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/
Flat Broke Love
Bachman-Turner Overdrive Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hope you're not nervous, I'm not going to stay long
The one installment, I've made on your heart
Is not enough to cover what we're willin' to start
'Cause I'm a flat broke love
Lord, I'm a flat broke love
I'm up or I'm down, never constant or sound
Empty my pockets full of grain
The friends that I've loved, never feel I've been there
I've never left a grateful one
'Cause I'm a flat broke love
Well, I'm a flat broke love
Yeah, I'm a flat broke love
Baby, I'm a flat broke love
'Cause I'm a flat broke love
Yeah, I'm a flat broke love
Well, I'm a flat broke love
Lord, I'm a flat broke love
I'll state you this claim, you've all played the game
You've all upset somebody's cart
I think you forgot, love needs more than one heart
Without it, it can't hold a true flame
'Cause it's a flat broke love
It's a flat broke love
Yeah, it's a flat broke love
Hey, it's a flat broke love
Well, it's a flat broke love
Lord, it's flat broke love
Flat broke love
Baby, it's a flat broke love
It's a flat broke love
Flat broke love
Baby, she's a flat broke love
Oh, a flat broke love
The song Flat Broke Love by Bachman-Turner Overdrive is about a man who confesses to having little to offer in a romantic relationship but his love. The lyrics "Pardon my life, pardon my song, I hope you're not nervous, I'm not going to stay long" show that the man is aware of his current financial and emotional status but still wants to take a chance on love. He admits he is not constant or sound, and his pockets are always empty, but still, he is willing to invest his heart in the relationship.
The lyrics "You've all upset somebody's cart, I think you forgot, love needs more than one heart, without it, it can't hold a true flame" illustrate that the man believes in the importance of mutual effort in a relationship. He believes that love requires the involvement of both parties for it to hold true. The phrase "flat broke love" is repeated several times to emphasize the man's point of view.
Overall, the song depicts a common situation where a person's financial or social status may deter them from pursuing a relationship or may cause them to feel less worthy of affection. However, the message conveyed is that true love can overcome any obstacle.
Line by Line Meaning
Pardon my life, pardon my song
Excuse my imperfections and flaws in my life and my art.
I hope you're not nervous, I'm not going to stay long
I'm hoping you aren't uneasy, as I'm not planning on staying for a long time.
The one installment, I've made on your heart
The small part of your heart that I've captured is not enough for the relationship we want to have.
Is not enough to cover what we're willin' to start
The love we want to have together is more than what we've invested in each other so far.
Cause I'm a flat broke love
I don't have much to offer in terms of love or material things.
Lord I'm a flat broke love
I am someone who lacks emotional wealth or resources.
I'm up or I'm down, never constant or sound
I have a tendency to be unstable and can't maintain a steady, reliable presence in your life.
Empty my pockets full of grain
I have very little money or valuable possessions to offer.
The friends that I've loved, never feel I've been there
Even my closest friends don't feel like I've been present in their lives when they've needed me.
I've never left a grateful one
I've never had a positive impact on someone's life that has resulted in gratitude towards me.
I'll state you this claim, you've all played the game
I want to make it clear that everyone has experienced heartbreak and disappointment in love.
You've all upset somebody's cart
Everyone has hurt someone they cared about in a relationship before.
I think you forgot, love needs more than one heart
I believe that true love requires both parties involved to be fully invested and dedicated to each other.
Without it, it can't hold a true flame
If one person is not fully involved in the relationship, it won't be able to last or be successful.
Cause it's a flat broke love
Our relationship doesn't have a strong foundation and isn't built on anything substantial.
Hey it's a flat broke love
Our relationship is lacking in many ways and is not in a good place.
Well it's a flat broke love
This relationship doesn't have a solid foundation and has struggled to thrive.
Lord it's flat broke love
This relationship is not wealthy in love or resources.
Flat broke love
This relationship is in a very fragile state and is lacking in many ways.
Baby it's a flat broke love
Our relationship is struggling and has not reached its full potential.
Oh a flat broke love
Our relationship is struggling and has a lot of work that needs to be done.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Charles Turner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind