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/
Four Wheel Drive
Bachman-Turner Overdrive Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your name is all over the town
Your reputation is sweeping the nation
The rumors are bringing me down
You stand on the tip of my tongue
I can't get you out of my head
There's no syncopation with any relation
Four wheel drive, four wheel ride
Side by side, four wheel drive
Why don't you try to slow down?
I'm standing at the back of the line
We made reservations to meet at the station
My schedule is running behind
What can I do to survive?
Why am I always abused?
Anticipation of constant frustration
Can it be that there's any good news?
Four wheel drive, four wheel ride
Side by side, four wheel drive
Why can't you do something right?
Your name is all over the town
Your reputation is sweeping the nation
The rumors are bringing me down
You stand on the tip of my tongue
I can't get you out of my head
There's no syncopation with any relation
Could it be that there's trouble ahead?
Four wheel drive, four wheel ride
Side by side, four wheel drive
Four wheel drive, four wheel ride
Side by side, four wheel drive
Four wheel drive, four wheel ride
Side by side, four wheel drive
Four wheel drive, four wheel ride
Side by side, four wheel drive
Four wheel drive, four wheel ride
Side by side, four wheel drive
Four wheel drive, four wheel ride
Side by side, four wheel drive
The lyrics to Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s “Four Wheel Drive” are primarily about frustration with someone who can't seem to get their act together. The singer is fed up with this person and their reputation for causing problems, as it seems to be a constant source of trouble. The mention of “four wheel drive” throughout the song suggests that the singer is trying to leave this person behind, possibly by taking a drive or road trip to clear their mind.
The first verse is directed towards the person causing the trouble. The singer asks why they can't do something right and mentions that their reputation is causing rumors that are bringing him down. This is followed by a chorus about a four wheel drive, which could be interpreted as a way to leave this situation behind and feel free.
The second verse is focused more on the singer's own struggles, as he tries to manage his own schedule despite the chaos caused by the other person. He is trying to survive in this environment and wonders if there is any good news on the horizon. The chorus repeats and ends the song, with “four wheel drive” again serving as a way of escape.
Overall, the lyrics are a critique of someone who is unreliable and causes problems, leading the singer to seek ways to distance himself from the negativity. The use of the phrase “four wheel drive” throughout the song suggests that taking a drive represents a sense of freedom and the possibility of leaving problems behind.
Line by Line Meaning
Why can't you do something right?
Asking why the person can't seem to get things done properly.
Your name is all over the town
The person's reputation is widely known throughout the town.
Your reputation is sweeping the nation
The person's reputation is spreading to other parts of the country.
The rumors are bringing me down
The negative rumors about the person are affecting the artist.
You stand on the tip of my tongue
The person is always on the artist's mind.
I can't get you out of my head
The singer can't stop thinking about the person.
There's no syncopation with any relation
There is no connection between the singer and the person.
Could it be that there's trouble ahead?
The artist is worried that there may be problems in the future.
Four wheel drive, four wheel ride
The song title being repeated.
Why don't you try to slow down?
Asking the person to take things more slowly.
I'm standing at the back of the line
Feeling left behind by the person's actions.
We made reservations to meet at the station
Plans were made to meet somewhere specific.
My schedule is running behind
The singer is running late and may not make the meeting on time.
What can I do to survive?
The singer feels overwhelmed and is asking how to cope.
Why am I always abused?
The person feels mistreated and wonders why.
Anticipation of constant frustration
Expecting to be disappointed and annoyed often.
Can it be that there's any good news?
Wondering if there is anything positive to look forward to.
Side by side, four wheel drive
Repeating the song title again.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Blair Thornton, Randy Bachman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind