

And my boot heels are clean
I have nothing to hide

I'll always try to do better
I will always strive to improve

I don't live in no dream
I don't live in a fantasy world

I live down to the line
I live with complete honesty and dedication

You know I made it all right (down to the line)
I have successfully achieved my goals with complete honesty

Stayed up all night (down to the line)
I put in extra effort to ensure success

It's the way to live life (down to the line)
This is the way to live life with complete honesty

It's the way to live love (down to the line)
This is the way to love with complete honesty

Sooner or later it gets you every time
Eventually, honesty and dedication will bring success

I found me a way
I have discovered a method

To stand up this way without cryin'
To stay strong without showing weakness

Now they asked for the key
Now they are asking for the solution

But they're complainin' instead of just tryin'
But they are complaining instead of putting in effort

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: MARK ANTHONY, KIM FOWLEY, RANDY BACHMAN, ALICE COOPER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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