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/
For The Weekend
Bachman-Turner Overdrive Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Beat the clock, get out on the line
I'm part of the assembly
I'm just puttin' in time
There's only one thing in life
That helps me through
Just dreamin' of the weekends baby
And being with you
And being with you
I'm gonna make it alright
From Monday mornin' to Friday night
I'm double shiftin' my time
Saving my money and waitin' in line
I'm gonna make it alright
From Monday mornin' to Friday night
I'm double shiftin' my time
Saving my money and waitin' in line
For The Weekend, I just can't wait
For The Weekend, I just can't wait
Woo
Get home late in the evenin'
I'm much too tired to move
Sick and tired of the late night people
I'm just not in the mood
There's only one thing in life
That helps me through
Dreamin' of the weekends baby
And being with you
Just dreamin' of the weekends baby
And being with you
I'm gonna make it alright
From Monday mornin' to Friday night
I'm double shiftin' my time
Saving my money and waitin' in line
I'm gonna make it alright
From Monday mornin' to Friday night
I'm double shiftin' my time
Saving my money and waitin' in line
For The Weekend, I just can't wait
For The Weekend, I just can't wait
The song "For The Weekend" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive is about the daily grind of working in a factory and dreaming of the weekend with a loved one. The lyrics describe the monotony of working hard all week long and saving money for the days off, in order to spend time with someone special. The verses are divided into two parts: the first is about the singer's job and the second is about his desire to leave it all behind and focus on his personal life. The chorus reinforces the idea that the weekend is a release from the pressures of work and a chance to enjoy life with someone they care about.
The opening lines of the song paint a picture of the daily routine of the singer's work life. He gets up early and beats the clock to get to his job in the factory where he is part of the assembly line. The lines "I'm just putting in time/ There's only one thing in life that helps me through" reveal the singer's frustration and lack of fulfillment in his job. However, he has found hope in his personal life, as he looks forward to the weekends and being with his significant other.
The second verse reveals the singer's exhaustion and dissatisfaction with the late nights he spends at work with "late night people" who he can't relate to. This only reinforces how important the weekends are for him to recharge and focus on his personal life. By double shifting his time and saving money, he is working hard to make sure he can enjoy his time off with the person he loves.
Overall, the song is about the struggle of balancing work and personal life and the hope and joy that comes with spending time with someone special during the weekends.
Line by Line Meaning
Get up early in the mornin'
I wake up early in the morning
Beat the clock, get out on the line
I rush to get to work on time
I'm part of the assembly
I am a factory worker
I'm just puttin' in time
I am just working to make a living
There's only one thing in life
The only thing that gets me through life is
That helps me through
that gives me hope and happiness
Just dreamin' of the weekends baby
I constantly daydream about the weekend
And being with you
because I get to spend time with you
I'm gonna make it alright
I will manage everything
From Monday mornin' to Friday night
During the weekdays
I'm double shiftin' my time
I am working long hours
Saving my money and waitin' in line
I am saving my money and waiting patiently
For The Weekend, I just can't wait
I am eagerly waiting for the weekend
Woo
Exclamation of excitement
Get home late in the evenin'
I get home late in the evening
I'm much too tired to move
I am too exhausted to do anything
Sick and tired of the late night people
I am annoyed by people who stay up late
I'm just not in the mood
I am not feeling good or excited
For The Weekend, I just can't wait
But I am still eagerly waiting for the weekend
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BACHMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Doobie1975
great song that should've gotten more airplay and recognition, I always felt they should've had more of a successful career in the 80's and 90's.
skeletoncrusader
One of BTO's best songs. What a riff!
Doobie1975
killer song, I didn't even know this song existed until around 2002 when I've seen the video to this song on VH1 Classic.
Scott August
Straight forward, unpretentious rock n roll. Excellent. Just plain old fashioned excellent!
robert c
One of the finest live rock acts of their time! Saw the 5 times , never failed to rock and entertain, bar none!
ACrackInTheWall2006
Wow this song is amazing!
basil covey
one of my favorite tunes by B T O...
W. Byron Wilkins
I saw this video on all things HBO between movies one Saturady afternoon back in '85. I'm a long-time fan of BTO and Randy. The video needed more of the guys, but as stated, the young girls and guys are "easier" to sell to MTV, who didn't play this best to my knowledge. Anyway, great to see it after nearly 30 years! Thanks dude!
Robert Sheldon
MTV did, in fact play this, albeit in light rotation for a few weeks in the summer of 1984 when this was released.
Phayzyre105
These Canadians rock!!! 👍👌😁😎