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/
Mississippi Queen
Bachman-Turner Overdrive Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you know what I mean
Mississippi Queen
She taught me everything
Way down around Vicksburg
Around Louisiana way
Lived a Cajun lady
You know, she was a dancer
She moved better on wine
While the rest of them dudes
Were'a gettin' their kicks
Boy, I beg your pardon, I was gettin' mine
Mississippi Queen
If you know what I mean
Mississippi Queen
She taught me everything
This lady she asked me
If I would be her man
You know that I told her
I'd do what I can
To keep her lookin' pretty
Buy her dresses that shine
While the rest of them dudes
Were makin' their bread
Boy I beg your pardon, I was losin' mine
You know, she was a dancer
She moved better on wine
While the rest of them dudes
Were'a gettin' their kicks
Boy I beg your pardon, I was gettin' mine
Whoah, Mississippi Queen
Mississippi Queen
If you know what I mean
Mississippi Queen
She taught me everything
Way down around Vicksburg
Around Louisiana way
Lived a Cajun lady
Aboard the Mississippi Queen
You know, she was a dancer
She moved better on wine
While the rest of them dudes
Were'a gettin' their kicks
Boy, I beg your pardon, I was gettin' mine
Mississippi Queen
If you know what I mean
Mississippi Queen
She taught me everything
This lady she asked me
If I would be her man
You know that I told her
I'd do what I can
To keep her lookin' pretty
Buy her dresses that shine
While the rest of them dudes
Were makin' their bread
Boy I beg your pardon, I was losin' mine
You know, she was a dancer
She moved better on wine
While the rest of them dudes
Were'a gettin' their kicks
Boy I beg your pardon, I was gettin' mine
Whoah, Mississippi Queen
The lyrics to Bachman-Turner Overdrive's "Mississippi Queen" are about a woman who is referred to as the Mississippi Queen. The singer describes her as a "Cajun lady" who dances and drinks wine. He is attracted to her and details how she taught him everything he knows. The singer believes that he can take care of her by buying her dresses that shine and keeping her looking pretty. He is willing to do anything to be with her and becomes so enamored with her that he begins to lose everything.
The song is a classic example of rock music from the 1970s. It features a strong, driving beat and powerful guitar riffs. The lyrics are straightforward and easy to understand. The Mississippi Queen is a symbol of a strong, confident woman who is in control of her life. The singer is attracted to her because she teaches him about life, love, and the importance of living life to the fullest.
Overall, the song is a celebration of life and love. It encourages the listener to embrace their passions and follow their heart. The Mississippi Queen is a symbol of this philosophy and represents the free spirit that lives within us all.
Line by Line Meaning
Mississippi Queen
The singer is referring to a woman he met on the Mississippi Queen steamboat.
If you know what I mean
The singer implies that there was an intimate connection between him and the lady in question.
She taught me everything
The singer learned a lot from the woman he met on the steamboat.
Way down around Vicksburg
The steamboat was in the vicinity of Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Around Louisiana way
The steamboat passed through Louisiana or the woman was from Louisiana.
Lived a Cajun lady
The woman in question was Cajun.
Aboard the Mississippi Queen
The steamboat was called the Mississippi Queen.
You know, she was a dancer
The woman was a dancer.
She moved better on wine
The woman danced better when she had been drinking wine.
While the rest of them dudes
The other men on the steamboat.
Were'a gettin' their kicks
The other men were having fun or enjoying themselves.
Boy, I beg your pardon, I was gettin' mine
The artist was having his own fun with the woman and didn't care about what the other men were doing.
This lady she asked me
The woman in question asked the singer.
If I would be her man
The woman wanted the singer to be her boyfriend or lover.
You know that I told her
The singer responded to the woman's proposition.
I'd do what I can
The artist agreed to try his best to be what the woman wanted.
To keep her lookin' pretty
The artist wanted to take care of the woman and make her look her best.
Buy her dresses that shine
The singer offered to buy nice dresses for the woman.
While the rest of them dudes
The other men on the steamboat.
Were makin' their bread
The other men were making money or earning a living.
Boy I beg your pardon, I was losin' mine
The artist was willing to spend his money on the woman, even if it meant losing money.
Whoah, Mississippi Queen
The artist repeats the title of the song.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: David Rea, Felix Pappalardi, Laurence Laing, Leslie A. Weinstein
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind